Trip planning SYD-DFW-Atlanta, transit hotel

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Vic

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It seems one of my board meetings is pushing ahead with a trip early next year to the USA, Atlanta.
I need to purchase and be reimbursed for the airfare (business class eligible). There is a Plan B for later in 2022 if travel shuts, so I could use a credit for plan B travel.
However, I don't want to be holding a multi-thousands of $$$ credit. Full refundable business is ludicrous pricing, so I'm going for premium economy. Qantas is the choice because they have the flexibility stuff, (and I can't use the thousands of $$$ i have in virgin travel bank).

Qantas premium sends me via DFW, but the onwards flight is always in economy. Hence I'm pondering a break and purchasing a the US internal flight as an AAwards, with an overnight in Dallas.

Does any one have experience or recommendations for a hotel at the airport in dallas?
Which terminal does QF7 arrive, as qantas doesn't really say? It looks like there are a couple of hyatts near the D gates.

Any other thoughts on the journey are welcome... I assume the flights to Chicago aren't going.
 
I personally would rethink flying Qantas due to their bizarre approval process for returning home if you contract covid overseas.
 
Vic said:
It seems one of my board meetings is pushing ahead with a trip early next year to the USA, Atlanta.
I need to purchase and be reimbursed for the airfare (business class eligible). There is a Plan B for later in 2022 if travel shuts, so I could use a credit for plan B travel.
However, I don't want to be holding a multi-thousands of $$$ credit. Full refundable business is ludicrous pricing, so I'm going for premium economy. Qantas is the choice because they have the flexibility stuff, (and I can't use the thousands of $$$ i have in virgin travel bank).

Qantas premium sends me via DFW, but the onwards flight is always in economy. Hence I'm pondering a break and purchasing a the US internal flight as an AAwards, with an overnight in Dallas.

Does any one have experience or recommendations for a hotel at the airport in dallas?
Which terminal does QF7 arrive, as qantas doesn't really say? It looks like there are a couple of hyatts near the D gates.

Any other thoughts on the journey are welcome... I assume the flights to Chicago aren't going.
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DFW is a fantastic airport and you don’t need to worry about terminals as inter terminal transfers are super easy, especially airside.

All international flights including Qantas arrive at terminal D. The Hyatt would be the best hotel to stay in if you don’t want to leave the airport. If you have more time I’d stay in town, Dallas is a nice city to stay in.

Immigration is pretty quick at DFW compared to LAX. If you book a connecting flight with points, technically QF will throughcheck so you might be able to avoid the overnight stay.

Must...Fly! said:
I personally would rethink flying Qantas due to their bizarre approval process for returning home if you contract covid overseas.
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The Australian government requires the same paperwork as Qantas (14 day sign off by doctor) regardless of the airline you fly with. The only difference with Qantas is the 7 days advanced notice they need prior to the flight. For practicality you’ll still need some advance notice to fly other airlines (unless you want to risk forfeiting your fare) so for the sake of a couple of days I’d stick with the airline that has the most Australia - US flights - Qantas.
 
justinbrett said:
practicality you’ll still need some advance notice to fly other airlines
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No you don't as best as I've looked for the likes of Qatar for example, you just need to fulfill the requirements of the destination. Which would be the documents required by the Federal government.
 
Must...Fly! said:
No you don't as best as I've looked for the likes of Qatar for example, you just need to fulfill the requirements of the destination. Which would be the documents required by the Federal government.
Click to expand...

Hence the term Practicality. You’d need to make an appointment with a doctor after day 14, and if you were wise you would leave a couple of days between this and your flight to allow for any delays with the doctor and give you a chance to change your flight if necessary so you don’t forfeit your fare.

QF and UA are the only airlines operating further into the US than the West Coast. For the sake of an extra five days or so, I’d sick to Qantas.
 
Except it is not 5 days but at least 7, as Qantas requires your certificate to be no older than 14 days and also you must submit all documents via email no later than 7 days prior to departure. If you got approval quicker then I guess you could change flights pending price and availability.
 
Must...Fly! said:
Except it is not 5 days but at least 7, as Qantas requires your certificate to be no older than 14 days and also you must submit all documents via email no later than 7 days prior to departure. If you got approval quicker then I guess you could change flights pending price and availability.
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You missed my point - you’re not getting on a flight to Australia on day 14 on any carrier. If you want to risk going straight from the doctors to check in you could probably do it in 15, but you risk forfeiting your fare if the doctor says no or wants to do more tests. A smart person would be flying on day 16 at the earliest.

If flying Qantas, doctor fills out Qantas form then and there and you should be right to fly on day 21. It adds certainty.
 
justinbrett said:
If flying Qantas, doctor fills out Qantas form then and there and you should be right to fly on day 21. It adds certainty
Click to expand...
What certainty is that? What if Qantas reject your application? Then you go back to the doctor and apply to QF again for another week out?

Maybe there's ways around the 7 day threshold but if there is no one knows of it.

As for the day 14 - well you could easily be on another carrier on day 14 as maybe you are asymptomatic and clear after 5 or 7 or 10 days as is increasingly the case in other parts of the world. Then the doctor writes a note and you are on the flight on day 14. Now, you could also do that with Qantas in the 5 or 7 day example but you are also relying on them to get back to you in the supplied timeframe and to approve you.

They are pointless hoops to be jumping through.
 
Must...Fly! said:
What certainty is that? What if Qantas reject your application? Then you go back to the doctor and apply to QF again for another week out?

Maybe there's ways around the 7 day threshold but if there is no one knows of it.

