I have a flight out of DFW on the morning of 5/3 at 7:54 AM. We have a group of 21 people going, so we want to get to the airport an hour and a half early. We will be leaving from the Hyatt Regency Reunion in Dallas. What would be the best time to leave the hotel to get to the airport on time?

You want to be there 90 minutes prior (or 6:24 am)?

Leaving the hotel promptly at 6 am would allow for that assuming no cars to return, etc. The drive from downtown to the airport at that hour would be no more than 25 minutes.

(I would tell everyone you are leaving at 5:45 am - I find its hard for everyone to be on time at that hour of the morning.)

OK good, so you don't think we'll run into a lot of traffic?

Not at 6 am! Rush hour doesn't start that early here. You are going against traffic in any case.

That's actually kind of funny... I called our hotel and they said that it would take 45+ minutes if we left at 6AM.

Well, then I would trust the hotel and not bother posting the question here. You asked for local advice (or so I gathered) and I'm giving it to you. For what its worth, you would have to drive about 25 mph on the freeway for it to take 45 minutes - but perhaps the hotel doesn't want to be liable for complaints if you miss your flight.

Personally, I think you are going to be incredibly early and have a long gate wait. LOOONG security waits (with lines wrapping down the terminal hallway) for security are 20 minutes - and I rarely wait more than 5 minutes. Your longest wait is going to be for check-in.

That's definitely reassuring... thanks for the help!

I depart AA at 9:30pm (2130) on a Thursday evening.

What time do you think I should depart from the Dallas Market Center to avoid traffic? I'll be returning a car.


Thanks.

Anytime after 7pm, traffic should be pretty reasonable. It'll likely take about 20 minutes to get to the rental center, 30 should be plenty, barring a bad wreck. I'll let others comment as to how long it'll take from the rental return to the terminal.

Assuming there isn't anything going on at Texas Stadium that night, it should take you about 20 minutes from Dallas Market Center to rental car return. Allowing for time for returning the car and catching the bus to your terminal (15 to 20 minutes) and getting a boarding pass and thru security (both together should take 5 to 10 minutes), I'd say:

8 pm if you do not need to check bags
7:30 pm if you need to check bags (DFW operates with a 45 minute bag check limit which can be a royal p.i.t.a. when you factor leaving enough time to be in line "just in case").

Of course, if you get out a bit early, terminal D (the newest terminal) has nice (for an airport) restaurants so just get there, check in, and relax with a margarita.

swag and techgirl, Thanks.

I'm flying AA on an award ticket, and I don't have any status.
If I decide to check my bag, do you think check-in will be 'light' at that hour?
Security?

Thanks.

i usually fly out at 630-7am. however, if travel is lite, the bus count from the rental car area is reduced. they run every 15 or 20 min. the trip from there to the ticket counter takes about 10 min. when busy, takes about 10 min at ther car rental area to pack all that pork(beef?) on the bus.

at 6am, TSA or I changes shifts. takes at least 10 min for all the courtesy good mornings. the line back up, a lot, and the staff at 6am is not a full staff. the line sometimes at aa takes 15 min. us has very short lines, and the 6am people are not friendly, so no good mornings........

Being on an award ticket should not affect the check-in experience.

AA check-in counter lines at DFW rarely get very long compared to other hubs, I guess because there are so many counters (8? 10?) spread out across 4 terminals. I rarely check bags, and I use the elite line when I do, but it seems that when I've passed by the counters after 8pm, there's rarely anyone queued up. Security should be very quick too - except for holiday weekends and monday mornings, I can't remember the last time it took me more than 5-10 minutes to get thru.

And don't forget to call AA of check AA.com before you head to the airport to verify which terminal you will be leaving from.

departure gate is posted at the car rental return terminal, upon entrance and in the center walkway.

i forgot, if it is slow at the CRRT, they will double up the busses and service two terminals. the bus will only show one terminal, and the drivers are only fairly good about pointing out that "this bus is servicing C&D".

^