Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

less than 1.5 hours international connection at DFW too risky?

less than 1.5 hours international connection at DFW too risky?

Old Jul 18th, 2017, 07:56 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
less than 1.5 hours international connection at DFW too risky?

i have a flight with American Airlines with connection at DFW (Dallas) less than 1.5 hours, 1 hour 28 minutes to be exact. both legs are with American Airlines. I don't have luggage just a carry-on bag with me. will this be too risky for international connection?

if I miss the 2nd leg due to the delay of the 1st flight, what should i and/or will American Airline do? if i have to stay overnight, who will pay for the hotel? anything else extra I have to pay?

I would not worry so much if i'm with Emirates or Singapore or ANA airlines, but given the bad new stories of all USA airlines during past few months, I tend to be a little more cautious. please don't blame me for being over-reacting.
cnmb is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 08:54 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you bought your ticket it's kind of a moot point. If it is one ticket, they have to put you on the next flight, but as you seem to imply the next flight would not be till the next day. Unless it is a mechanical problem the airline is under no obligation to pay for your hotel or any other expenses.

I have also found DFW to be a pretty confusing airport so I wouldn't try a 90 minute connection.
newtome is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 09:29 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are you connecting from a domestic flight to an international flight or from an international flight to a domestic flight? It can make a big difference in the answer.

If connecting from a domestic flight then 1 1/2 hour connection time would normally be more than adequate assuming your inbound flight arrives on or near schedule. AA operates out of 4 different terminals but there is a SkyTrain inside the secure area that connects all the terminals. Contrary to what newtome says DFW is fairly easy to navigate since you can get between any 2 terminals in under 15 minutes. You simply deplane, check the overhead TV monitors to confirm your connecting gate and proceed to your new gate either walking (if in the same terminal) or using the SkyTrain.

If connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight you have the added steps of clearing Immigration Customs which could be time consuming if you are not a US citizen or you don't have Global Entry and you'll have to also clear TSA before proceeding to your connecting gate. How long all that will take depends on how many other international flights arrive around the same time as your's and how long the TSA lines are. While 90 minutes is doable (and is a "legal" connection) in some instances I'd be more comfortable with 2 hours just to be on the safe side..

As for what happens if your inbound flight is delayed enough so you miss your connection and you flights were booked on one ticket (not as separate tickets) AA has the obligation to get you to your destination but it may not be in the time frame YOU desire.
RoamsAround is online now  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 09:30 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You're going to get a range of opinions...

I find DFW dead easy, not confusing at all, plus there's a tram that goes between terminals. If you're a fast walker, you can beat the tram, but it's worth taking if you're not.

90 minutes should be enough, but no one can say for sure.
NewbE is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 09:46 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I missed a flight there once, flying in from Costa Rica on American and there was no free gate, we sat on the tarmac for almost 30 minutes. American was able to rebook us on a later flight that evening at no charge but we had to pay for our own food and drink.
jamie99 is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 10:05 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
> No, they will put them on the next available flight.
Odin is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 11:16 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This whole question needs additional information. If you booked this flight series on one ticket then AA will have certain obligations to you because it cannot allow a single ticket with an invalid connection.

The likely situation is you're flying from a US airport to DFW and then out of the US, if that's true the 90 minutes is fine. Your international flight will leave from Terminal D and you just need to hustle over there after you land.

The less-likely situation is you're flying into the US at DFW and transferring to a domestic flight 90 minutes later. This is a bit short.

All that said, your concern that "I would not worry so much if i'm with Emirates or Singapore or ANA airlines, but given the bad new stories of all USA airlines during past few months, I tend to be a little more cautious" is somewhat misplaced. Neither Emirates, Singapore nor ANA has real leverage at DFW - American is the primary lessee of the airport's numerous gates and is responsible for the vast majority of the traffic. That means if anything screws up, American would be in the best position to assist you.
BigRuss is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 11:34 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thank you all very much for the detailed information. sorry, I should have been clearer in my questions.

