Sydney to New York

[kkkk]

I will be flying from Sydney to New York via qantas on the 12th May.

I am a little confused as to which flights to get . They are all similarly priced.
- Qf107 from Syd to JFK
- Qf11 from syd to LAX, then transfer to an AA flight to JFK
- Qf7 from syd to DFW, then transfer to an AA flight to LGA

Ill be travelling in economy class. Also would like an exit row seat as I am 6 ft 5, any options there ?

Thanks in advance

 

[elbarto]

From what I've read here the transit at LAX is a bit of a nightmare. So that might make the DFW option more attractive.

 

[Paddy55]

From what I've read here the transit at LAX is a bit of a nightmare. So that might make the DFW option more attractive.

Tend to agree.. I like DFW... I put up with LAX most of the time

 

[Cabbage]

I would choose QF 107 through to JFK. The LAX -JFK sector is usually pretty empty so you'll probably have at least 1 if not 2 spare seats next to you to make the long trip somewhat more bearable. Also, food and entertainment are far superior to the US offerings.

Although sure LAX is a nightmare, but if the inbound is running late, they're going to give you priority for customs and security, and the plane will wait for you.

Plus, it really is a good feeling arriving into the most amazing city in the world on your home airline

 

[kkkk]

Let me add some more information

QF107 leaves at 10.00AM in SYD, arrives at 5.10PM in JFK. The plane is a Boeing 747-400.
Advantages are on the LAX to JFK leg I would get Breakfast, and perhaps less people/more room? Would it be advantageous to arrive the 3.5h earlier?

QF7 leaves at 1.25PM in SYD, arrives at 1.45PM in DFW. The plane is a Boeing 747-400.
There is a transfer to QF4395 (AA plane MD80), leaving at 3.55PM and arriving at LGA at 8.40PM. No food is served, and I have heard AA cattle class is extremely poor. Would 2 hours connection be enough, as I assume I would need to clear immigration, change terminals etc.

QF11 leaves at 1.05PM in SYD, arrives at 9.45AM in LAX. The plane is an A380. There is a transfer to QF3233 (AA flight Boeing 767), leaving at 12.00PM, arriving at 8.40PM at JFK. Again, is 2h connection enough, and is it worthwhile flying the A380?

 

[deejo77]

Just got back from doing QF107 - LAX is a nightmare but definitely a quicker flight time to JFK. We did Dallas in August and very nice airport but the flight was LONG. I think the break in LAX is more enjoyable. Both LAX to JFK legs were light loaded and even the flight home to Sydney yesterday was light in economy.

 

[kkkk]

Also, if the QF7 flight is delayed into DFW, and I miss the connecting flight into LGA, would Qantas or AA put you up in a hotel?

 

[CaptainPesmo]

For what it's worth, I did QF107 through to JFK in early March in economy, and like the experiences others have had, the loads were tiny. From Sydney to LA I was in a block of four seats with the middle two seats empty, then from LA to NY I was alone in a block of four, and the row in front of me was empty (possibly also the one behind, I'm not 100% sure I'm remembering right). It was like that throughout the economy cabin (nothing to do with status or anything like that - I'm QFF bronze at the moment).

And to be honest maybe I just lucked out with a good run, but I didn't find LAX all that horrible. (Though maybe the various negative opinions I'd heard beforehand helped to lower my expectations)

 

[Hvr]

Also, if the QF7 flight is delayed into DFW, and I miss the connecting flight into LGA, would Qantas or AA put you up in a hotel?

As long as it is on one ticket then AA will put you on the next plane to the destination.

 

[bismarck]

For what it's worth, I did QF107 through to JFK in early March in economy, and like the experiences others have had, the loads were tiny. From Sydney to LA I was in a block of four seats with the middle two seats empty, then from LA to NY I was alone in a block of four, and the row in front of me was empty (possibly also the one behind, I'm not 100% sure I'm remembering right). It was like that throughout the economy cabin (nothing to do with status or anything like that - I'm QFF bronze at the moment).

And to be honest maybe I just lucked out with a good run, but I didn't find LAX all that horrible. (Though maybe the various negative opinions I'd heard beforehand helped to lower my expectations)

Would love if this were true for my trip to NYC....though as the flight is on 11 December, somehow I doubt it!!

 

[kkkk]

As long as it is on one ticket then AA will put you on the next plane to the destination.

And if the next plane is the next day?

