Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a sprawling American Airlines mega-hub with five terminals (A through E) spread across a footprint bigger than Manhattan - so the inter-terminal train isn't a nicety here, it's essential.

Terminal layout

Each terminal sits on its own loop road, and Skylink, the free automated train on the upper level of every terminal, is how you move between them airside - trains arrive roughly every two minutes and take 4-12 minutes depending on how far apart your terminals are. Signage throughout the airport is genuinely good, but always confirm your terminal letter, not just gate number, since A and E sit at opposite ends of the property.

Immigration, customs and security

International arrivals clear US Customs and Border Protection, collect bags, and - if connecting onward - recheck them and pass back through security, which is the same rhythm as any major US gateway. Give yourself at least 2 hours for an international-to-domestic connection, more if your inbound flight is a widebody landing at a busy time. Domestic-to-domestic connections are much faster since you stay airside on Skylink; 45-60 minutes is comfortable, and the airport's official minimums run as low as 40 minutes for straightforward same-terminal-area transfers.

Getting into the city

DFW technically serves two cities, and it matters which one you're headed to. DART's Orange Line light rail leaves from a station at Terminal A and runs to downtown Dallas in under an hour for a $3 single fare ($6 day pass). Trinity Metro's TEXRail leaves from Terminal B and heads the other direction to downtown Fort Worth, also roughly 30-45 minutes. Taxis and rideshares take about 25-35 minutes to either downtown depending on traffic, typically running $35-55.

Practical tips

Because DFW sits roughly midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, double-check which downtown you actually want before booking a cab or rideshare - drivers won't always confirm it for you, and the two are 30+ minutes apart from each other. And if you have a short domestic connection, trust Skylink over walking; distances between the far terminals are longer than they look on the map.