No. I have NOT bought the ticket. but so far this is the cheapest i have seen in last 10 days.

both legs are with American Airline and both are international flights, i.e. fly into and fly out of USA.

from my experience and you guys response, i guess the best option is to keep looking for alternative tickets, even that means i have to pay 100+ or even 200 bucks more.
cnmb is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 11:37 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
<both are international flights, i.e. fly into and fly out of USA. >
Are you a US citizen?
NewbE is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 11:44 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,988
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
I had no trouble connecting to my flight to Hong Kong with only 1hr 30 minutes. Checked luggage made it to HK too.
HappyTrvlr is online now  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 11:46 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,988
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Both flights were on American.
HappyTrvlr is online now  
Old Jul 18th, 2017, 11:52 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,142
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
I would not hesitate to take a 90 mins. connection on the same ticket with the same airline when leaving the country.

It's upon return where you have to clear customs, that I would want longer.
suze is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 05:38 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,601
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Your "experience" was obviously NOT at DFW so what does that have to do with anything?
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 06:02 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>

suze is wrong here, completely so. Do NOT follow her advice.

Functionally, an international to international transfer in the US is the same as an international to domestic transfer - in the US if you are arriving from outside the country you MUST clear customs AND immigration even if you're just transiting between international flights and not staying in the US for anything other than your layover. You either have to have a transit visa or equivalent or be from a country that has a visa waiver.

That means that NO MATTER WHAT, if you arrive at a US airport from outside the United States, you will "have to clear customs" and your 90 minute gap is an enormous risk. Cough up the additional money.
BigRuss is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 09:05 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I faced the same dilemma--a 90 minute layover at DFW, domestic to international and then the return, I decided against cutting it that short. When I asked a travel agent to look over my itinerary before I booked it, he agreed--just too stressful if anything causes a delay.
musicfan is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 09:06 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,142
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
<suze is wrong here, completely so. Do NOT follow her advice.>


#1 - I did not give anyone any "advice". I only said what I would be comfortable with.


#2 - I thought this person WAS from the US and Dallas was a domestic transfer before going on to an international flight.
suze is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 10:15 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>#2 - I thought this person WAS from the US and Dallas was a domestic transfer before going on to an international flight.>both legs are with American Airline and both are international flights, i.e. fly into and fly out of USA.
janisj is online now  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 10:18 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,142
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Then do what BigRuss said and Do NOT follow my advice
suze is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2017, 02:51 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Generally, I agree that 90 minutes is sufficient to transit from domestic to international in DFW, but I'm a big worry-wort on international arrivals and allow myself plenty of time. In all likelihood, you have enough time ... and it might not even be close. All of the AA international flights depart from the same terminal at gates that are near to each other. And security at DFW tends to go very quickly (you do have to clear security again after any international arrival since there's no way to really "transit" in the U.S. without a visa, as there is in virtually every other country on earth ... you have to enter the country and leave it again, even if you have a so-called "C" transit visa.. That's our law, as silly as it seems.

DFW is pretty efficient at clearing people through immigration and customs, and this is very likely what everyone is calling a "legal" connection. What concerns me most is that you don't say if you are or are not a US citizen. If not, then I'd certainly hesitate to book this connection, even if it saved me $100. It's just not worth the risk. And if you aren't a US citizen or from a visa-waiver country and don't already hold a multiple-entry visa, you'd have to get one, and that cost alone might offset any savings. A visa costs $160 and requires an in-person interview.

American would be liable for getting you on the next available flight to your destination, but whether or not they'd pay for a hotel in a pinch depends entirely on the reason for you missing your onward connection. If it had to do with immigration and/or customs (say a visa issue), then they absolutely wouldn't pay for anything at all. If your arriving flight were delayed by mechanical difficulties, then they would. If by weather, they wouldn't. Don't you love the US and our inconsistent system?
doug_stallings is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Buffy9297
Air Travel
19
Jun 11th, 2013 03:34 AM
P_M
Air Travel
11
Mar 20th, 2013 08:58 AM
taitai
Air Travel
14
Oct 1st, 2009 08:05 AM
joy12
United States
7
May 13th, 2008 02:39 AM
Jo_Lee
Caribbean Islands
16
Jan 23rd, 2007 11:47 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -