Connecting at Dallas/Fort Worth: one train, five terminals

Last checked 30 September 2026

At Dallas/Fort Worth, American Airlines' biggest hub, one free train ties five terminals together behind a single security check. And DFW has something almost no other US airport does yet: a real shortcut for some passengers arriving from London.

At a glance

• Domestic to domestic: every terminal (A through E) is linked by Skylink, a free train that runs inside the secure area. No second security check moving between terminals, whichever two you're using.
• Skylink runs every 2 minutes, averaging 5 minutes between terminals and up to 9 minutes for the two furthest apart.
• Southwest doesn't fly from DFW at all — it uses Dallas Love Field, a different airport across town. Don't confuse the two if you're booked on Southwest.
• Arriving from abroad, connecting onward: the standard routine is customs, then rechecking your bags and going through security again before your next flight. The one exception: passengers on American's flight AA51 from London Heathrow, with a same-day onward American or partner ticket, clear customs right at the arrival gate and skip the bag recheck and the second security line entirely.
• DFW's passport-control wait: a typical wait of about 12 minutes, about 36 minutes on a slow day.

One train, one security check

DFW's five terminals — A, B, C, D and E — are all connected by Skylink, a free train that never leaves the secure area. That means once you're through security, moving to any other terminal is just a train ride, not a new checkpoint. Trains run every 2 minutes, and the airport's own figures are a 5-minute average ride and 9 minutes for the longest hop.

American Airlines fills A, B and C entirely and has gates in every other terminal too. Terminal E holds Delta, United, Frontier, JetBlue, Alaska and Air Canada. Terminal D is DFW's international terminal, and also carries some American flights. One thing worth double-checking before you book: Southwest Airlines doesn't serve DFW at all. Its Dallas-area flights are out of Love Field, a separate airport closer to downtown.

Arriving internationally

International arrivals come in through Terminal D. You'll clear passport control and customs (there's a Global Entry kiosk option for members), then collect your bags. If you're connecting onward with checked bags, you'll recheck them, go through security again, and take Skylink to your next terminal — the same routine most international arrivals face at any big US hub.

There's a real exception here, though, and it's a bigger one than most airports offer. Since July 2025, American's flight AA51 from London Heathrow has been part of a government trial that lets passengers with a same-day onward American or partner ticket clear customs right at the arrival gate, then go straight to their connecting flight — no walking to the usual customs hall, no bag reclaim, no second security line. It's one of only two places in the country piloting this (the other is Atlanta, on Delta, which also skips the bag recheck for all passengers on select flights, and the second screening for Global Entry or Mobile Passport users). It isn't confirmed whether American requires Global Entry or Mobile Passport enrollment for its own version, so check with American directly if this matters for your trip.

Passport control at DFW tends to run a bit faster than some other big hubs: a typical wait of about 12 minutes, and about 36 minutes on a slower day.

Tips

• Skylink runs around the clock, though parts can close overnight for construction work — allow extra time on very late or early connections.
• Double-check whether your "Dallas" flight is actually DFW or Love Field before you plan a connection. They're not the same airport, and Southwest only flies from Love Field.
• Landing from abroad, budget for customs, plus a bag recheck and a second security line, unless you're specifically on American's AA51 from London Heathrow with a same-day onward ticket.

Checked and reviewed 30 September 2026. Terminals, airline assignments and procedures change, so confirm with the airport and your airline before you travel.

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