DFW AIRPORT TIPS PAGE 1

(ARRIVALS TO DFW via DART Rail Orange Line)

IF YOU’RE FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES (DART DFW Station is at Terminal A)


DFW Airport has five different terminals (A-E) and American Airlines (AA) offers flights out of all five. Therefore, AA allows you to check your bags at Terminal A even if your plane departs from a different terminal. The big advantage of this is that you can check your bags and clear security and then use the excellent SKYLINK automated train to get to your departure terminal. SKYLINK is a free light rail train that connects all five terminals and is the shortest route to your stop while inside of security.


Here’s a photo of the SKYLINK train.

DFW Airport Helpful Information
  • Operates 24 hours a day
  • Trains arrive every two minutes
  • Average ride time of five minutes
  • Maximum ride time of nine minutes between farthest points
  • Easy access to shops and restaurants in other terminals
  • No ticket or pass needed

For example, if you were flying AA and checking bags this is the process you would follow:

  1. Arrive at Terminal A, Entry A10, lower level via DART Orange Line light rail train.
  2. Take the elevator up to the AA check-in desk and check your bags.
  3. Go through security where, once cleared, you look for the nearest SKYLINK sign.
  4. Get on the SKYLINK train to your departure terminal (SKYLINK makes stops at different parts of each terminal).
  5. Find your gate, get a refreshment, and relax before boarding your flight.

IF YOU’RE NOT FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES (DART DFW Station is at Terminal A)


The only terminals with carriers other than American Airlines are Terminal D (mostly international) and Terminal E (every other carrier such as United, Delta, Spirit, etc.).


In this case, you’ll need to transfer your party and your luggage via Orange Shuttle Vans called Terminal Link. It isn’t hard, but you might stop at several terminals before you get to yours.


Here’s a photo so you know what to look for.

Airport shuttle service

Visit https://www.dfwairport.com/shuttles to access the shuttle tracker tool or scan the QR code found at each shuttle stop.

Once you get to your desired terminal, you disembark the shuttle and go to your airline’s check-in desk, check your bags (if any), and then go through security. The main difference between Terminal Link and SKYLINK is that SKYLINK can only be accessed within secured areas. Once you leave the secured area you can’t use SKYLINK.


ATTENTION FOR ADDITIONAL TIPS: Sometimes, some of your party can use the superior SKYLINK to get to Terminal A while another in the party leaves the secured area, collects the luggage and uses Terminal Link to reach Terminal A. This is a helpful hack if kids or elderly people are traveling. For example, with a family of two adults and two children with two checked bags one of the adults could take the two kids to Terminal A on SKYLINK. The other adult could collect the two bags, take Terminal Link to Terminal A, and then connect with the rest of their party.

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