Advice on Long Haul Connections QF/AA
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Auckland
Programs: QF FF, Velocity, NZ FF
Posts: 134
Advice on Long Haul Connections QF/AA
Next year in May I'll be travelling from Auckland to Des Moines via LAX and DFW...all on the same ticket with QF AKL-LAX & LAX-AKL and AA LAX-DFW-DSM & DSM-DFW-LAX.
I have about a two hour connection in LAX both ways and about an hour in Dallas/Fort Worth which I understand is really tight. I have not needed to connect before on international services so this is a new experience for me even though I am a well seasoned domestic, trans-Tasman and long-haul flyer.
Just a few questions: checked baggage...how on earth does this work? Do I get checked in all the way to Des Moines from AKL or do I need to re-check time and time again?
Also with connections at LAX from QF to AA and then again at DFW from AA to AA EAGLE.
And lastly - what's AA EAGLE like???
Any advice, comments etc would be MOST appreciated.
I have about a two hour connection in LAX both ways and about an hour in Dallas/Fort Worth which I understand is really tight. I have not needed to connect before on international services so this is a new experience for me even though I am a well seasoned domestic, trans-Tasman and long-haul flyer.
Just a few questions: checked baggage...how on earth does this work? Do I get checked in all the way to Des Moines from AKL or do I need to re-check time and time again?
Also with connections at LAX from QF to AA and then again at DFW from AA to AA EAGLE.
And lastly - what's AA EAGLE like???
Any advice, comments etc would be MOST appreciated.
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Next year in May I'll be travelling from Auckland to Des Moines via LAX and DFW...all on the same ticket with QF AKL-LAX & LAX-AKL and AA LAX-DFW-DSM & DSM-DFW-LAX.
I have about a two hour connection in LAX both ways and about an hour in Dallas/Fort Worth which I understand is really tight. I have not needed to connect before on international services so this is a new experience for me even though I am a well seasoned domestic, trans-Tasman and long-haul flyer.
Just a few questions: checked baggage...how on earth does this work? Do I get checked in all the way to Des Moines from AKL or do I need to re-check time and time again?
Also with connections at LAX from QF to AA and then again at DFW from AA to AA EAGLE.
And lastly - what's AA EAGLE like???
Any advice, comments etc would be MOST appreciated.
I have about a two hour connection in LAX both ways and about an hour in Dallas/Fort Worth which I understand is really tight. I have not needed to connect before on international services so this is a new experience for me even though I am a well seasoned domestic, trans-Tasman and long-haul flyer.
Just a few questions: checked baggage...how on earth does this work? Do I get checked in all the way to Des Moines from AKL or do I need to re-check time and time again?
Also with connections at LAX from QF to AA and then again at DFW from AA to AA EAGLE.
And lastly - what's AA EAGLE like???
Any advice, comments etc would be MOST appreciated.
That said, 2 hours inbound to US at LAX might be pushing it, depending on a lot of factors, such as how long customs takes, where the flights will arrive and depart from (AA is terminal 4 and the QF AKL flight also arrives at terminal 4 as far as I know so that shouldn't be as bad as if you arrvied at TBIT). You'd have to leave the secured area after passport control, claim your bags, and recheck them with AA to continue to DFW and DSM. Anyone else feel free to correct me if I am wrong. The other connections should all be fine if all the flights are close to scheduled times. MCT International to Domestic at LAX for AA is 1:30, so it may not be an issue. I would personally want a little longer but it probably isn't needed.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
Would have been much easier to get QF7 and route AKL-SYD-DFW-DSM-DFW-BNE-AKL (and avoid the annoyance of LAX)
anyway...
Qantas will check the bags all the way through to DSM, but you'll have to collect them at LAX when you go through CBP.
You'll arrive at TBIT in LAX, go through CBP (and collect baggage), drop off the bags again just after customs, then head outside and walk to T4, go through TSA in T4.
DFW is a little harder since they won't know what gate the DFW-DSM flight will use when you depart LAX. You'll arrive in DFW at A, C or D and depart from B or D. They should tell you which gate shortly before landing. But DFW is all connected airside with the train, so no need to leave the secure area.
anyway...
Qantas will check the bags all the way through to DSM, but you'll have to collect them at LAX when you go through CBP.
You'll arrive at TBIT in LAX, go through CBP (and collect baggage), drop off the bags again just after customs, then head outside and walk to T4, go through TSA in T4.
DFW is a little harder since they won't know what gate the DFW-DSM flight will use when you depart LAX. You'll arrive in DFW at A, C or D and depart from B or D. They should tell you which gate shortly before landing. But DFW is all connected airside with the train, so no need to leave the secure area.
Last edited by Himeno; Nov 27, 2011 at 7:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
All QF flights arrive at TBIT in the morning (QF108 from JFK arrives at T4 in the afternoon as the aircraft then continues to AKL as QF26). Some (BNE [QF16] and AKL/MEL [QF26]) depart from T4 in the evening.
