Nov 19, 2015, 10:20 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: JDiver

Guide to JFK / New York City John F. Kennedy International Airport - Connection, MCT, etc.

Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.

Quote:

Check-in times as of March 2016 Link

In most locations, you must be checked in:

At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States

At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States

If you’re beginning travel from any of the airports below, the check-in time is longer:

Departing from: Check-in must be completed by:
(minutes before scheduled departure time)

Caracas, Venezuela (CCS) 90 minutes
Dublin, Ireland (DUB) 75 minutes
Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) 75 minutes
Maracaibo, Venezuela (MAR) 90 minutes
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT) 90 minutes

Link to JFK / New York airport website

Link to aa.com JFK / New York airport page

Quote:

Ticket counters
Main Terminal 8
Daily: 3:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Peculiarities: JFK is a congested airport that can be affected by winter storms or very heavy air traffic, with congested air space including EWR, JFK, LGA. Knock-on effects during lengthy IROPS can manifest themselves systemwide. Terminals transfers are almost entirely landside, using the free airport "AirTrain" trains. Note: JFK finished Runway 4 Left - 22 Right runway renewal at the end of September of 2015.

Quote:

Note: Jan 2016 TSA reps stated TSA PreCheck for Terminal 8 will be closed in the mornings and only open in the afternoons.

JFK Airport Map

American Airlines Terminal 8 Map

AA Minimum Connecting Times (MCT) at JFK
(currently incomplete)

I EY-AA: 2 hours (post 543)

Storage at JFK
Storage available by Arrivals in Terminals 1, 4, 8. See website for prices, locations, and times.

WARNING: WRONG INFORMATION AHEAD

Quote:

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - INCORRECT INFORMATION AHEAD

Admirals Clubs:

Dining, Shopping

On-Airport hotels:

Currency exchange:

WiFi / wireless service:

Device Power Charging:

Smoking: No smoking in terminals

Rental cars:
[INDENT]Arriving Passengers:

Departing Passengers:

Animal Relief Areas:

Parking

Disability Parking: see

Cell phone lot ()

Local transportation

Public transport

Metro

Shared Vans:

Taxi:

Is there anything to do at (airport)?

Do I have time to go to (town)?

Contributors to this thread include: handle;

Quote:

Other resources

Link to AA Flyer Guide wiki: Minimum Connecting Times

Link to AA Lounge Dashboard (guide to AA and other lounges)

Link to FlyerTalk city guide?

Updated (date) - (updated)

Operating terminals and gates

AA operates flights out of terminals .... (US and Alaska)[/hl].

ETC. UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Terminal A is the old international terminal, used for domestic flights (see TRIP note)

Terminal B is usually used for regional (American Eagle branded) flights (see TRIP note)

Terminal C is usually used for domestic flights

Terminal D is the international terminal; most AA international flights depart here, as well as all partner and Lufthansa international flights

Terminal E is used currently by *US and Alaska (and others) (see TRIP note)

* may be subject to change

[IMG]insert airport terminal graphic link[/IMG]
DFW American Airlines Terminals Map:

Getting from concourse to concourse

Landside, one can use the terminal link blue and green vans (see below), but it's faster and easier to use skylink.

Airside elevated bidirectional Sky Link is the easiest way to get around

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: Between D11 and D20 and between D24 and D34

Terminal E: Between E8 and E11 and between E31 and E32

Walking between terminals

A-C and B-D (international) are connected at the ends by departures 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.

There is no need to leave the secure area to move from one concourse to another. *Exceptions are arriving international flights. In such case one has to clear immigration and customs, reclaim bags and proceed through security. Keep in mind that if you purchased any liquids on the plane (duty free) you will have to follow the 3-1-1 rule and even check the bottles.

Landside free interterminal transportation

Terminal Link's blue and greens vans arrive every 10 minutes and will transfer you between all terminals once outside of security.