 

[Hvr]

And if the next plane is the next day?

That I don't know but I am sure someone here will.

Of course your travel insurance may also assist in this instance.

 

[schomers87]

Due to the snowstorm in February in the N-E, all flights to BOS were cancelled for the day. OW reps were on hand to give out my hotel booking for the night and my rescheduled boarding pass for the next day at the luggage carousel area. I was a WP and another passenger I met was a SG. I am sure they would do the same for all pax except for priority for seats on the next available flight.

That I don't know but I am sure someone here will.

Of course your travel insurance may also assist in this instance.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I suppose the DFW and the A380 options would allow you better use of the SYD F lounge, if that's important to you. LAX can be hit and miss, but in some ways, DFW can be somewhat similar as well. Also, check for the seat map for the A380, if you can get something like 80A/K or 71D, it can be a reasonable substitute to an exit-row seat.

 

[Sprucegoose]

As long as it is on one ticket then AA will put you on the next plane to the destination.

Are you sure?

I thought it was a OW 'privilege'

Serfty knows this stuff

 

[Mardi]

We like to fly QF93 MEL-LAX then QF107 LAX-JFK. We're from Canberra so we have to fly to either MEL or SYD first so it doesn't matter to us which. The reason for QF93 is that it is pretty much always an A380, which we prefer plus we fly J and put in for an upgrade to F, which isn't on a 747 anymore AFAIK. I like the arrival time of QF107 at JFK otherwise I'd explore QF11 from SYD since it's an afternoon flight and would allow better/longer use of the F lounge than a morning flight does.

I've never had a problem with LAX. I dislike JFK more - that horrible narrow room with the baggage carousel in it and everyone packs in around it. In fact, QF93 to QF107 you pretty much always get an express pass and get through immigration pretty quickly if you are quick off the plane/don't dawdle.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I will be flying from Sydney to New York via qantas on the 12th May.

I am a little confused as to which flights to get . They are all similarly priced.
- Qf107 from Syd to JFK
- Qf11 from syd to LAX, then transfer to an AA flight to JFK
- Qf7 from syd to DFW, then transfer to an AA flight to LGA

Ill be travelling in economy class. Also would like an exit row seat as I am 6 ft 5, any options there ?

Thanks in advance

I would go with the QF107 as it's the same aircraft all the way through to JFK plus the arrival time of 1710 is another bonus.

The whilst there is a charge of about AUD180.00 each way for the exit row seats 46BC/46HJ or 58BC/58HJ on the 747-400 QF don't charge for the window seats of 46A/K or 58A/K due to the escape slide in the base of the exit door impeding on about 50% of your leg space.

If you're not keen on paying the extra money for exit rows I'd opt for a window seat towards the aft section of economy where there are only two seats on the side. Go for the second row of two eg if 69JK is the first row of two, opt for 70K as there is a gap between 69K & the window where the 3rd seat in that row would have been.

The only down side of being down the back end of the bus is you'll have less chance of getting off the plane at LAX before the hoards do so they'll all be ahead of you in the customs line. In any case make your way asap to the express connections line.

 

[richie9x]

Also something minor to consider you get more status credits going with the second and third options.

 

[Foreigner]

I would go with the QF107 as it's the same aircraft all the way through to JFK plus the arrival time of 1710 is another bonus.

The whilst there is a charge of about AUD180.00 each way for the exit row seats 46BC/46HJ or 58BC/58HJ on the 747-400 QF don't charge for the window seats of 46A/K or 58A/K due to the escape slide in the base of the exit door impeding on about 50% of your leg space.

If you're not keen on paying the extra money for exit rows I'd opt for a window seat towards the aft section of economy where there are only two seats on the side. Go for the second row of two eg if 69JK is the first row of two, opt for 70K as there is a gap between 69K & the window where the 3rd seat in that row would have been.

The only down side of being down the back end of the bus is you'll have less chance of getting off the plane at LAX before the hoards do so they'll all be ahead of you in the customs line. In any case make your way asap to the express connections line.

+1 for QF107. Have done this in both Y and J (and also the QF 108 for return). Loads LAX-JFK vv have been lighter in my experiences and the meal/alcohol offerings have been superior to AA. Not sure if LAX-JFK is 747-400.

 

[gwilli1]

Not sure if LAX-JFK is 747-400.

Yes it is 747-400 , since QF got rid of AKL-LAX which use to be an A330 , which would continue onto JFK .