How to safely navigate SFO and DFW?
Nov 30, 2010 | 11:45 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 346
SFO terminal three has two checkpoints near the United check-in area, one upstairs and one downstairs. If you walk past (to the left, if you're facing away from the curb) of the main checkpoint near United, down the stairs, and then turn and walk back again in the direction you came, there's a second, smaller checkpoint. It's mostly used by vendors and employees, but I went through it recently (Sunday) because the line was shorter than the one upstairs and it didn't seem to have any of the new machines.
Dec 1, 2010 | 5:41 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
Here's how to do it at DFW:
For your outbound trip: clear immigration, get checked bags, clear customs then recheck bags with AA prior to leaving international arrivals area. Bag re-check is on LEFT after customs, exit is on right.
After exiting head to the TERMINAL LINK. This is a bus service with in DFW that connects the terminals, outside of security. Sky Link, the train is inside security. Take TERMINAL LINK to your departure terminal, then clear security there. Only terminal at DFW to have NoS is terminal D.
Terminal Link web site: http://www.dfwairport.com/terminallink/index.php
For your return trip: you can check in at DFW for the DFW-CUN flight at any AA terminal, clear security, then Sky Link train to terminal D for your CUN boarding. I'd recommend terminal B. AA flights out of B are regionals flown by AE, so security line isn't more than 5-10 people (usually). Plus it is next door to terminal D.
For your outbound trip: clear immigration, get checked bags, clear customs then recheck bags with AA prior to leaving international arrivals area. Bag re-check is on LEFT after customs, exit is on right.
After exiting head to the TERMINAL LINK. This is a bus service with in DFW that connects the terminals, outside of security. Sky Link, the train is inside security. Take TERMINAL LINK to your departure terminal, then clear security there. Only terminal at DFW to have NoS is terminal D.
Terminal Link web site: http://www.dfwairport.com/terminallink/index.php
For your return trip: you can check in at DFW for the DFW-CUN flight at any AA terminal, clear security, then Sky Link train to terminal D for your CUN boarding. I'd recommend terminal B. AA flights out of B are regionals flown by AE, so security line isn't more than 5-10 people (usually). Plus it is next door to terminal D.
Dec 1, 2010 | 8:11 am
#18
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,814
Heads-up on DFW: while as of last weekend, D was the only terminal with the scanners in use, they have been installed at most A & C checkpoints, and are only awaiting TSA training before they go operational.
Here's the current info from the sticky thread:
You didn't say when your trip is, but definitely re-check the sticky thread just before you leave.
All the DFW terminals are connected airside by the Skylink, which runs in both directions A - C - E - D - B - A, with the A-B and D-E rides slightly longer than the others. The max ride time is 9 minutes.
Here's the current info from the sticky thread:
DFW - MMW in use @ ALL D C/Ps - Installed @ A21, A36, C8, C21, C31 (left/main lane) - SAFE A12, B9, B19, B33, C31, E8, E15, E16, E33 - B24 in progress
All the DFW terminals are connected airside by the Skylink, which runs in both directions A - C - E - D - B - A, with the A-B and D-E rides slightly longer than the others. The max ride time is 9 minutes.
Dec 1, 2010 | 9:57 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 346
Huh. Things must have changed then. I haven't worked over in terminal 3 in about 2 years, so that must have changed. My bad.
Dec 1, 2010 | 11:43 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 456
So I bought tickets for the family completely unaware of what the US is doing up there (we live in Mexico). I'm still not sure I'll be able to go through the search but I'm wondering if we have any chance to not opt out - to find a way through the old metal detectors. We're flying CUN-DFW-SFO and flying back home (never to set foot on US soil until this craziness is resolved) SFO-DFW (stay overnight) and then DFW-CUN. All on American Airlines. We will have 4 kids (16, 14, 11 and 9) and a dog (going in cabin). We will be opting out of the PornoScan but I'd rather not take a chance on getting the enhanced sexual assault both for my kids (my boys will be wearing athletic cups) and for myself (as I've had PTSD flashbacks ever since finding out about this from a sexual assault that happened to me at 11).
