NY JFK - DFW - MEL connection

[KristianG]

Hi AFF, new member here

As the title suggests, has anyone tried the connection between NY JFK and Melbourne through Dallas Fort Worth? If yes what was your experience? How long did it take to make the connection and what were the steps/checks/lines involved?

I have booked a Qantas flight, with the first leg operated by American Airlines. However, the layover in DFW is only 1h13m and I am starting to feel nervous about it.

From what I have read, DFW is really easy to navigate, but I am curious how common is this connection.

Thanks and cheers,
Kristian

 

[dajop]

The good thing about DFW-MEL flight schedule is that it departs 1.5 or so hours before the DFW-SYD flight. My sister recently had a 55 min connection at DFW (which I thought was tight but it was that or 5 hrs) , inbound an hour late, but she was transferred to the SYD flight so didn’t end up getting home too late.

 

[KristianG]

The good thing about DFW-MEL flight schedule is that it departs 1.5 or so hours before the DFW-SYD flight. My sister recently had a 55 min connection at DFW (which I thought was right but it was that or 5 hrs) , inbound an hour late, but she was transferred to the SYD flight so didn’t end up getting home too late.

Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better. My worry is that the inbound flight will be on time but it will still take to much time to clear all checks to make the outbound flight. I am not sure in that case what is Qantas's policy.

 

[dajop]

Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better. My worry is that the inbound flight will be on time but it will still take to much time to clear all checks to make the outbound flight. I am not sure in that case what is Qantas's policy.

As you are arriving from New York (or indeed if you were arriving from anywhere within the US or Canada), you will not need to go through security or complete other formalities. AA should be able to issue a boarding pass form DFW-MEL at JFK for you. The main thing that will take up time is disembarking and getting from your arrival gate to the Qantas gate, which could involve an inter-terminal transfer (airside) on the Skylink automated people mover (train).

 

[KristianG]

As you are arriving from New York (or indeed if you were arriving from anywhere within the US or Canada), you will not need to go through security or complete other formalities. AA should be able to issue a boarding pass form DFW-MEL at JFK for you. The main thing that will take up time is disembarking and getting from your arrival gate to the Qantas gate, which could involve an inter-terminal transfer (airside) on the Skylink automated people mover (train).

Thanks again dajop! So if I understand correctly, there is not exit immigration check other than when checking in at JFK?

 

[Himeno]

DFW is easy to get around, but is quite large and can take some time to move between different parts of the airport.

All the terminals are connected airside, both by walk ways (bridges/tunnels) and by a skytrain.

The main issue with DFW, when flying on AA, is that is often unknown which terminal you'll be using.

All International arrivals and most International departures use terminal D.

AA uses terminals A, B and C with some use of D and E. While other airlines use D and E.
If you're on an American Eagle flight, it is likely to use B, otherwise, an AA flight could end up at any gate. You'll have just as much chance connecting to the gate next door as you do connecting from a gate 20 mins away on the train.

If you need help, there are airport staff (wearing orange shirts) who can help you.


The US doesn't have exit immigration checks. There may be random checks by CBP at departure gates of selected flights. Flights to Australia are unlikely to be selected for these random checks. With a JFK-DFW-MEL, all you will have to do is get from your arrival gate at DFW to the QF22 gate in terminal D.
As long as the JFK flight is on time and the SkyLink train (if needed) is working, you'll make a 1 hour connection.

 

[KristianG]

DFW is easy to get around, but is quite large and can take some time to move between different parts of the airport.

All the terminals are connected airside, both by walk ways (bridges/tunnels) and by a skytrain.

The main issue with DFW, when flying on AA, is that is often unknown which terminal you'll be using.

All International arrivals and most International departures use terminal D.

AA uses terminals A, B and C with some use of D and E. While other airlines use D and E.
If you're on an American Eagle flight, it is likely to use B, otherwise, an AA flight could end up at any gate. You'll have just as much chance connecting to the gate next door as you do connecting from a gate 20 mins away on the train.

If you need help, there are airport staff (wearing orange shirts) who can help you.


The US doesn't have exit immigration checks. There may be random checks by CBP at departure gates of selected flights. Flights to Australia are unlikely to be selected for these random checks. With a JFK-DFW-MEL, all you will have to do is get from your arrival gate at DFW to the QF22 gate in terminal D.
As long as the JFK flight is on time and the SkyLink train (if needed) is working, you'll make a 1 hour connection.

Thanks! Fantastic explanation!

 

[pyffii]

A thing to consider is delays out of JFK and especially AA and with that in mind we did an overnight stay at the Grand Hyatt to avoid any connection issues....QF checkin is less than a 100 metres from the Grand Hyatt lift so very easy and personally would recommend doing this

 

[Daver6]

Surely AA has a heap of flights between JFK and DFW. If it were me, I'd be moving to an earlier departure from JFK.

As the end of the day, you will be looked after if you miss your connection as it's on one ticket. However, that seems like a hassle and annoyance to me.

If your inbound flight is on time, you'll make it with ease though.

 

[dajop]

Surely AA has a heap of flights between JFK and DFW.

Not between JFK and DFW, but definitely plenty of options out of LGA. With presumably the OP looking a time of year when the QF flight to MEL departs DFW @ 18:55, these are the options that carry the QF code:


IMHO, the 13:45 out of LGA would be more sensible (1:54 connection), if not the 12:27 (3:11). By comparison, out of JFK, only the 14:30 carries the QF code, and on the random day I selected there were only 3 JFK-DFW flights on AA:

 

[Himeno]

Surely AA has a heap of flights between JFK and DFW. If it were me, I'd be moving to an earlier departure from JFK.

They time most of their domestic JFK flights to connect to long haul international flights. They have more domestic flights out of LGA.
AA has more flights offered for JFK-DFW as connections. Their flight status page searching for JFK-DFW for today has 3 non stop flights and 17 connections via BOS, CLT, JAX, MIA, AUS, ORD, MCO, DCA, CVG, IAH, CMH or BNA.

 

[justinbrett]

AA are quite proactive too, so if they know your JFK-DFW is going to be late on check in, they'll rebook you then and there. They might send you via LAX or possibly AKL.

As a rule though, I would have tried to fly out of LGA. That's a much better airport these days and far more options to DFW (though JFK is better for options to LAX).

 

[KristianG]

AA are quite proactive too, so if they know your JFK-DFW is going to be late on check in, they'll rebook you then and there. They might send you via LAX or possibly AKL.

As a rule though, I would have tried to fly out of LGA. That's a much better airport these days and far more options to DFW (though JFK is better for options to LAX).

Thanks! Yeah, a lot of people recommending LGA but booking through Qantas I only had JFK as an option with layovers in LAX, DFW, SYD or AKL.