Morning mimosas, sleeping pods and a gastronomic feast: What it’s like to fly new Brisbane-Texas flight

A new direct American Airlines flight from Brisbane to Texas bring visitors to the city of Grapevine, just five minutes from the airport, complete with a vibrant wine, culinary and cultural scene

Seat AA5, who knew there was such a thing? Definitely not me, a former cattle class miss turned business class beau.

When someone asks me how the other side lives, this is the memory that now lives in my head rent free – American Airlines Flagship Business Class.

I was blessed to be seated on one of the first direct flights between Brisbane and Dallas-Fort Worth Texas.

This is the longest route by distance flown byAmerican Airlines, and the longest route on the Brisbane Airport network map. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is a hub offering extensive coast-to-coast flight routes. And if you’re craving a mix of big city excitement, cowboy culture, top-tier barbecue, and some of the best live music in the world, the nearby city of Grapevine is is calling your name.

Once onboard, the 10am flight the hospitality truly soars. Friendly and attentive cabin crew greet passengers with a glass of Champagne or, in my case, an early morning mimosa. The spacious seats are equipped with plush bedding, ensuring restful sleep on the 15-hour journey.

There are high-resolution entertainment screens, noise-cancelling headphones, a curated selection of movies and TV shows and my personal favourite – a window with adjustable shade settings.

American Airlines Flagship Business Class meal service.

The food was like a gastronomic conveyor belt. First, a crab salad wrapped in butter lettuce with chardonnay vinaigrette. Sensational. Then Chicken Saltimbocca: juicy and flavourful, paired with salsa verde, seared parmesan polenta, and asparagus, complemented with assorted warm gourmet breads.

I could have finished all this with a sundae – but I can never say no to a good cheese platter. The first green flag was the size of the blue cheese wedge – wow.

Time to take advantage of the exquisite wine menu. A Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles Cotes du Rhone AOC France please and thank you.

I then proceeded to play with the electronic system that controlled my personal pod, lying down completely flat and then up again to work out how it was possible that my entire body fitted in this shell so snugly. Eye mask, check, another mimosa, check, blanket, check. The hours literally flew by.

After drifting off to a sleep so comfortable it rivalled my own bed at home, I woke to warm croissants, fresh yoghurt and exotic fruit and chive scrambled eggs with potato, bacon strips and fried tomato. I’ve never been so sad to disembark a long-haul flight.

BOOK IT NOW: American Airlines flies from Brisbane to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, daily until the end of March

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Downtown Grapevine, Texas.

What it’s like staying in the city of Grapevine:

I had arrived in the city of Grapevine, next to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, after taking one of the new American Airlines direct flights from Brisbane.

Southern Americans are Aussies in disguise. They’re friendly as hell, love a good drink and are dedicated to perfecting a barbecue. Despite being 13,000km away, I felt right at home.

If I was to describe Grapevine in three words it would be “palpable Christmas cheer”, when I arrived there in December last year not long after the flights started. The kind you see in Hallmark movies.

Arriving feels like stepping into one of those snow globes you buy from the local newsagency. And it made sense – it is, in fact, the Christmas capital of Texas, signed, sealed and delivered by the senate in 2009.

We took a tour of the Historic Main Street District that has been preserved in a way that feels ol-timey but with boutique shopping. At the end sat the Harvest Hall, a train station-turned dining and entertainment destination fitted with an array of culinary delights and. of course, Christmas-inspired cocktails as I discovered while partaking in a Christmas carol trivia night at the Holly Jolly Bar.

Winery tasting rooms at Delaney Vineyards at Grapevine

Here you can also take an elevator up to the Observation Tower which offers panoramic views of the city, including the bustling Peace Plaza Ice Rink below.

But it’s really the people of Grapevine who create the Christmas spirit, hosting a Christmas drone show, converting their 1920s Victorian-style train into a Polar Express experience for kids, even their councilwoman dresses up as Mrs Claus every single year. Then there’s an annual parade of floats including moving lights, rock bands and performers.

Artsy folk can try their hand at the Vetro Glassblowing Studio, where we crafted our own Christmas ornaments under the guidance of skilled artisans.

All year round, Grapevine has some truly exceptional modern experiences on offer. My favourite was the Meow Wolf exhibition in the Grapevine Mills Mall. Picture 30,000 square feet of mind trick artwork that rivals Alice in Wonderland, a place where you can immerse yourself in the installations, journey through secret passageways, and literally lose yourself in a museum.

Nash Farm sheep shaving in Grapevine Texas

Then there’s the Gaylords ICE experience at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, where you can walk through a maze of life-sized ice sculptures or, for the adults, visit the ice bar and drink Fireball from shot glasses carved from ice.

Grapevine dates back to the early 1840s when settlers arrived in what was then the Republic of Texas. It derives its name from the wild Mustang grapes that flourished in the area but, funnily enough, only the horses enjoyed eating those grapes, so they weren’t used for wine.

Despite this, Grapevine lives up to its name, with award-winning tasting rooms and the largest wine festival in the South West. It is hard to choose between the booze tours but if you only have time for one, head to Winestein’s Tasting Room – this wine bar and shop is exceptional.

The true standout is the fundamentals tasting presentation where staff methodically explain how grapes taste from different provinces, mapping out global wine production and structure. For vino lovers, it’s a fascinating experience.

An established agricultural hub by the mid-19th century, Grapevine quickly grew as a centre for trade, aided by the arrival of the railroad. Today the town is celebrated not only for its historical charm but also as a beacon of Texan hospitality, blending its pioneer heritage with modern attractions.

Its pioneer roots are preserved through places like Nash Farm and the gorgeous Palace Theatre on Main St.

Grapevine iceskaters

When it comes to Texas culinary delights, there’s one rule you must remember – if it’s “chicken fried” it’s not chicken, just fried like one. My first Texas dinner at Mac’s on Main taught me that.

I had country fried steak, with a white sauce that mimics what us Aussies would pour over silverside in the ’80s. I did not eat it again. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but I’m told it’s one of those recipes where everyone’s is better than the rest.

This special white sauce is what Southern Americans call “gravy” and infiltrates all menus. At breakfast it’s served on what can only be described as a rock hard scone, or “biscuits”. At lunch it’s on schnitzels, or chicken fried chicken (I know). It’s on beef strips, tenders, poppers, cornbreads, casseroles, basically anything you would put any other condiment on.

Jazz train musicians in Grapevine

It would be a sin to go without trying Tex-Mex, a unique combination of the state’s Mexican influence, which borders the south end. My top experience of this was Ezparaza’s where I was served a frozen margarita the size of my head with a Corona bottle sticking out of it. It’s also where they prepared right next to me the largest bowl of guacamole I’ve ever seen.

Dinner at Tolbert’s introduced me to the famous Bowl of Red chilli, a Texas staple that warmed the soul … and other body parts later. I was also pleasantly surprised to eat the best slow-cooked ragu maybe ever at Napoli’s Italian Kitchen on Main St. Another must-visit is the famous pie shop JudyPie, where you can’t go past the classic pecan and pumpkin pies.

I also discovered pickle shots, a combination of vodka and pickle juice at one of the coolest bars I’ve been to, AJ’s.

You can also duck into a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World – a treasure trove for outdoor enthusiasts but, fair warning, you will see anything and everything that can be taxidermied. It was as if Bunnings and the military had a baby together.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

This trip was more than the stereotypes – the fried food, the super-sized everything. It was a visit to Australia’s fun older, louder cousin, and ya’ll, I can’t wait to go back.

The writer was a guest of Visit Grapevine

Grapevine is the host destination to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, as the main gateway to Texas.

GrapevineTexasUSA.com