It might be one of the world’s busiest airports, but it’s boring as heck

The airport

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Terminal D, Texas, USA.

The flight

Qantas QF22 to Melbourne – by distance, the fifth-longest flight in the world. Qantas also operates direct flights from Sydney to DFW: recently upgraded to its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. American Airlines, which uses DFW as its primary home hub, offers a seasonal service from Brisbane, too.

The arrival

I touch down from Toronto aboard Air Canada, collect my suitcase in Terminal E and haul it aboard the shuttle bus bound for Qantas at Terminal D. This chore is necessary as my inbound and outbound flights are on separate tickets – a tolerable consequence of using points to fly at minimal cost. From downtown Dallas or Fort Worth, take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) to CentrePort/DFW station: Terminal D is a short shuttle bus from there. Ride-share apps are also popular – fares vary by distance travelled.

The look

Check-in halls are noticeably dated. Qantas’ area is signalled by small posters stuck to the wall. The airport’s design budget was apparently consumed by the luxury shopping precinct straight after security, although a quick stroll sees that transition back to rugged, utilitarian vibes. A nine-metre wishbone sculpture by local artist Terry Allen gives the monotony a reprieve, symbolising the mix of hope and worry found in many of us while travelling.

Check-in

It’s rare that I’ll ask for directions in an airport, but “Melbourne” is missing from the departure screens: oops. I find Qantas check-in tucked away at the end of the terminal, with staff still setting up when things should be in full swing (four hours before departure, per the Qantas website). I get chatting with a passenger who’s taking his first international trip. After learning the ins and outs of what has become his favourite airport bench – on which he’s spent all day waiting for check-in to open – I extend an invitation to the lounge. I’ve made his day.

Security

My US Global Entry membership (about $430 every five years) comes with TSA PreCheck privileges. Belt, shoes and jacket stay on, while bags go straight through the scanner, fully packed. I’m cleared in under two minutes, while screens estimate standard queues at just 10 minutes. If lines are longer, look to those screens – they’ll also show if other security points are any faster, as they all flow through to the same concourse.

Food + drink

Extremely limited before security. With hours to kill before Qantas check-in, the nearby Grand Hyatt lobby restaurant is my only option. After security, bars abound. For a meal, there’s The Italian Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, or get your chain food fix with Applebee’s, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, McDonald’s, Starbucks and more. Save some appetite for Texan favourite, Whataburger, and its signature burger of the same name.

Retail therapy

I consider buying a small memento but baulk after noticing that every price has been brazenly doubled by permanent marker, in every store. Hard pass. For the well-heeled, or for new heels, the luxury precinct houses brands like Coach, Kate Spade, Longchamp and Montblanc. For some amusement on the 17-hour flight to Melbourne, there’s a Lego store, too.

Passing time

If you’ve been waiting to back up your holiday snaps, this is the place for it. The free Wi-Fi is the fastest I’ve measured in any airport globally, pumping out download speeds of 606Mbps – more than 50 times faster than basic Australian NBN. Pass by the Coca-Cola historical exhibition on the way to your gate. With time to spare, Qantas Club membership unlocks the American Airlines Admirals Club lounge, while Qantas Gold status or a Qantas business class boarding pass get you into AA’s Flagship Lounge (plus one lucky guest, when access is by status).

The verdict

DFW, one of the world’s busiest airports, is a useful alternative to LAX, now with year-round Qantas flights from Sydney and Melbourne, plus a seasonal American Airlines service from Brisbane. It’s boring as heck before security, so don’t arrive too early – but do arrive with an appetite. That’s the easiest way to pass the time.

Our rating out of five

★★★½

The writer travelled at his own expense.