Free service

No ticket or pass of any kind is needed to board

Service available between 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

To request van pick-up between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., call 972 574 LINK (5465)

All vans are wheelchair accessible

Two easy-to-locate green pick-up/drop-off areas are located outside baggage claim areas of each terminal. Follow the Terminal Link signs to reach the nearest pick-up/drop-off area:

Terminal A
Entry A10 serving Gates A1-18
Entry A24 serving Gates A18-39
Terminal B
Entry B12 serving Gates B12-B25
Entry B25 serving Gates B25-B49
Terminal C
Entry C12 serving Gates 1-14
Entry C24 serving Gates 15-25
Terminal D
Entry at Lower Level D17 serving Gates D1-D22
Entry at Lower Level D24 serving Gates D23-D40
Terminal E
Entry E7 serving Gates E1-E10
Entry E31 serving Gates E31-34

Check-in and ticketing at DFW and check in times Link

Flagship Check-in: NO

Minimum time for checking in and arriving at the gate

To better ensure an on-time departure, our goal is to close the jetbridge door 10 minutes before departure time. This allows all customers to board and stow their belongings. (AA may release your seat if you show up at your gates less than fifteen minutes prior to scheduled departure.)

To retain your pre-reserved seat on a confirmed flight, make sure to follow the minimum check in and gate arrival times.*

For flights within and between the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands:

Minimum check-in is at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure in most locations

Arrive at the gate and be ready to board at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure

For flights originating outside the U.S. or flights departing the U.S. for an international destination:

Minimum check-in is at least 60 minutes before scheduled departure except in Buenos Aires, Dublin and Maracaibo, Venezuela

Arrive at the gate and be ready to board at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure

Minimum time to check baggage

To help us get your bag on the same flight with you, present your bag to an airline representative for check-in no later than the cutoff time.

For flights within and between the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands:

Check bags at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure at DFW
For flights departing the U.S. for an international destination:

Check bags at least 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure
Time to baggage delivery: minimum 20 minutes

AA Ticket counters Link

Terminal A
A8 - A15: full service and self-service check-in Daily: 4 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
A16 - A23: full service and self-service check-in Daily: 4:30 a.m. - 10:15 p.m.
Terminal B
B20 Daily: 5 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
B30 Daily: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Terminal C
C2 - C15: self-service check-in Daily: 4 a.m. - 8:45 p.m.
C16 - C25: Full service and self-service check-in Daily: 4 a.m. - 10:15 p.m.
C26 - C39: Self-service check-in Daily: 4 a.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Terminal D
D1 - D18: Self-service check-in Daily: 4 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
D20 - D40: Full service and self-service check-in Daily: 4 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Terminal E (US Airways)
Daily: 3:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Security at DFW

Link to DFW Airport Security information (including checkpoints and hours))

Note: coming out from immigration and customs, you may find yourself near the D22 and possible lengthy queues through TSA security. As swag says in a post, "D has multiple checkpoints, all easily walkable, and any ticketed passenger can use any one of them. If you find yourself facing a long line at D22, it may be worthwhile to walk down to D18 or D30.

Link to AA Flyer Guide wiki DFW Security

PriorityAAccess lines available at Terminals A, C and D.

Minimum and reasonable connection and check-in times at DFW

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. There is a "green line" shortcut for passengers traveling only with carry-on baggage (no checked luggage) and there are Global Entry kiosks and Scott cut to Global Entry queues.

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 (see the "DFW Security" section). Your international departure will be from Terminal D, also your international arrival terminal.

See DFW / Dallas Ft. Worth Connection & Times - Domestic & International (consolidated)[/quote]

DFW dining, services and shopping

Lounges: please see the Lounge Dashboard "sticky" for further lounges information at DFW

Admirals Clubs:
Terminal A: Admirals Club across from gate A-24

Terminal B: Admirals Club Service Center across from gates B5 and 6

Terminal C: Admirals Club across from gates C-19 and20

Terminal D: Admirals Club, and new Premium lounge near gate D-23; Centurion Lounge take lift opposite gate D-17

Terminal E: Delta Sky Club / Priority Pass

Dining, Shopping Link to DFW services, dining guide and interactive map

On-Airport hotels:

Grand Hyatt DFW (landside, Terminal D)

Hyatt Regency DFW (landside, Terminal C)

Minute Suites (hourly rental private suites) - D23
AA Employee Store: Link: (open to the public) Shop for AA ware, baggage, memorabilia, etc. at Gate C-2

Currency exchange: Travelex at D11, D22 (Outside Security), D24, D36, E8, Intl Re-Check.

