Good evening all. I need some help from a Texan!

I found a great airfare, but am not certain it can be done. The itinerary provides for an American Airlines flight "on Canadair operated by American Eagle", which arrives at DFW at 7:05 on a Saturday night in August. We will then have 42 minutes to connect to an American Airlines flight, and the booking website (kindly) advises me that a terminal change is required.

Not being familiar with DFW, I'm not certain if this is possible, even if the initial flight is on time. Can you shed some light on this for me?

Thanks!

With the opening of the very fast Skylink train, it's very doable. All terminals are served by the bi-direction trains, and no reclearing of security required.

Thanks a million!

I would recommend that you're not checking any luggage..."IF" your flt. is not late, YOU will probably have a good chance of making it now with the skylink in full operation; however, I would not think there's a wing or a pray that your luggage would make a transfer. Just a suggestion, make sure there is another flight that evening in case you miss it

Your connection should be in the adjacent terminal, and 42 minutes should be plenty of time to make it there. Your luggage should be fine as well. I had about 30 minutes to make a similar connection at DFW when my first flight was late, and I (along with my checked bags) made it just fine. I even walked instead of taking the Skylink, because I was told it was quicker due to the closeness of the other gate.

I'd suggest you look at the DFW airport website and print out terminal maps for the AEagle and American terminals. That way you'll have a better idea of how close or distant your connecting gate is, especially if there's a last-minute change.

Yes, definitely take the skytrain. In case you get lost, the airport staff are very friendly and will show you customary Texas hospitality in making sure you get to the proper terminal,etc. Even though it is very large, DFW is designed to be quite easy for visitors to navigate. I dont forsee you having much trouble. Have fun on your connection in "Big D".

The Skylink is fabulous.Wait time is less than 2 minutes.There are 4 Skylink stations in each terminal.Maximum ride time is 9 minutes, that will get you back to where you started.Tip: Be sure to SIT! By chance if you do not see a vacant seat, wait for the next train.It's a bit of a wobbly zoom.But it works well.

If you are going to a different terminal, you can not walk to it as someone previously stated.

There are TWO stops at each terminal, not four. But the advice of sitting down is excellent. It's a very fast train and it shakes.

And one can walk among ABCD without getting out of the secured area. It may make sense between some A and C gates, but the walk to B/D will be very very long.

BTW, there are two sets of escalators per Skylink station, one on each end. So, from each terminal, there are FOUR sets of escalators to get up to the train. I think that's what BeachBoi was talking about.

Thank you all. I'm going to book it.

I work for American and think that 42 minutes is waaayyyy too short in DFW. Is it doable? Yes, but only if everything runs on schedule. I wouldn't recommend less than an hour stop over in any city. I'm always listening to passengers stress out because we're running 20-30 minutes behind schedule (for a varity of reasons). Good luck to you. Be advised that if you arrive in enough time to make your flight (I don't know what the limit is) but miss it, you will probably have to pay a fee to be accomodated on a later flight.

aagirl, how much of a fee?

I hate to argue with someone who works for AA, but on quite a few of the international flights I have taken w/AA, I somehow missed my connection in DFW. (always coming home, since it involves customs) I never missed it when things were on schedule, I have only missed it when my first flight left late. They always put me on the next flight with no charge. Also, I have made connections with far less than 42 minutes to spare. I agree that 42 minutes is tight, but it is doable and I've always found AA to be very generous with giving me the next flight.

I think what aagirl is saying is that if you're first flight touches down, and you have enough time to make your next flight but do not, you'll be assessed a fee. If the first flight is late and you have less than the legal connection time, and miss the flight, you wouldn't be assessed a fee, but AA would have to accomodate you and put you on the next flight. It's about whether it's within that legal connection time, which I think is somewhere around 30-35 minutes.

As long as you are on time, or have at least 30 minutes, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't make the next flight (and your luggage should too). If your flight is late, then it's AA's problem, but that's no different than any other connection.

TheWeasel, I think you're right. On re-reading aagirl's post, I think your interpretation is correct.

Hi PM. Thanks for your input.

BTW, I am not personally travelling on this trip. I booked it for my husband and son for their annual baseball extravaganza. It won't hurt them to get a little exercise sprinting through DFW!