40 min connection time in DFW

[reubenhills]

Hi - I booked a flight with AA from LAX to MEX stopping in DFW. I just checked my ticket and my flight from LAX lands in DFW AT 4.40PM. The next flight to MEX leaves at 5.20pm. Doesent seem like enough time ..
should i be concerned ?!

 

[Hvr]

Maybe. It might be the same flight going all the way. Is it one flight number? If so no problems.

Sounds like it is on the one ticket so less of a problem than if on different PNRs.

Do you know DFW AP? If not do some research and see where the particular flights typically depart from, this'll help to make a quick transit if required.

When is the next flight to your destination?

 

[reubenhills]

Hey thanks HVR

Its a different flight number , flight leaves from the same terminal all booked on the same ticket.
I just called AA they say its within the time needed.

 

[ShaneN]

I also have a 40 minute connection at DFW on ORD-DFW-LAX in late May. Single ticket, booked on AA website. I am particularly concerned if arrival and departure terminals are different, although I know Skylink is very efficient.

 

[DC3]

It may be within the MCT but that doesn't mean that you will make the flight. There's current information on FT where some AA flights are commencing boarding at 40 minutes prior to departure. At about 20 minutes prior to departure, if you aren't there, your seat may be given to someone on standby.

If you have checked luggage, even of you make the flight, your luggage probably won't.

An AA flight that I was on once, did not have a gate available on arrival at DFW so we sat and waited for about 30 minutes before a gate became available.

 

[Paddy55]

If you have checked baggage you're starting to need a number of things to go right to make that 40 min connection.

If time is not of the essence why not head to the Aadmirals Club for an hour or two for a longer connection? (Assuming there is one of course)

 

[reubenhills]

thanks paddy
I looked in to an earlier flight on the day , looks like the difference in flight will be about 1k
ill just have carry on so thats a plus

 

[HKGNZL]

It is very common for AA to make these tight connections. They are well equipped to give away your seat if your inbound is late. They are usually good to find you another flight if it was their inbound that was late.

 

[codash1099]

I just experienced one of these tight connections at DFW. When I asked about altering the flight out of DFW to a later one, I was told that AA guarantee 30 minutes. Transfer between A and C terminals was quick and I made it in plenty of time. Seating at the front of the incoming aircraft helped.

What's more, my baggage made it too!

 

[Kef]

Hi - I booked a flight with AA from LAX to MEX stopping in DFW. I just checked my ticket and my flight from LAX lands in DFW AT 4.40PM. The next flight to MEX leaves at 5.20pm. Doesent seem like enough time ..
should i be concerned ?!

Mmmmmm I personally wouldnt risk it. I am thinking of your luggage, it might not arrive with you.

 

[ShaneN]

It is very common for AA to make these tight connections. They are well equipped to give away your seat if your inbound is late. They are usually good to find you another flight if it was their inbound that was late.

I just experienced one of these tight connections at DFW. When I asked about altering the flight out of DFW to a later one, I was told that AA guarantee 30 minutes. Transfer between A and C terminals was quick and I made it in plenty of time. Seating at the front of the incoming aircraft helped.

What's more, my baggage made it too!

Thanks. I am reassured about my 40 minute connection by your experience. I am in row 1, which should help. Plenty of flights DFW to LAX if I miss one.

 

[drewbles]

It may be within the MCT but that doesn't mean that you will make the flight. There's current information on FT where some AA flights are commencing boarding at 40 minutes prior to departure. At about 20 minutes prior to departure, if you aren't there, your seat may be given to someone on standby.

If you have checked luggage, even of you make the flight, your luggage probably won't.

An AA flight that I was on once, did not have a gate available on arrival at DFW so we sat and waited for about 30 minutes before a gate became available.

AA regularly board 40 minutes prior to departure. As you say, whilst an acceptable MCT, I would not connect at DFW with less than 90 minutes to be safe. If you have spare time you can always grab a coffee at least

 

[HKGNZL]

It is a probability game isn't it? If 80% time ok with tight connection rather than waiting for allowing 2 extra hrs then you saved 20 hrs. See if that compensate for the extra time and inconvenience for the renaming 20%.

 

[drewbles]

It is a probability game isn't it? If 80% time ok with tight connection rather than waiting for allowing 2 extra hrs then you saved 20 hrs. See if that compensate for the extra time and inconvenience for the renaming 20%.

It depends really. If the flight your are connecting to is the last for the day or say QF8 being one a day only, i'd rather get there well in advance than risk being stuck in DFW for 24 hours or overnight.

 

[Kefci2000]

I am thinking exactly this, however if Qantas rep booked this and I missed the flight, I guess an expenses paid Saturday night in Dallas would not be too bad?? I have 1 hour connection time from MIA to get to QF8 and will have checked bag. Just miss a days work back in Sydney??

just rechecked with Platinum desk and they re-assured me that 1 hour would be fine.

that said they agreed that if I missed, it would be a 24 hour layover as no connections would get me to LAX in time for QF12 or QF108

 

[ShaneN]

I also have a 40 minute connection at DFW on ORD-DFW-LAX in late May. Single ticket, booked on AA website. I am particularly concerned if arrival and departure terminals are different, although I know Skylink is very efficient.

I have revived this thread because I have just today succesfully negotiated a 40 minute connection at DFW.

Fkight from ORD was scheduled to arrive at 12:45, with a 1:25 departure to LAX. Incoming flight arrived at gate A33 right on time at 12:45. (Actually landed early, but gate was not available so we stood on the Tarmac for 15 stressful minutes.) Departure gate was D27, about as far away as you can be from A33. First off the plane from front row, quick check of monitors to confirm gate number, and up the escalator to Skylink (luckily right next to the gate). A quick scenic trip around DFW to Terminal D, and arrived at the gate D27 about 5 minutes into boarding, and was seated at 1:00. Fifteen minutes from plane to plane in different terminals. Departure ended up being about 5 minutes late at 1:30.

My checked luggage also arrived on time in LAX.

While possible, I do not recommend such a tight connection. It is very stressful. I would never have booked it if I had carefully checked the times.

 

[Kef]

Hi ShaneN, Thanks for the update. I am glad you made your flight, a few tense moments there to say the least. As I was reading your article I visualised your whole journey in the airport as I know it so well. I felt my tension rising as I have done similar once before in the same airport and thought to myself never again. Cheers

 

[ShaneN]

Hi ShaneN, Thanks for the update. I am glad you made your flight, a few tense moments there to say the least. As I was reading your article I visualised your whole journey in the airport as I know it so well. I felt my tension rising as I have done similar once before in the same airport and thought to myself never again. Cheers

Thanks Kef. I am reasonably familiar with DFW, 5th or 6th time there. I imagine this would be very difficult or impossible for anyone who does not know about the different terminals and Skylink. However AA market these tight connections. Never again.

cheers

 

[serfty]

Well done on that transit.

Being quite familiar with DFW (been through it nearly 50 times) I would consider not using the Skylink for High A to that D gate. Walking should take no more than 10 minutes. See the map below.

On exiting the A33 airbridge I would turn left and proceed the short distance to the Southern end of A concourse.

Then up some escalators signed for terminal B (or B/C) and the airside travelator (Moving Sidewalk) across the central roads to more escalators at its end and down them to B.

At the bottom of those, to the left along a short corridor to another travelator leading to D.

Upon reaching D turn/veer right as you follow the signs to D27 (either along the angled shortcut though to D25 and back up a bit, or along past the High D gates then across to D27.

 

[ShaneN]

Thanks Serfty. I did not know that it was possible to go from A to D inside security except by Skylink. Will try next time.