QF8 or QF 16 back from US to BNE?

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lisa31jane

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I'm needing to book flights back from the US for my son and I in January - we are flying back from Miami, and on the Qantas booking site I have then option of flying back on QF8 from DFW or QF 16 from LAX and wondered which is the better option? I need to leave Miami at roughly the same time regardless of which flight I choose - the DFW one arrives 90 mins earlier than the LAX one . I Haven't been on this forum much lately but I do recall comments when QF8 was introduced that on more than one occasion the flight needed to be "diverted" for fuel issues etc, and also often ran late. Plus the flight is 16 hours.....
Just wondering if anyone could comment in their opinion of the better option?
 
My personal preference is QF7 out to USA if going east coast and then QF16 back to Brissy.
I've taken QF8 in both Y and J, have done QF16 about a hundred times in all classes over the years.

The extra 2+ hours on QF8 seem quite long, plus I'm not a LAX hater (got to know how the system works) so don't mind going thru LAX. Although, DFW is dead quite at departure time, whereas LAX is very much alive with alot of people.

I'm also partial to California as I lived there for 20+ years...

Cheers
BF
 
Personally I'd go on QF8... Not because of the transit at LAX, but because anything which reduces the amount of time you have to spend on AA / a US airline, is a good thing in my book.
I've done the MIA-LAX flight before, and it was pretty much my own personal version of hell.
 
A few considerations;
1. QF8 is scheduled to arrive earlier into BNE than QF16. Does the different arrival times make any difference to your arrival plans?
2. QF8 can occasionally be re-routed for a refueling splash&dash if head winds are strong. This can be worse at certain times of the year. Though it only happens a few times a year, if you are caught in that process your arrival into BNE will be significantly delayed. AKL is generally the preferred refueling location as QF can reposition a fresh crew there with minimal disruption. They generally know with plenty of notice if this is going to be necessary.
3. 14 hours is a long flight from LAX-BNE. Add another 2 hours for DFW-BNE and its a very long time to be in a plane. This will impact different people in different ways.
 
I'm needing to book flights back from the US for my son and I in January - we are flying back from Miami, and on the Qantas booking site I have then option of flying back on QF8 from DFW or QF 16 from LAX and wondered which is the better option? I need to leave Miami at roughly the same time regardless of which flight I choose - the DFW one arrives 90 mins earlier than the LAX one .

I Haven't been on this forum much lately but I do recall comments when QF8 was introduced that on more than one occasion the flight needed to be "diverted" for fuel issues etc, and also often ran late. Plus the flight is 16 hours.....
Just wondering if anyone could comment in their opinion of the better option?

If you had a connecting domestic flight ex BNE I'd say go QF8 ex DFW as it gets in to BNE earlier.

If travelling J I'd opt for QF8 but in Y I'd go via LAX & take QF16.

Not sure if you have any status with QF that allows seat selection FOC but if not I'd pay the $25 (? ) & select the two seats down the back of the plane eg 70JK - whatever the 2nd row of two seats is as the pax in 70K will get more legroom as no seat in front.
 
If travelling J I'd opt for QF8 but in Y I'd go via LAX & take QF16.

Not sure if you have any status with QF that allows seat selection FOC but if not I'd pay the $25 (? ) & select the two seats down the back of the plane eg 70JK - whatever the 2nd row of two seats is as the pax in 70K will get more legroom as no seat in front.


I agree with these two reasons, plus DFW being an "easier" transit than LAX, plus MIA-DFW is more pleasant (read: shorter) than MIA-LAX.
 
I love QF 8. Much better to have the shorter flight to DFW on AA. And the extra flight time ex DFW gives you time to have dinner, have a proper sleep, then wake up in time for breakfast.
 
I love QF 8. Much better to have the shorter flight to DFW on AA. And the extra flight time ex DFW gives you time to have dinner, have a proper sleep, then wake up in time for breakfast.

If you have a Platinum Amex card, the Centurion Lounge at DFW (opp gate D17) is handy to the departure gates of QF & BA.

Either way make sure you do your AA seat allocation once you've booked the flights to avoid getting less desirable seats. If on an AA 738 opt for row 16 or 17 AC or DF as the middle seat is permanently blocked out with a tray so no-one squeezed in the middle which makes for a more comfortable flight.
 
Thanks for all your replies. We will be travelling Y with a points request for a J upgrade but presuming we will fly in Y.

I have a Platinum Amex- I didn't know that entitled me to that lounge access! I will look into that, thank you!

Getting home 90 mins earlier definitely appeals (with QF8) but those extra 2 hours without a break.....I'm torn! - NM, you mentioned certain times of year more likely to have strong headwinds requiring re-fuel in Auckland....that would be the ultimate dealbreaker after 25+ hours of travel...- we will fly mid January - is that a bad time for this?
 
Thanks for all your replies. We will be travelling Y with a points request for a J upgrade but presuming we will fly in Y.

I have a Platinum Amex- I didn't know that entitled me to that lounge access! I will look into that, thank you!

Getting home 90 mins earlier definitely appeals (with QF8) but those extra 2 hours without a break.....I'm torn! - NM, you mentioned certain times of year more likely to have strong headwinds requiring re-fuel in Auckland....that would be the ultimate dealbreaker after 25+ hours of travel...- we will fly mid January - is that a bad time for this?

With QF8, if doing a points upgrade you'll probably have a greater number of pax wanting to do points upgrades DFW/BNE & DFW/SYD as opposed to the QF16 which ops LAX/BNE only.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

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Thanks for that link kelvedon - sounds promising, and would certainly make the option of flying Y more bearable IF they still do that!
 
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