Dallas/Fort Worth Transit Times

[bertair]

Flying into Dallas/ Fort Worth on the new Qantas direct service in September and going to book a connection onwards with American Airlines or Alaska.
Looking to find the suggested transit time to allow from the QF arrival.
Same returning.

 

[docjames]

Well, the QF website is useless (their dfw airport info page doesnt list this).

Interestingly, using the online booking tool (intl multi city), it shows:

SYD-DFW-LAX with a 1350arr to DFW and then a 1425 departure to LAX.

However, you get the following error message

Please review the following items

• The departure time of your selected flight is only 35 minutes after the arrival of the preceding flight. Minimum connecting time is 85 minutes. Please change your flight selection and try again. (11110 - 2300)

So it would appear 85 mins is considered mct, although I'm sure i've seen TRs etc of people managing tighter, but you'd want to be on a flex ticket, with later in the day options to be able to get onto.

 

[serfty]

2 hours minimum if on separate tickets.

Boarding starts 30-35 minutes before scheduled departure and it may take up to 25 minutes to navigate from one gate to another. You'll also need to deal with immigration/customs.

A year or two ago we had a rescheduled connection through DFW of 70 minutes. This was a domestic arrival.

The inbound aircraft departed its LGA gate on time but took another 25 minutes to take off.

Then on arrival at DFW we had to wait 15 minutes for another aircraft to leave the assigned gate C37 and head to D29:

Using the Skytrain and an "efficient" walk we do this in 10 minutes, arriving with 15 minutes to spare.

 

[drron]

The unknown here is the time it might take to clear Immigration,customs and recheck your baggage.After that it doesn't take long.
Last year we were flying LAX-DFW-BNA.We had a transit of 45 minutes at DFW.We came in at C2 and left at ~D20.We were 10 minutes late arriving but made it easaily still having time to go to the AC to make a couple of phone calls and have a drink.C2 as you can see from Serfty's map is the closest gate to the moving footway between Terminals C and D and was much quicker than catching the train.

 

[bertair]

Thank you for all who contributed. I think I will manage the transfer okay if QF is on time.

 

[serfty]

Thank you for all who contributed. I think I will manage the transfer okay if QF is on time.

Just to reiterate that if on separate bookings and you miss the AA flight you may have to buy another fare.*

*In practice AA tend to be pretty good with this and they may indeed look after you; it may help if you have luggage to get it checked through to you final destination. (You may not be able to do this if on AS.)

 

[PLB]

Dfw

Any advise re any likely problems transiting through DFW from QF7 onto AA flights. At 75 am easily confused with problems

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Dfw

Any advise re any likely problems transiting through DFW from QF7 onto AA flights. At 75 am easily confused with problems

The transfer at DFW is fairly easy.

On check-in in Australia your bags will be tagged through to their final destination - but you need to collect them anyway in DFW for customs control.

After QF7 lands (you will be in the D Terminal), head downstairs and clear immigration, pick up your bags, and then clear customs.

Immediately after customs you exit and there is a 'bag drop' for your bags. As they have already been tagged to their final destination its just a matter of handing them to the agent and off you go.

If you need a boarding pass for your connecting flight this is issued at the same time you drop off your bag.

With boarding pass in had head around to security and then you're back in the airport.

Check the fliight monitors for your departing flight regularly as gates can change.

The monitors list flight departures alphabetically by city rather than by departure time. So look for your departure city!

If necessary, walk to the skytrain and take it to the relevant terminal for your connecting flight.

There are lots of information desks around in the arrivals hall - so if you need any assistance there is plenty of help!

 

[serfty]

It won't always happen but be prepared for a longish wait to get through immigration - and then customs. (Queues for both)

• DFW Terminal D international arrivals: Q&A (merged) - FlyerTalk Forums

Airport Wait Times

 

[PLB]

Re: Dfw

MEL_Traveller. Many thanks for such a helpful and detailed reply. Exactly what I was after. Will print it out and study it most carefully on the 15hr flight and follow all the directions to the letter. PLB.

 

[Willie]

Re: Dfw

Me thinks that you will be right as rain - 75 and negotiating this board is a bit of feat.. transit at DFW will be a breeze!