WiFi / wireless service: Free AT&T Wireless Hot Spot throughout airport

Device Power Charging:
DFW Airport Travel Lounge - B28, C8, C27, E8
Free Power Stations - A10, C6, C20, C27, C35, D21, D23, D30, D40, E10, E37
Guest Services Center - B14
Smoking: No smoking in terminals other than
Terminal A Admirals Club smoking room D Club smoking room is closed)
Rental cars: The Rental Car Center is located at 2424 E. 38th St, DFW Airport, TX, near the south entrance of the Airport and is served by 10 companies. Link.

Arriving Passengers: After collecting your baggage, follow the Rental Car signs to the designated pick-up area on the lower level of the terminal. From there, board the Rental Car shuttle bus. Buses run 24 hours a day, depart every five minutes and reach the Rental Car Center in approximately 10 minutes.

Departing Passengers: Before your departing flight, please return your vehicle at the Rental Car Center. For transportation from the facility to your terminal, board the Rental Car Shuttle. The Rental Car Shuttle runs 24 hours a day and departs every five minutes from the facility.
Animal Relief Areas:

Terminal A: Lower level grassy areas.

Terminal B: Lower level grassy areas.

Terminal C: Lower level grassy areas.

Terminal D: Lower level, outside the D30/D31 baggage claim area by the parking garage and at D18.

DFW Parking

There are Valet, Terminal, Express and Remote parking options. See here for options, pricing and interactive guides.

Disability Parking: see Link

Cell phone lot (none)

DFW transportation

Public transport

Metro

DART Orangle Line to Dallas. Take rom entry near Terminal A, A-10

TRE / Trinity Rail Express to Dallas and Ct. Worth. NO SERVICE SUNDAYS. Take free bus to Remote south Parking; take connecting bus to CentrePort/DFW Airport station.
Shared Vans:

City Shuttle, L.L.C. shared van service 1.240.760.1998

Go Yellow Checker Airport Shuttle shared vans to Ft. Worth hotels. Board at upper level roadway marked areas.

SuperShuttle shared van service 972.456.3128
Taxi: at every terminal; see DFW Taxi Guide for prices, etc.

Is there anything to do at DFW?

You can visit the

C. R. Smith Museum (AA history, DC-3 Flagship Detroit, gift shop)
4601 Texas HWY 360 at FAA Rd
Fort Worth, Texas 76155
817-967-1560
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00-5:00, Sunday 1:00 - 5:00; Closed Monday
Cost: $7.00, $4.00 seniors 65 or +, students w/ ID, children 2-17, military
Getting there: taxi; (unofficial: take crew shuttle if space available to Conference and Training a Center, get dropped at the Museum). See FT DFW and the AA / C. R. Smith Museum in Dallas (consolidated)

Do I have time to go to Dallas?

A minimum of six hours would be suggested for "going to town".

Contributors to this thread include: aamilesslave;

Last updated: 17 August 2015 (JDiver)

Quote:

Other resources

Link to AA FAQ: Will I make my connection?

Link to AA Flyer Guide wiki: Minimum Connecting Times

Link to AA Lounge Dashboard (guide to AA and other lounges)

Link: to DFW connection guide in Texas forum

Link: to DFW layover guide in Texas Forum

Link: to DFW Employee Store (open to the public) Shop for AA ware, baggage, memorabilia, etc. at Gate C-2

Updated 7 Sep 2015 - JDiver
Updated 6 Feb 2016 - hartlogan - redacated all DFW info to eliminate confusion

[Archived] AA Guide: JFK / New York JFK Int Airport, MCT / Connection (pre-2016)

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Jul 3, 2013, 11:56 am

#316

HNL

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 10,959

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDiver

Welcome to FT!

You will have to arrive and disembark T-7, walk landside, transfer to T-8, process security, walk to the gate, etc. etc. and IB is likely to initiate boarding ~45 minutes prior to departure. Not to mention disruptions at the very congested JFK are not unusual, and the evening departure tranches can suffer from knock-on effects accumulating during the day. IMO too tight.

