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).
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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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.