How to safely navigate SFO and DFW?
 

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.

Set off the WTMD twice, and you'll get "the pat-down". No AIT doesn't mean no-patdown.

Not saying you can't minimize the odds, yet you can't have zero-risk.

I understand that. I'm just trying to minimize the risk of sexual assault (if that is possible) by chosing checkpoints that we don't have to opt out of.

If the OP has serious PTSD issues, perhaps flying CUN-TIJ, crossing the border in TIJ and picking up a rental car in San Diego is an option? Even if other family members traveled by air, it might be worth the time and hassle to the OP.

(That said, I'd be very careful about getting from the airport to the border crossing.)

There are busses. The OP could also fly Volaris OAK-TIJ-CUN. They have scanners at OAK, but last I saw, there was only 1 at T1 in OAK.

As for the scanners, just be observant! I've yet to be at an airport that has all their scanners on and running. One or two might be up and one or two WTMDs are up. This makes the NoS easy to avoid...

In DFW, terminal A doesn't yet have working scanners, but terminal D does have scanners. I plan on checking my bags and going thru security in Terminal A even though my flight is leaving from terminal D. I will use the DFW Skylink train on the secure side to get from terminal A to terminal D. The Skylink is very fast (9 minutes max) and easy to use... and it is free.

You can enter any terminal. Mostly D has AIT, as far as I know. Certainly B doesn't. You can see at the checkpoint and if it does, pick another one.

........

Thank you SO MUCH! That is a GREAT help!

Are you talking about the checkpoint near the UA elite counters, or is there another one?

Thank you SO MUCH! I'll print this off to take with us.

If we ever go back to the US after this it will definitely be by car. We had considered car this trip but I didn't want to be out of work all that time (it is about a 2-week trip each way). I had no idea then.

I just noticed that you are going to Cancun from DFW. You may have to check your bags at terminal D, international gates. I don't know if AA will allow you to check your bags over at terminal A for international flights. If AA requires you to check your bags at D, then you can still go thru security at terminal A or B. DFW has free shuttle buses that are outside of security that can take you to other terminals. Go to http://www.dfwairport.com/terminallink/ for information on the shuttle, http://www.dfwairport.com/skylink/ for information on the secure Skylink service.

It's been a million years since I've used AA or UA out of SFO, but does this checkpoint get you to the AA gates? I don't recall the AA or UA terminals being connected airside.

I don't know about SFO, but you can avoid the scanners in DFW by dropping your checked bags off to AA once you clear customers, then walking out of Terminal D then to one of the other terminals and passing TSA there. Then you can take the train to whatever gate you need. The question is, do you have enough time to do all of this?

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.