Congrats!

Willie

 

[Timtammi]

Re: Dfw

i did Qf7 on friday. Currently sitting in the AC in Term A waiting for my flight to MSP.
Wait for imi on arrival into DFW was about 35 mins and customs was pretty quick so not too bad. So much nicer than arrival into LAX and staff much more polite.
cheers

Timmi

 

[GT351]

Re: Dfw

staff much more polite.
cheers

Timmi[/QUOTE]


Id just settle for a smile!

GT

 

[goldy]

Re: Dfw

I did it on 20 June, and as others have said, its a very simple process. The only thing i didnt like, is having to go through security again, after you have re-checked your bags. why they cant have transiting pax remain airside is beyond me!!

On another note, the aircraft, in both directions, VH-OEE and VH-OEG, both 747-400ER's were absolutely disgusting. They were dirty, dusty and hadnt been cleaned properly from their previous service, but thats a QF issue, not a DFW issue.

have a great trip, bring a book, as its a LOOOONG flight.

 

[chris-syd]

Re: Dfw

Thanks for the information. Good to know what to do when arriving into DFW.
I'm heading there this weekend, then onto sunny MCO for a conference.

Will be good to have some hot weather instead of Sydney's rain!

 

[PLB]

Re: Dfw

Chris-Syd. Appreciate feedback after transit DFW. PLB

 

[fjc]

Re: Dfw

The transfer at DFW is fairly easy.

On check-in in Australia your bags will be tagged through to their final destination - but you need to collect them anyway in DFW for customs control.
After QF7 lands (you will be in the D Terminal), head downstairs and clear immigration, pick up your bags, and then clear customs.
Immediately after customs you exit and there is a 'bag drop' for your bags. As they have already been tagged to their final destination its just a matter of handing them to the agent and off you go.
If you need a boarding pass for your connecting flight this is issued at the same time you drop off your bag.
With boarding pass in had head around to security and then you're back in the airport.
Check the fliight monitors for your departing flight regularly as gates can change.
The monitors list flight departures alphabetically by city rather than by departure time. So look for your departure city!
If necessary, walk to the skytrain and take it to the relevant terminal for your connecting flight.

There are lots of information desks around in the arrivals hall - so if you need any assistance there is plenty of help!

Thanks for detailed instructions, MEL-traveller - exactly what I needed for when I fly SYD-DFW-ATL on 7 Sept. BTW, I assume you meant to say "Arrival city" not "departure city".

 

[serfty]

Re: Dfw

I arrived into DFW late last month on QF7:

• Arrived at 2:20pm (30 minutes late.)
• Was at Non US Citizens immigration Queue 2:27pm.
• Arrived baggage hall at 3:20pm (no checked luggage).
• Exited customs to Baggage Transfer 3:40pm.

The citizens queue was larger but seemed to move faster.

My Flight was 30 minutes late and AAgents were moving through the queue doing a kind of "Triage"; those looking like missing their connection (within ~45 minutes) were taken strait to the front; others with time not so pressing were given yellow AA transit folders for express customs but left in immigration.

I was envious of those with Global Entry as they would have been through the lot in less than ten minutes.

 

[GT351]

Re: Dfw

I am off to DFW on Wednesday

I cant do 60 mins in a queue:shock:

*praying hard*


GT

 

[nonpop]

For anyone interested.
Have just completed QF7 into DFW then connecting to an AA flight.
Customs was all complete in < 15 mins from exiting plane to collecting luggage.
Then another 15 mins for the skytrain. The skytrain is fantastic.
Then approx another 15 mins for domestic security etc.
Then a few min walk to the AA flight gate.
And it just seemed to all flow i.e this wasn't rushed.
DFW immigration & customs was 1000 times bettr than LAX.
No more LAX (where possible) for this little black dog. And the staff were more friendly.

I had left myself 1hr 30 mins for the entire QF7 landing to take-off of the connecting flight - Terminal D to A28.
And this was on the last day of a long weekend (columbus day holiday) afternoon when dmoestic was busy and flights were oversold.
Way too easy.