Qantas announces nonstop DFW to Melbourne service
Just days after Australia made news by scrapping pre-travel testing rules, we’ve learned it will soon be even easier to visit one of its most popular cities for tourists … without a layover. Qantas announced this weekend, it will begin nonstop service in December from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Melbourne (MEL).
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The Sydney-based carrier and Oneworld Alliance member will operate nonstop flights between DFW and Melbourne.Saturday’s announcement means DFW will get a second nonstop flight to Australia – Qantas already has direct service to Sydney – and according to DFW officials, this marks the first direct flight from the U.S. to Melbourne not originating on the west coast.
Details of the service
According to the announcement posted on DFW’s website, Qantas will operate its nonstop DFW to Melbourne flights four times each week. The service will be on board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Related: How the 787 Dreamliner can help you minimize jetlag
The flights, which will rank among the world’s longest, are scheduled to begin Dec. 2. This is the third airport in the U.S. that Qantas flies to directly, along with San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX).
After Qantas resumed its service from the U.S. to Australia in February as COVID-19 restrictions loosened, this new service means hundreds more seats each week getting direct access to the capital of Victoria and its unique culture, food and shops.
“Both regions [Dallas/Fort Worth and Melbourne] are experiencing rapid growth and this addition will provide new opportunities for international business ties, tourism and economic development,” DFW CEO Sean Donahue said in a statement Saturday.
As of now, Melbourne will be DFW’s 71st international destination.
Booking your trip
According to the announcement on Saturday, travelers should be able to start booking nonstop DFW to Melbourne flights on Qantas Airlines right away. I checked the Qantas website on Sunday though, and was not able to find any nonstop options in December 2022 or January 2023 just yet.
To give you a sense of current pricing around the time this service will launch, a round trip from DFW to Melbourne on the Dec. 2 launch date is going for more than $2,400 at the moment. This involves a stop at LAX or Sydney (SYD) depending on which itinerary you prefer.
For travelers looking to use miles to book a trip to Melbourne, Qantas’ membership in the Oneworld alliance should provide more options for booking. Namely, American Airlines AAdvantage members with miles can actually book a trip through the American website and end up on Qantas-operated flights.
Related: Best sites for searching Oneworld availability
Depending on how flexible your dates of your travel are, you can get a round trip in economy for as low as 80,000 AAdvantage miles, which TPG’s March 2022 points and miles valuations shows is worth about $960 – a significant savings in value compared to the cash rate. If your travel dates are very flexible, the Oneworld Alliance awards chart indicates the best mileage fare you can get for a business/first Class ticket is 80,000 miles each way.
Related: A hop across the Pacific in Qantas 787 Business Class
We’ll certainly be watching to see how the presence of nonstop DFW to Melbourne flights impact pricing once they become available.
More opportunities to visit Melbourne
Bottom line, this announcement gives travelers more chances to visit Melbourne. TPG recently visited the city and came away with some great recommendations on what to do and where to stay.
Keep an eye on the Qantas website as these direct service options become available to book, and perhaps you could soon find yourself on one of the world’s longest flights!
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- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
- This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
- The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
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- The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
- Breeze through security with CLEAR® lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Learn more.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees