Jul 1, 2015, 4:28 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Connection / Getting Around DFW / Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport
DFW Minimum Connect Times
Q. What are minimum check-in time requirements at DFW?
AA suggests arriving a minimum of one hour prior to demostic departures if departing domestically (including Hawai'i, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands) if one has no baggage to check; ninety minutes if one must check baggage; and two hours prior to international departures.
Additionally, AA requires passengers be checked in at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure at DFW and "Arrive at the gate and be ready to board at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure" (sic).
Q. What is the domestic to domestic or to international Minimum Connection Time (MCT)?
The minimum connect time at DFW, domestic to domestic or international, is 0:40 minutes. International to domestic or international is comfortably done in 2:00 or longer (not the official MCT).
Q. If I am making an international to international connection, what is the process?
There is no international transit process in nearly all airports in the USA (MIA has a baggage exception for international to international). Arriving internationally, unless you have been pre-cleared, you must proceed through U. S. immigration (there are kiosks and a fast channel for Global Entry approved passengers), recover your baggage from the baggage carousel and proceed through U. S. Customs. Upon exiting Customs there is a bag drop facility; drop your checked baggage, exit to the landside arrivals area.
Proceed to the kiosks to get boarding passes for your ongoing travel, then proceed through TSA security to airside. Your international departure will be from Terminal D, your arrival Terminal.
See DFW / Dallas Ft. Worth Connection & Times - Domestic & International (consolidated)
Q. What are minimum check-in time requirements at DFW?
AA suggests arriving a minimum of one hour prior to demostic departures if departing domestically (including Hawai'i, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands) if one has no baggage to check; ninety minutes if one must check baggage; and two hours prior to international departures.
Additionally, AA requires passengers be checked in at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure at DFW and "Arrive at the gate and be ready to board at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure" (sic).
Q. What is the domestic to domestic or to international Minimum Connection Time (MCT)?
The minimum connect time at DFW, domestic to domestic or international, is 0:40 minutes. International to domestic or international is comfortably done in 2:00 or longer (not the official MCT).
Q. If I am making an international to international connection, what is the process?
There is no international transit process in nearly all airports in the USA (MIA has a baggage exception for international to international). Arriving internationally, unless you have been pre-cleared, you must proceed through U. S. immigration (there are kiosks and a fast channel for Global Entry approved passengers), recover your baggage from the baggage carousel and proceed through U. S. Customs. Upon exiting Customs there is a bag drop facility; drop your checked baggage, exit to the landside arrivals area.
Proceed to the kiosks to get boarding passes for your ongoing travel, then proceed through TSA security to airside. Your international departure will be from Terminal D, your arrival Terminal.
See DFW / Dallas Ft. Worth Connection & Times - Domestic & International (consolidated)
DFW Terminal Map:
Skylink airside elevated interterminal train
Skylink's bi-directional system connects all five terminals and is the shortest route to your stop while inside of security.
SkyLink access locations (upstairs by escalator or elevator / lift)
Skylink's bi-directional system connects all five terminals and is the shortest route to your stop while inside of security.
- Free service
- Trains arrive every two minutes
- Average ride time of five minutes
- Maximum ride time of nine minutes between farthest points
- Easy access to other terminals’ shops and restaurants
- Station escalator/elevator locations:
- Terminal A: Between A13 and A16 and between A29 and A34
- Terminal B: Between B9 and B12 and between B28 and B31
- Terminal C: Between C8 and C12 and between C27 and C32
- Terminal D (International): Between D11 and D20 and between D24 and D34
- Terminal E (US Airways): Between E8 and E11 and between E31 and E32
Walking between terminals
- A-C and B-D (international) are connected at the ends by departurs level walkways; the people mover belts on these walkways have been out of service at least for months. Estimate a five to ten minute walk between A and C, B and D.
- A and B are connected by overhead walkways (escalator or lift / elevator). This walkway is serviced by people mover belts.
- C and D (international) are connected by overhead walkways (escalator or lift / elevator). This walkway is serviced by people mover belts.
Animal Relief Areas:
Terminals A, B, C - Lower level grassy areas.
Terminal D - Lower level, outside the D30/D31 Baggage Claim area. Cross the roadway to the parking garage.
Terminals A, B, C - Lower level grassy areas.
Terminal D - Lower level, outside the D30/D31 Baggage Claim area. Cross the roadway to the parking garage.
Other resources
- DFW:Link to DFW services, dining guide and interactive map
- AA: Suggested (airport) Arrival Times
- AA: AA DFW airport information page
- FT - AA FAQ: Will I make my connection?
- AA FlyerGuide Wiki: Minimum Connecting Times
- Admirals Clubs and other lounges: see AA Lounge Dashboard
- DFW Employee Store: Shop for AA ware, baggage, memorabilia, etc. at Gate C-2
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Connection / Getting Around DFW / Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport (master thread)
Jul 1, 2015, 11:21 am
#1
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DFW Airport: Can you walk from C to D
I was wondering, I know there's the DFW Skylink to take between terminals but if I wanted to go from C to D terminals, can it be walked? Are there well marked signs for directions? Any idea how long of a walk it is? Is the walkway above or below ground?
