South - Airplane Spotting at DFW

Hey everyone,
i am planning a plane spotting trip to Dallas Ft. Worth in February and I have a few question's.
I will be staying at the Hyatt Regency DFW

-Is it possible to spot airplane(registration #) from landside within all the terminals?

-If not, what is the best way to get access to the secure side of DFW's terminals, i know it's possible at the Grand Hyatt to get a permit, will they allow it if i am a guest at the Regency?

Why would an airport give a pass into the secure area due to the reason someone is a hotel guest?

If you want to go to the gates to look out the windows buy a fully refundable ticket and use that to get a boarding pass and then you can enter as if you were flying that day. Then cancel the flight after and get a refund. Once you are in any terminal you can travel about the others on foot or by train.

The way a lot of gates are laid out I am not sure how well you can see out the various windows to see registration numbers at all. I am not sure you can see the plane at some gates.

i am just curious though.....a plane spotting trip?!!!

There's a "Founders' Plaza" park that was recently re-opened nearby that presumably has good spotting opportunities. <link> (http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/index.php?ctnid=28578)

It's also IMO worthwhile to visit the American Airlines C. R Smith Museum (link in the Unofficial Users' Guide sticky.)

Also check aircraftspotting.net, or at least their page on DFW. <link> (http://www.aircraftspotting.net/airports/DFW.php) It also says Founders' Plaza has"an elevated parking lot between Runways 35C and 35R" but mistakenly says it is closed (it has been reopened, as stated previously.)

Why would an airport give a pass into the secure area due to the reason someone is a hotel guest?

Shops and restaurants.
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=6718

i am just curious though.....a plane spotting trip?!!!

Quite common elsewhere in the world - though often things don't end well...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/12/newsid_2518000/2518385.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2001/11/22/greek.xml

From the title, I thought this was gonna be a thread on where to buy tampons at DFW. Or a mop. Not sure that this is much better...

I'm surprised it took 6 posts to "read my mind." I was sure an OBGYN was called for!

I've heard of Train Spotting - even took in an historic steam engine passby in Interlaken, Switzerland - but the logistis of planes, kudos, that must take a lot of planning, good luck!

Why would an airport give a pass into the secure area due to the reason someone is a hotel guest? ...

Shops and restaurants.
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=6718

Exactly so. I inquired about this the last time I stayed there. It was a simple matter of going to the front desk where they confirm you are a guest and then call security who escort you to and through security.

What about riding the Skylink around? I has the best views and you would always be getting new scenery.

Though AA is the primary airline at DFW, this thread, which was allowed to rest at FT-AA for responses, will now depart for Gate... er, the South (including Texas) Forum. It sounds like not many AA pax are spotters... ;)

It's also IMO worthwhile to visit the American Airlines C. R Smith Museum (link in the Unofficial Users' Guide sticky.)

It's my impression, occasionally noted here, that the Grand Hyatt, not the Regency, but located in Terminal D, has a "setup" to get guests through security. I question whether it's as doable at the "Midfield" Hyatt Regency.

With a good set of binoculars, the a/c on the outlying hardstands and hangars (UPS, FEDEX, the AA Shops, etc. will be visible from the upper floors of the Hyatt Regency, BUT (a) DFW is a vast spread, a long way from here to there, and (b) for plane-spotting buffs, because of the few airlines coming and going, it's simply not like a tropical birding resort for variety. I see some "furriners" over at the AA shop for maintenance, but not many, since AA is probaly high cost compared to alternatives. DFW essentially welcomes few if any "General Aviation" flights, and not that many charters anymore.

The "SkyLink" will give you a chance to see every a/c at every gate, quickly, comfortably, easily and free, with free quick second helpings. It's inside security, so you'll need to solve that potential problem. "D" handles all international flights except for the "Troop Shuttle" to Iraq in "B" about Gate 32 or so, past the Eagle RJs and the two(?) UA gates. "E" the old terminal was all DL, has NW and others plus the DL leftovers, sad memories of better times.


DAL (Love Field) has some interesting general aviation drop ins as does the airport in Addison, just North of Love and Meacham in Ft. Worth (and occasional oddities out North of Ft. Worth by the NASCAR track at the big Air Freight hub).

It's my impression, occasionally noted here, that the Grand Hyatt, not the Regency, but located in Terminal D, has a "setup" to get guests through security. I question whether it's as doable at the "Midfield" Hyatt Regency.

This is correct... the Grand Hyatt allows for terminal access, the Hyatt Regency does not

To do this at the Grand Hyatt with a room registration, you go down to the concierge desk and present your key and photo id. They fill out about a page of paperwork (one of the questions is why you desire access... my reason is always "to eat in the terminal") and call for a uniformed DFW officer who comes and walks you to the security checkpoint and turns your paperwork over to the TSA. The TSA then puts you through security with an SSSS screening (handwanding, hand search of anything you want to carry with you).

Its completely discretionary... I'm not sure that planespotting would be considered a valid reason. My understanding of why they do it is that the mostly local restaurants in the terminal, most of who contracted pre 9/11, were enticed to be there with the promise of access to all the hotel guests at the terminal. DFW begrudgingly allowed for the access after many of them complained about lower than promised revenues since there is a lack of landside access. (A valid complaint, if you ask me... prior to 9/11, my coworkers and I used to eat lunch at the terminals all the time since our office is located in the cargo district of the airport.)

This is correct... the Grand Hyatt allows for terminal access, the Hyatt Regency does not

To do this at the Grand Hyatt with a room registration, you go down to the concierge desk and present your key and photo id. They fill out about a page of paperwork (one of the questions is why you desire access... my reason is always "to eat in the terminal") and call for a uniformed DFW officer who comes and walks you to the security checkpoint and turns your paperwork over to the TSA. The TSA then puts you through security with an SSSS screening (handwanding, hand search of anything you want to carry with you).

Its completely discretionary... I'm not sure that planespotting would be considered a valid reason. My understanding of why they do it is that the mostly local restaurants in the terminal, most of who contracted pre 9/11, were enticed to be there with the promise of access to all the hotel guests at the terminal. DFW begrudgingly allowed for the access after many of them complained about lower than promised revenues since there is a lack of landside access. (A valid complaint, if you ask me... prior to 9/11, my coworkers and I used to eat lunch at the terminals all the time since our office is located in the cargo district of the airport.)
You could also go play golf at Bear Creek (36 holes inside DFW). Every few minutes you'll have a plane taking off/landing over your head. It's one of my favorite things about the course.