An earlier flight will undoubtedly suck up some time, but as a BA Gold with a BA lounge in T-8...

You have your terminals flipped. T8 = AA, T7 = IB/BA

Jul 3, 2013, 12:50 pm

#317

TravellingSalesman

Join Date: May 2013

Location: YYZ/YTZ/YUL

Programs: BA Gold, TK Elite

Posts: 1,558

Thanks for the quick replies. Looks like I mixed up the terminals: I thought both IB and AA were both from T7.

So that means my connection isn't even legal? This is being offered to me by fly.com, but upon redirection aa.com offers the same connection.

Since this was asked for, the connection is AA 3409 (indeed an Eagle flight) to AA 5952 - it says 'operated by IBERIA' but I can't seem to be able to Google the corresponding IB number.

I'm not so much concerned about spending more time in the terminal, it's just that any other connection I could find is several hundred dollars more expensive.

Jul 3, 2013, 12:55 pm

#318

HNL

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 10,959

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravellingSalesman

IB 6252

Jul 3, 2013, 1:39 pm

#319

dll

Join Date: Jun 2001

Location: LAX

Programs: AA Gold (prev. Ex Plat for 10 years); DL Plat; UA Gold; Hilton Diamond

Posts: 2,339

According to the published rules, 50 minutes is an illegal connection for AA-IB connections in JFK:

D/D is Domestic-Domestic
D/I is Domestic-International and so on

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE 1.00 1.15 1.45 2.00
OFFLINE 1.00 1.15 1.45 2.00
** OR * ARE ALL
AA-** DI 2.00 TRM 8 - 7

I'm surprised AA.com will even show this connection to you, but it's misunderstanding the AA code on the IB-operated flight (AA-AA connections are permitted with 40-minute minimums). I did recreate the connection and it's definitely being offered to you. I checked a date in October and it offered me a 45-minute connection in JFK from AA to IB. Absolutely not advisable under any circumstances and is almost certain to result in a missed connection. That particular inbound YYZ-JFK flight has a 50% on-time rating with an average delay of 31 minutes.

Last edited by dll; Jul 3, 2013 at 1:50 pm

Jul 3, 2013, 1:46 pm

#320

TravellingSalesman

Join Date: May 2013

Location: YYZ/YTZ/YUL

Programs: BA Gold, TK Elite

Posts: 1,558

Quote:

Originally Posted by dll

According to the published rules, 50 minutes is an illegal connection even for AA-AA connections in JFK:

D/D is Domestic-Domestic
D/I is Domestic-International and so on

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE 1.00 1.15 1.45 2.00
OFFLINE 1.00 1.15 1.45 2.00
** OR * ARE ALL
AA-** DI 2.00 TRM 8 - 7

I'm surprised AA.com will even show this connection to you; you'd probably end up rebooked automatically ahead of your travel date when the computer catches the error.

I see. I got the MCT from the AA wiki - is that not correct?

Sorry to keep asking questions - if I were to book this and then get rebooked, would that increase the price? I guess what I am asking is, would there be any risk to booking this connection (illegal but offered by AA) for price reasons and then getting re-booked onto a connection that is legal but offered at a higher price now?

Thanks again for all the input!

Jul 3, 2013, 1:59 pm

#321

Antarius

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2012

Location: KHOU/KIAH

Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 11,336

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravellingSalesman

The wiki says The following are published minimum connecting times for AA, American Eagle and American Connection service (collectively flight numbers 0 - 5099), excluding codeshares (collectively flight numbers 5100 - 8399) and BUS equipment, which may have different MCTs:

The DI time listed there is for an AA to AA connection, not AA to IB.

Jul 3, 2013, 2:44 pm

#322

Apieinthesky

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 2,342

Quote:

Originally Posted by dll

I'm surprised AA.com will even show this connection to you, but it's misunderstanding the AA code on the IB-operated flight (AA-AA connections are permitted with 40-minute minimums). I did recreate the connection and it's definitely being offered to you. I checked a date in October and it offered me a 45-minute connection in JFK from AA to IB. Absolutely not advisable under any circumstances and is almost certain to result in a missed connection. That particular inbound YYZ-JFK flight has a 50% on-time rating with an average delay of 31 minutes.