Also, if there is a walkway, is it Air side, doesn't require going through security again?
Thanks!
Also, if there is a walkway, is it Air side, doesn't require going through security again?
Thanks!
Last edited by JDiver; Jul 1, 2015 at 6:44 pm Reason: Restore original post title
Jul 1, 2015, 11:24 am
#2
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You can walk as follows:
A to B (via elevated walkway over roads)
A to C (via ground-level walkway)
C to D (via elevated walkway over roads)
B to D (via ground-level walkway)
All of these walkways are well marked. I almost always walk. Skylink can be a nuisance and often takes longer than just walking. Plus, it is healthier to walk!
A to B (via elevated walkway over roads)
A to C (via ground-level walkway)
C to D (via elevated walkway over roads)
B to D (via ground-level walkway)
All of these walkways are well marked. I almost always walk. Skylink can be a nuisance and often takes longer than just walking. Plus, it is healthier to walk!
Jul 1, 2015, 11:28 am
#3
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Absolutely. It's a nice way to get some short exercise between terminals, and they retain moving people belts on the AC-BD connectors. That and the convenient SkyLink are all airside.
AA Terminal Map:
AA Terminal Map:
Jul 1, 2015, 11:43 am
#4
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He had to go into terminal E and exit security. Due to all of the extra people the shuttle bus was overwhelmed, he took a cab over to D, and had to re-clear security (thankfully he had PreCheck). He made his flight, but it was a bit close for comfort.
After I heard that story, I've walked C-D, D-A, and nearly anything else I could. I normally participate in FitBit challenges, so the extra steps come in handy.
Jul 1, 2015, 12:07 pm
#6
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A friend told me that he was on Skylink going between terminals...and it broke down at terminal E.
He had to go into terminal E and exit security. Due to all of the extra people the shuttle bus was overwhelmed, he took a cab over to D, and had to re-clear security (thankfully he had PreCheck). He made his flight, but it was a bit close for comfort.
After I heard that story, I've walked C-D, D-A, and nearly anything else I could. I normally participate in FitBit challenges, so the extra steps come in handy.
He had to go into terminal E and exit security. Due to all of the extra people the shuttle bus was overwhelmed, he took a cab over to D, and had to re-clear security (thankfully he had PreCheck). He made his flight, but it was a bit close for comfort.
After I heard that story, I've walked C-D, D-A, and nearly anything else I could. I normally participate in FitBit challenges, so the extra steps come in handy.
Jul 1, 2015, 1:01 pm
#7
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Jul 1, 2015, 3:32 pm
#8
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I once decided to run that one, because I hoped it was quicker than waiting for skylink, and I was really pushing making that flight. I ended up catching the flight and doubt I'd have made it otherwise. It's was a full 5-minute run for an earlier standby flight and I ended up pretty miserable and profusely sweating. I guess it's easily a 15-20 minutes walk, even at a fairly brisk pace, depending on which gate you start at and need to end up at.
Jul 1, 2015, 4:27 pm
#9
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I walk when I can- I have found walking between Low numbered C/B gates and/or High numbered A/D gates is more efficient than taking the Skytrain.
You can also walk from C to E ... IIRC.
You can also walk from C to E ... IIRC.
Jul 26, 2015, 1:23 pm
#10
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DFW Transit question
The search function did not return any answers, so here is my question: My niece is flying from PHX to DFW to connect to FRA, flights are on AA. She has just 55 minutes time between flights. If the flight arrives at the International terminal, time is not a problem. Should she arrive at another terminal then she has to take the airport train? Will she need to go through security again? She is not a frequent flyer and has no status, so presumably she will sit in the back of the plane losing already 5-10 minutes just getting off the plane. Do you feel 55 minutes is enough time? Interestingly enough AA must have thought so otherwise they would not sell this ticket. Thanks in advance.
Jul 26, 2015, 1:39 pm
#11
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She can take the train ("skylink") or it may be faster to walk depending on the gates. See this link for a map that shows the sidewalks between terminals. http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/where...rminal_DFW.jsp
Going from domestic to international does not require security again, coming back is a different story.
As long as the first flight is on time, she should have no issues.
Going from domestic to international does not require security again, coming back is a different story.
As long as the first flight is on time, she should have no issues.
Last edited by bchandler02; Jul 26, 2015 at 1:40 pm Reason: wrong map link
Jul 26, 2015, 1:47 pm
#13
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The airport train at DFW is frequent and runs in both directions. I've rarely taken more than 25 minutes to get between gates in different terminals, including comfort stops.
Jul 26, 2015, 1:49 pm
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Jul 26, 2015, 1:50 pm
#15
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Although gate assignments can change from day to day, you can get an idea of which DFW gates the two flights are using today by checking flight status at aa.com. 
Originally Posted by EXLEFTSEAT
Thanks a lot, that's all the information I needed. ^