Points to Know Before Using Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Dallas, Texas

Are you planning on flying in/out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)? If so, you may want to know some necessary information before you fly in/out of DFW. Knowing a few points could save you a whole lot of grief. Here are some important points to know before using DFW Airport in Dallas, Texas:

Flying into DFW

It takes awhile to taxi in. DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas is a huge airport. The airport does a fair job at making things convenient when the airport's largeness actually makes things inconvenient. Understand, though, that you need to allow at least fifteen minutes to taxi in and de-plane once you land. If you fail to allow some time for this process, you'll end up having trouble with your schedule. It's unreasonable to think that you can taxi in and de-plane at DFW as quickly as you can at a small airport.

Gates frequently change. If you have someone meeting you, certainly don't depend on the initial gate information. You may tell your party to meet you at gate B-10, but you may end up at gate B-24. While you may stay at the same terminal, you may end up at a different gate, so listen closely as the flight attendant announces the gate that the plane will be landing at. This way, you can call your party and let your party know of the gate change as soon as you're allowed to use your cell phone.

*Gates are divided by building at DFW International airport, so do give your party some time to find you.

Flights arrive late. Flights seem to arrive late at DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas on a frequent basis. This could be the airline or it could be the airport. Too, it could be a mixture of how well the two work together. Either way, though, schedule some extra time (if you can) to allow for your flight arriving late at DFW. (American Eagle seems to frequently have a problem with arriving on time, so be sure to take this into consideration.) DFW is a large airport, and it accommodates a lot of flights, so you will suffer some in the way of convenience when you use DFW.

Rental car concourse a distance from airport. DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas provides regular shuttle bus service from DFW to the rental car concourse. This will also cost you some time. It takes approximately seven minutes to arrive at the concourse once you leave the terminal. You also have to wait for the next bus to come along to actually take you there, which can add some extra minutes to your time. Taxi in time and shuttle bus time can easily soak up thirty to forty five minutes of your precious time, so allow for this.

Flying Out of DFW

Some security points close early. DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas is a 24-hour airport, but this doesn't mean that everything operates on a 24-hour basis. Actually, many of the restaurants/shops close up fairly early. The important point to know is that many of the security screening check points close up, also. If you have a late flight out of DFW, make sure you call the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Office at DFW Airport to find out which screening area will be open during that time. This will save you from having to quickly run to another building to catch your flight.

Gates frequently change. Again, gates frequently change. Even if you arrive early at DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas, don't just sit there and assume that you're at the right gate. Gates can change right up to the last minute. Someone may tell you, and someone may not tell you. The airline and the airport hold you responsible for monitoring your gate on the gate monitoring system, so watch this closely. Otherwise, you may miss your flight.

Toll booth at North Gate. Be prepared for a long trip to the rental car concourse if you enter through the North Gate at DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas. The rental car concourse is closest to the South Gate, so you have to travel quite a ways to get there. The current road construction at the North Gate makes matters even worse. Also, you have to go through two toll booths.

*You won't have to pay anything if you're in a rental car, but you still have to stop and get a ticket, so this adds more time to your visit. Make sure that you allow yourself around an hour to get in or out of DFW airport once you get there. This will help you avoid scheduling issues.

**If you can fly out of Dallas Love Field with the same cost, choose this route. It's much more convenient due to the size and layout of the airport.