Looking at today's flight, it got to DFW at gate D18 and the connecting flight (to SFO) left from A24. I see in the sticky that MMW is in use at all D checkpoint but since we're LEAVING (and going through customs) I'm hoping we'll avoid that? I'm not sure if we leave security to go to our connecting flight and A24 isn't on the list. Return SFO-DFW uses terminal 3 and DFW-CUN uses terminal D.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Looking at today's flight, it got to DFW at gate D18 and the connecting flight (to SFO) left from A24. I see in the sticky that MMW is in use at all D checkpoint but since we're LEAVING (and going through customs) I'm hoping we'll avoid that? I'm not sure if we leave security to go to our connecting flight and A24 isn't on the list. Return SFO-DFW uses terminal 3 and DFW-CUN uses terminal D.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dec 1, 2010 | 12:02 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
In DFW, if you are on American, check in at Terminal A. (Naked scanners only in C and D terminals, as far as I know) If they ask you why you are checking in at that terminal, say the taxi/shuttle/friend dropped you off at the first "American Airlines" terminal.
This is completely believable, because everyone I know who doesn't travel regularly is baffled by DFW. FWIW, I always check in at A when I have a flight in D, because the lines in D are always really long (due to large families checking multiple oversize bags on international trips
). Go through security and take the train to terminal D.
The should also work for B terminal, but you are likely to draw more attention at B, since it is all American Eagle (local commuter flights) and they won't be as familiar with international fliers. If you do decide to go to B, you can say "The driver missed a turn somewhere, we ended up in B instead of D. But he said we could check in at any American terminal and take the train to D."
ETA: I didn't realize they added machines in A!!
At least the list says A12 is still safe.
This is completely believable, because everyone I know who doesn't travel regularly is baffled by DFW. FWIW, I always check in at A when I have a flight in D, because the lines in D are always really long (due to large families checking multiple oversize bags on international trips
). Go through security and take the train to terminal D.The should also work for B terminal, but you are likely to draw more attention at B, since it is all American Eagle (local commuter flights) and they won't be as familiar with international fliers. If you do decide to go to B, you can say "The driver missed a turn somewhere, we ended up in B instead of D. But he said we could check in at any American terminal and take the train to D."
ETA: I didn't realize they added machines in A!!
At least the list says A12 is still safe.
Last edited by janetdoe; Dec 1, 2010 at 12:20 pm Reason: Gaah!
Dec 1, 2010 | 12:19 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA, Hyatt
Posts: 197
I fly out of DFW 5-6x per month and almost always check in/clear security at terminal B. I have never been asked why I was checking in/clearing security at a different terminal.
If they ask, tell them you really want to have a shrimp cocktail at the Texas Stadium Bar in termial B
Dec 1, 2010 | 12:29 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
I fly out of DFW 5-6x per month and almost always check in/clear security at terminal B. I have never been asked why I was checking in/clearing security at a different terminal.
If they ask, tell them you really want to have a shrimp cocktail at the Texas Stadium Bar in termial B
If they ask, tell them you really want to have a shrimp cocktail at the Texas Stadium Bar in termial B
The last time I had an international flight, they did ask me why I was checking in at a different terminal. But that was in Terminal A, I just assumed it would stick out more at Terminal B. Never assume...
Dec 1, 2010 | 12:34 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA, Hyatt
Posts: 197
I always check in at A, because the lines are short and they have Priority AAccess. Sometimes you can get twenty or so people in line at the B checkpoints.
The last time I had an international flight, they did ask me why I was checking in at a different terminal. But that was in Terminal A, I just assumed it would stick out more at Terminal B. Never assume...
The last time I had an international flight, they did ask me why I was checking in at a different terminal. But that was in Terminal A, I just assumed it would stick out more at Terminal B. Never assume...
Funny that I've never had a wait in B, but have waited for "eternity" on occassion in A, while you've had the exact opposite results.
Irregardless, luckily we have so many checkpoints hopefully it will be awhile until all of them have a NoS and we have no escape!
Dec 1, 2010 | 1:43 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
Are you listening, AA??
Dec 1, 2010 | 4:29 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 660
Flying through SFO on Monday, I learned that there is at least one main United checkpoint (which is not an elite checkpoint) that just has regular metal detectors set-up. After going through those metal detectors, you can also walk to the American Airlines gates without going through security, as well as at least part of the international terminal.
Dec 3, 2010 | 9:51 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southern California
Programs: Former UA MP 1K
Posts: 15
SFO
From the Complete List of Airports with Whole Body Imaging/Advanced Imaging Technology Scanner, which says
I had concluded that the only NoS in T3 is at the "topmost" checkpoint in the SFO terminal map (the one at the end of the gates 60-67 concourse that says "Boarding areas E&F security checkpoint" when you mouse over it).
Does anyone have data to the contrary?
SFO - 3 MMWs in INTL Terminal C/P, 1 MMW in Terminal 1 C/P for AS,CO,US,WN. MMW is in use @ AA gates T3 60-67
Does anyone have data to the contrary?
Dec 24, 2010 | 11:58 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 20
As an update - we flew on 12/15 with 4 kids and our dog. CUN (as usual) was a breeze (other than immigration taking long - since we have "resident" (they're not really resident but for you US folks it is somewhat equivalent) cards we have more form-filling out leaving MX but very hassle free coming back home) and I had no problem with the inhalers or cough syrup I packed. Son #2 took the dog through the metal detector and as usual it was a breeze. First stop was DFW where we arrived at the same time as 2 huge military transports and the airport people tried really hard to get us through immigration before military and that went well. Immigration was nice for the FIRST TIME in 6 years of living outside the US. Personable, chatty - he was lovely. I was a little nervous as I was hiding the dog (in his carrier) as, while I did have the correct paperwork it was in Spanish and I just didn't want to deal with the hassle. If I'd been asked about a dog I totally would have fessed up though. $200 MN down the toilet getting the letter, however.
Next stop was customs and again we "hid" the dog (in his carrier) and military had their own customs agent solely for them and I was glad they got a break there. No problem with customs. We then claimed and rechecked our luggage. We came in at terminal D and I knew terminal A had the metal detector at A12 but I happened to see a gate in D with a roped off NOS and a nonexistent line and decided to go for it. Dog, 3 kids and myself got through but then for my husband and #1 son they pull them out to the newly opened NOS. Clueless DH has NO IDEA and they both go through the machine as I'm gathering the kids, the dog, the carriers, the laptops, the shoes, you get the idea. I turn around and see the 16yo coming out of the cancer machine and I exclaim loudly, "YOU WENT THROUGH THE CANCER MACHINE????" ARGH! I then continued to make repeated comments about the damn cancer machine until we had gathered everything together and got out. I watched for a while and everyone coming through the NOS was being searched (except my son and DH - the first 2 through) but none of the metal detector folks were. There were only men going through the NOS too for the short time we were there.
I'm feeling so much more comfortable knowing that A12 gate is available (during our layover I used it to take the dog for a walk) and hope we'll have no problems in SFO so we can use A12 at DFW on our flight back home (CUN).
That said, we will not be coming back to the US until the Pornoscans/Cancer Machines and sexual assaults are stopped. I had planned a couple triathlons in Texas but sent letters letting them know that due to the TSA tactics I would be staying in Mexico until the sexual assaults are no longer a requirement to fly.
If I had known what was going on up here before I bought our tickets I never would have purchased them, and the stress I was under before we flew made it an ordeal and not anything close to enjoyment.
Next stop was customs and again we "hid" the dog (in his carrier) and military had their own customs agent solely for them and I was glad they got a break there. No problem with customs. We then claimed and rechecked our luggage. We came in at terminal D and I knew terminal A had the metal detector at A12 but I happened to see a gate in D with a roped off NOS and a nonexistent line and decided to go for it. Dog, 3 kids and myself got through but then for my husband and #1 son they pull them out to the newly opened NOS. Clueless DH has NO IDEA and they both go through the machine as I'm gathering the kids, the dog, the carriers, the laptops, the shoes, you get the idea. I turn around and see the 16yo coming out of the cancer machine and I exclaim loudly, "YOU WENT THROUGH THE CANCER MACHINE????" ARGH! I then continued to make repeated comments about the damn cancer machine until we had gathered everything together and got out. I watched for a while and everyone coming through the NOS was being searched (except my son and DH - the first 2 through) but none of the metal detector folks were. There were only men going through the NOS too for the short time we were there.
I'm feeling so much more comfortable knowing that A12 gate is available (during our layover I used it to take the dog for a walk) and hope we'll have no problems in SFO so we can use A12 at DFW on our flight back home (CUN).
That said, we will not be coming back to the US until the Pornoscans/Cancer Machines and sexual assaults are stopped. I had planned a couple triathlons in Texas but sent letters letting them know that due to the TSA tactics I would be staying in Mexico until the sexual assaults are no longer a requirement to fly.
If I had known what was going on up here before I bought our tickets I never would have purchased them, and the stress I was under before we flew made it an ordeal and not anything close to enjoyment.