Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (2024)

FAQs

How early should I arrive at DFW for an international flight? ›

A. Passengers should arrive at least 60 minutes prior to flight departure if they are not checking bags. If they are checking bags, then passengers should arrive 90 minutes prior to departure. For international flights, passengers should always arrive at least two hours prior to flight departure.

It usually takes less than 30 minutes to go through customs and immigration at DFW; O'Hare tends to take longer quite a bit longer. At DFW when you exit, you are in the unsecured portion of the terminal but it should not take more than twenty minutes to get to any other AA gate.

DALLAS - DFW Airport is no longer the second-busiest airport in the world thanks to a resurgence of international air travel. The Airports Council International released a list of the 10 busiest airports for 2023. DFW fell one spot to No. 3.

The layout of DFW is straightforward, with all terminals located near one another. On the airport's website, you'll find an interactive version of this map. You can connect to the Terminal E satellite via an underground walkway that leads to the smaller gate hub.

The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

The standard airline recommendation for international travel is to arrive at the airport three hours before your scheduled departure. In most cases, this should cover every step of the airport process, from checking a bag to clearing passport control and security, ensuring you board on time.

It is truly the most ideal way to begin your trip. *Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours before an international flight.

The Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport is a very large airport. But despite its size, it is still pretty easy to navigate. There is a Skylink that takes people from one terminal to another, and there are plenty of dining and shopping areas throughout the entire airport.

You can get your steps in and be to the next terminal in 20 minutes! For Terminal Gate A13: the walk to Terminal Gate B4 is approximately 20 minutes. the walk to Terminal Gate C2 is approximately 19 minutes.

Upon landing at DFW, Global Entry travelers bypass the passport control line and proceed directly to automated kiosks to answer Customs declaration questions. Then, they will be issued a ticket and directed to bag claim.

Is DFW a big or small airport? ›

DFW has a total area of 78 square kilometres (30 sq mi), making it the largest airport in Texas and the second largest in the United States (behind Denver International Airport). It is the third busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements, and the ninth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the largest airport in the US. It offers 220 destinations and serves around 55.4 million passengers every year. Another big airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), serves fewer passengers annually (around 35.7 million).

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has five terminals and 174 gates; these terminals are in the City of Grapevine.

All terminals are connected post-security and accessible the free Skylink light rail train. You can walk between DFW's five terminals, but keep in mind that each has an average of 39 gates. But the maximum ride time between the farthest points on the Skylink is 9 minutes.

Travel time between terminals can take as long as 30 to 45 minutes; so it would be in your best interest to allow at least 1 and 1/2 hours to 2 hours layover time. If your flight into DFW should be delayed, 40 minutes almost guarantees you would miss your connecting flight.

Customers flying on an international airline out of Terminal D will check their bag with their airline before being directed by airline staff to the bag drop-off area near the center of the lobby to complete the check-in process.

In most cases, US airlines will put you on the next available flight for free. (Even some ultra-low-cost carriers, like Spirit and Allegiant, will rebook you on the next flight for free if the missed connection is due to a flight delay.)

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

Do connecting flights wait for delayed passengers? Most airlines will try to accommodate passengers from a delayed inbound flight, but it's not guaranteed. Flight attendants might notify the ground crew of connecting passengers, but airlines typically won't delay a departure for a small group.

Current Average TSA Wait Time at DFW

Please expect to wait up to at least (4 mins) on average to go through secuirity checkpoints at DFW. This average wait time is based on the current time (Pacific Standard Time). Please expect to wait up to at least (4 mins) on average to go through security checkpoints at DFW.

How long before international flight should you go through security? ›

A good rule is that an optimal arrival time at the airport is at least one hour in advance of domestic flights and at least two hours in advance of international ones.

Airport Etiquettes

Arrival Time: Reach the airport at least 2 hours before when travelling domestically and 3 hours before when flying internationally before the scheduled departure time. Mind your Noise: At the airport, keep your electronics on silent mode and use headphones when listening to music or watching videos.

Aim to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your international flight is due to depart. You should plan enough time to check in and pass through security screenings.