#5
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I knew it departed T4 for AKL but from what I was seeing searching online it seemed to arrived there, which is why I left myself open to correction as I thought in my head that they all arrived at TBIT. I definitely didn't know for certain so I didn't want to completely claim I was right.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 2,640
I don't imagine there is immigration at T4 (or is there one?) thus all international flights have to arrive at TBIT for passport/customs. 2 hours in LAX is pushing it unless you can get through customs faster (Global Entry, etc).
I know I have always arrived at TBIT but I could be wrong.
I would allow more time for both connections (LAX & DFW) if you can, to reduce the stress factor with possible late arrivals, etc
YMMV
I know I have always arrived at TBIT but I could be wrong.
I would allow more time for both connections (LAX & DFW) if you can, to reduce the stress factor with possible late arrivals, etc
YMMV
#7
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#8
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Location: Austin, Texas
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I don't imagine there is immigration at T4 (or is there one?) thus all international flights have to arrive at TBIT for passport/customs. 2 hours in LAX is pushing it unless you can get through customs faster (Global Entry, etc).
I know I have always arrived at TBIT but I could be wrong.
I would allow more time for both connections (LAX & DFW) if you can, to reduce the stress factor with possible late arrivals, etc
YMMV
I know I have always arrived at TBIT but I could be wrong.
I would allow more time for both connections (LAX & DFW) if you can, to reduce the stress factor with possible late arrivals, etc
YMMV
#9
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Qantas used to use T4 immigration for most of its flights but basically moved to TBIT when the 380s came on line.
In fact, in the past I have arrived at TBIT and directed through an underground tunnel for immigrations customs processing at T4.
In fact, in the past I have arrived at TBIT and directed through an underground tunnel for immigrations customs processing at T4.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Auckland
Programs: QF FF, Velocity, NZ FF
Posts: 134
Thanks for the advice folks.
I phoned QF to book it and they did all the work for me in building the connections so to speak.
Connecting at LAX should be "interesting" to say the least.
Sounds like a bit of a nightmare with the connections, I'll fumble my way through LAX and DFW no doubt with some weird sense of direction that I seem to have a nose for in these situations
The 2 hour at LAX DOES indeed worry me as it's short...VERY short. I had some dim idea I would have to re-check bags. I assume I would turn up at the AA desks with my QF itinerary and passport... as I say I have NO experience of connections before on international flights so I'm pretty much in the dark about it.
I phoned QF to book it and they did all the work for me in building the connections so to speak.
Connecting at LAX should be "interesting" to say the least.
Sounds like a bit of a nightmare with the connections, I'll fumble my way through LAX and DFW no doubt with some weird sense of direction that I seem to have a nose for in these situations
The 2 hour at LAX DOES indeed worry me as it's short...VERY short. I had some dim idea I would have to re-check bags. I assume I would turn up at the AA desks with my QF itinerary and passport... as I say I have NO experience of connections before on international flights so I'm pretty much in the dark about it.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Auckland
Programs: QF FF, Velocity, NZ FF
Posts: 134
I don't imagine there is immigration at T4 (or is there one?) thus all international flights have to arrive at TBIT for passport/customs. 2 hours in LAX is pushing it unless you can get through customs faster (Global Entry, etc).
I know I have always arrived at TBIT but I could be wrong.
I would allow more time for both connections (LAX & DFW) if you can, to reduce the stress factor with possible late arrivals, etc
YMMV
I know I have always arrived at TBIT but I could be wrong.
I would allow more time for both connections (LAX & DFW) if you can, to reduce the stress factor with possible late arrivals, etc
YMMV
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
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Posts: 6,437
Thanks for the advice folks.
I phoned QF to book it and they did all the work for me in building the connections so to speak.
Connecting at LAX should be "interesting" to say the least.
Sounds like a bit of a nightmare with the connections, I'll fumble my way through LAX and DFW no doubt with some weird sense of direction that I seem to have a nose for in these situations
The 2 hour at LAX DOES indeed worry me as it's short...VERY short. I had some dim idea I would have to re-check bags. I assume I would turn up at the AA desks with my QF itinerary and passport... as I say I have NO experience of connections before on international flights so I'm pretty much in the dark about it.
I phoned QF to book it and they did all the work for me in building the connections so to speak.
Connecting at LAX should be "interesting" to say the least.
Sounds like a bit of a nightmare with the connections, I'll fumble my way through LAX and DFW no doubt with some weird sense of direction that I seem to have a nose for in these situations
The 2 hour at LAX DOES indeed worry me as it's short...VERY short. I had some dim idea I would have to re-check bags. I assume I would turn up at the AA desks with my QF itinerary and passport... as I say I have NO experience of connections before on international flights so I'm pretty much in the dark about it.