As for the day 14 - well you could easily be on another carrier on day 14 as maybe you are asymptomatic and clear after 5 or 7 or 10 days as is increasingly the case in other parts of the world. Then the doctor writes a note and you are on the flight on day 14. Now, you could also do that with Qantas in the 5 or 7 day example but you are also relying on them to get back to you in the supplied timeframe and to approve you.

They are pointless hoops to be jumping through.
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The medical certificate for entry in to Australia must be signed 14 days after the positive PCR test. Not before. The Qantas requirement is obviously modelled of this and other than having to provide it to Qantas 7 days in advance there is no difference.

I’m not sure what grounds Qantas would have not to approve it. You’re probably be just as likely to be denied travel by another carrier that doesn’t like your paperwork. If your ATD comes up as airline approval required - which it may well do - they might deny you travel if they are not confident about the Australian rules.

Obviously both the Australian and Qantas requirements need to change, but as long as they are basically the same policy, you don’t have much to gain by switching carriers. It’s also completely possible the US carriers could change their policy for the worse. At least we know that Qantas should more or less stay in sync with the Australian government requirements.

You could also change your flight to the AA metal QF codeshare and then you would be able to use the AA policy.
 
justinbrett said:
At least we know that Qantas should more or less stay in sync with the Australian government requirements.
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Considering they aren't in sync now I have no idea why we would expect them to be so in future, or trend that way.

Your are right that the other carriers may also refuse. But they also don't have a documented policy to follow, it's "meet the requirements for your destination". I wouldn't say an extra week overseas just so Qantas can read your documents first is trivial.

You could also if recovered after 5 or 7 days arrange to have the doctor sign your certificate on day 14 and fly out that same day.

An interesting thing though is that the Federal health directives seem to by and large indicate 10 days is sufficient to be released? Perhaps we will see a shift in the international arrangements shortly.

https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cdna-song-novel-coronavirus.htm
 
Must...Fly! said:
They are pointless hoops to be jumping through.
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Sure,

But that’s is what they are -
1) transnational jurisdictional differences
2) state jurisdictional differeces
3) common carrier rules

You forget that the airline is not the state and the state is not the airline. The airline needs to ensure that you are fit to fly. The state does not carry that liability - only the carrier.

So the carriers created another layer of conditions to ensure everyone with Covid is fit to fly. In other words - the Govt create the minimum requirements/regulations but the airline has to practically implement it. From the point of view of the airline, it is not pointless at all.

Sorry you are caught up in it. But some flexibility is required in the dynamic and often chaotic environment of Covid travel.
 
Must...Fly! said:
Considering they aren't in sync now I have no idea why we would expect them to be so in future, or trend that way.
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The requirements to enter Australia and fly Qantas are identical. We’re just talking about process here.

Must...Fly! said:
Your are right that the other carriers may also refuse. But they also don't have a documented policy to follow, it's "meet the requirements for your destination". I wouldn't say an extra week overseas just so Qantas can read your documents first is trivial.
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I’m not sure how much experience you’ve had with American airport staff, but I wouldn‘t be celebrating the lack of a documented policy. You want these people to be following a documented policy that you can quote at them. You’re completely at their mercy, and that’s rarely in the passenger‘s favour.

I’d be much more content drinking coughtails in the resort pool for another five days and going to the airport with my signed exemption, rather than going there with no idea if they’ll let me travel and probably spending three hours at check in whilst they “check with their supervisor”. And missing the flight as a result.
 
justinbrett said:
DFW is a fantastic airport and you don’t need to worry about terminals as inter terminal transfers are super easy, especially airside.

All international flights including Qantas arrive at terminal D. The Hyatt would be the best hotel to stay in if you don’t want to leave the airport. If you have more time I’d stay in town, Dallas is a nice city to stay in.

Immigration is pretty quick at DFW compared to LAX. If you book a connecting flight with points, technically QF will throughcheck so you might be able to avoid the overnight stay.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit nervous about making connections, but the one time I transited DFW on internal flights, it seemed super easy. I'll definitely consider same day flights, even with separate bookings.
Covid killed a planned family trip arrive in DFW, and visiting the city in 2019. I think i'd get into a bit of trouble if I went sightseeing... lol
I'm clearly procrastinating a bit on booking given all the covid stuff. A 2 day meeting, tacked onto a 4 day conference. It's pretty marginal to attend at this stage.

Must...Fly! said:
I personally would rethink flying Qantas due to their bizarre approval process for returning home if you contract covid overseas.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link to the qantas requirements
They're the same as the Australian government requirements. Inbound international travel

I definitely appreciate the heads up. But I don't plan to catch covid. ;)
The reality is that if I catch covid, the flight home will be the least of my problems. Fundamentally, you need a negative PCR test result within 72 hours.
If your positive then you're going to have to wait until your negative (and a hard at least 14 days). At this point you might test negative.
If you're still testing positive, then you need a doctor to say you don't have symptoms and you're not infectious.
That last one is key, you can only fly if you're not infectious.

As I said I really appreciate the concern, it has made me look at the rules. The issue you raise is one possibly, based on getting covid and still testing positive after I've recovered. The solution is an easy one: doctors certificate to say I'm not infectious.

Getting covid means extending the stay for 14 days. that's a constant regardless of what happens with testing after I recover. Sorry, a bit verbose in saying the concern you've raised is a factor, but I don't see it as a major factor. If it happens I'm going to have much bigger problems than getting a doctors certificate. It's not really unique to qantas either.
 
Oh and if I could use my travel bank with virgin, I'd be flying with Delta.
 
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