Agree. Strange that AA is offering it to you, and it's just about an impossible connection. I would certainly not get to JFK just 40 min before an international departure, and here you'll have to switch terminals using the AirTrain. Definitely not advisable.

Also, being pedantic here, it's CBP Pre-clearance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravellingSalesman

Hi all,

Now because of pre-check in Toronto I would arrive as a domestic passgner

Jul 3, 2013, 3:06 pm

#323

DWFI

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: NYC, SLC, LAX

Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat

Posts: 3,953

50 min is doable if all the stars align and you have the shiny cards to make it happen, but it's extremely risky and if even one thing goes wrong (like a long security line), it's over.

Definitely not something I'd try, and I've done a 50 minute I->D connection at LAX before.

Jul 3, 2013, 4:31 pm

#324

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Suspended

Join Date: Sep 2006

Programs: AAdvantage PP

Posts: 13,913

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWFI

Eagle flights because of tight turns tend not to arrive super early, particularly from a short distance such as Toronto. Even under the best circumstances I see no way of the OP making this flight. For a small terminal Security can be bad at T7.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George is offline

Jul 3, 2013, 4:45 pm

#325

george 3

Join Date: Apr 2011

Location: New York

Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days

Posts: 2,795

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravellingSalesman

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody could help me with a question about connecting at JFK. I have found (on a third-party web site) a connection YYZ-JFK-MAD that would have me arrive on American Eagle at JFK at 7.25pm and leave on Iberia at 8.15pm. Now because of pre-check in Toronto I would arrive as a domestic passgner, hence this would appear to be a legal connection (MCT domestic->international apparently being 40mins).

Having never been to T7 at JFK, is this advisable, or just madness? I have little experience with American airports in general and JFK in particular, so would very much value any advice you would have on this. (It is much cheaper than the other possibilities...)

Many thanks in advance for your help!

Regardless of whether it is a legal connection, it is not likely you will make this connection. The AE gates are at the far end of the C Concourse. After exiting security at T8, you still have a ten minute walk to the AirTrain station, hope the wait isn't long, etc. etc. etc. yes, "madness" as you say.

Jul 3, 2013, 5:24 pm

#326

supergrandslam

Join Date: Jan 2010

Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT

Posts: 1,467

Just curious, can op check in JFK-MAD at YYZ?

It may not an issue for US citizen but how about non US citizen?

Jul 3, 2013, 5:43 pm

#327

HNL

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 10,959

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 6_1_4 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/536.26 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0 Mobile/10B350 Safari/8536.25)

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergrandslam

Just curious, can op check in JFK-MAD at YYZ?

It may not an issue for US citizen but how about non US citizen?

Yea they can. Citizenship does not matter

Jul 3, 2013, 7:44 pm

#328

TravellingSalesman

Join Date: May 2013

Location: YYZ/YTZ/YUL

Programs: BA Gold, TK Elite

Posts: 1,558

OK, thanks for the feedback. Clearly this is not a connection I would actually be able to make.

Out of curiosity, what would happen if I did book this and then miss the connection? Given that it's an illegal connection, would I still be rebooked by AA?

Thinking along similar lines, what do you think would happen if I were to book it and then point out the illegal connection to AA? Would they cancel my reservation or rebook me?

Thanks again for all your help in this.

Jul 4, 2013, 7:17 am

#329

astroflyer

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: WAS

Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE

Posts: 2,126

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravellingSalesman

I presume if you book the flights directly through AA, you'd be fine. If you call in and play dumb and say, "I was researching my upcoming flight and realized I have to change terminals at JFK and don't think I have time...", I would presume they'd rebook you on something more reasonable. They certainly won't hold you accountable for an MCT issue if booked through their website directly.

Jul 4, 2013, 7:25 am

#330

george 3

Join Date: Apr 2011

Location: New York

Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days

Posts: 2,795

Check this thread out. It has a variety of connection issues that may be helpful to you in planning your new trip thru JFK.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html