DFW Airport Guide: Terminals A to E, Skylink and Wi-Fi

DFW has five terminals, A to E, connected inside security by the Skylink train. A sixth, Terminal F, is under construction. DFW is American Airlines' home: DFW calls American its largest airline partner at the airport. The airport's website says it offers 77 international and 193 domestic nonstop destinations. DFW's airline page lists 31 airlines and a gate table. Here is what the table says:

• Terminal A: American, gates A8 to A39.
• Terminal B: American, gates B1 to B49.
• Terminal C: American, gates C2 to C39. The terminal is open during a rebuild.
• Terminal D: international. Gates D6 to D16 are listed for Aeromexico, Air France, Avianca, British Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Sun Country, Viva Aerobus and Volaris. American is at D17 to D40.
• Terminal E: Air Canada (E2), United (E4 to E9), jetBlue (E10), Alaska (E11), Delta (E12 to E17), Frontier (E20) and American (E35 to E38).

The table does not give gates for Avelo, Breeze, Cathay Pacific, Contour, Denver Air Connection, EVA Air, Finnair, Iberia, Royal Jordanian, Southern Airways Express or Turkish Airlines. DFW lists phone numbers for them but no terminal, so check your boarding pass or call the airline. Airlines move gates, so confirm on your itinerary.

DFW is in the middle of a large construction program. Check these before you fly:

• Terminal C is being rebuilt from curb to gate in a project DFW puts at about $3 billion with American Airlines. The new nine-gate pier is complete. DFW lists a temporary pet relief area in the parking garage near C17.
• Terminal F is under construction. DFW says work began in November 2024 and the terminal will have 15 gates and a Skylink station. No opening date is published.
• DFW is changing access to Terminals A, B and C from left-hand to right-hand exits off International Parkway. The new access into Terminals A, B and C is now open.
• DFW publishes dated construction and closure notices at dfwairport.com/construction. Check that page and the DFW app on the day you travel for current closures.

Downtown Dallas is about 20 miles (33 km) from the airport by road. Enter from State Highway 183 on the south, or State Highway 114 or Interstate 635 on the north. One main road, International Parkway, runs the length of the airport, and all terminals are on it.

Drop-off is at the curb on the upper level of every terminal. Curbs are for active loading only, and unattended cars can be fined.

Entry and exit plazas accept TollTag. Without one, ticket lanes take contactless payment, and DFW says cash is not accepted.

Picking someone up? DFW has two free cell phone lots: North (53 spaces, before the North toll plaza) and South (about 60 spaces, at Rental Car Drive and Southgate Avenue). You can wait up to 2 hours in either one, and the driver must stay with the car. Parking overnight is not allowed. DFW also lists one-hour spaces in the first rows of terminal parking.

For trains, DART's Orange Line stops at Terminal A, and the DART Silver Line and Trinity Metro's TEXRail stop at Terminal B. The Silver Line runs from Plano through Richardson, Addison, Carrollton and Coppell to Terminal B, bypassing downtown Dallas. TEXRail runs from downtown Fort Worth through North Richland Hills and Grapevine. The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) stops at CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, and the TRE Link shuttle takes you to the terminals.

Inside security, take Skylink. DFW says it is free, fully accessible and runs terminal to terminal inside the secure area. If you have no checked bags, stay inside security and ride Skylink to your terminal. DFW says Skylink operates 24 hours a day, trains arrive every two minutes, and the average ride is five minutes.

Outside security, take the Terminal Link shuttle. It is the orange shuttle, and DFW says shuttles arrive every 8 to 10 minutes after 5 a.m. Before 5 a.m., and during the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. after-hours service, call 972-574-5465. DFW says the ride takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your destination. All stops are on the upper level except at Terminal D. Use the shuttle tracker in the DFW app or at dfwairport.com/shuttles.

DFW's shuttle pages say its airport shuttles are ADA accessible and available 24/7. For Terminal Link before 5 a.m., call the number above.

DFW's International Arrivals area, Global Entry office and CBP cashier are all in Terminal D. DFW does not say which airlines clear customs where, so check your arrival terminal on your itinerary. DFW uses a color-coded system in its customs areas. U.S. or Canadian citizens and lawful permanent residents follow the orange signs.

• Mobile Passport Control: eligible travelers can use the CBP Mobile Passport Control app on a smartphone or tablet to speed up processing.
• Global Entry: members skip the passport control line and go to automated kiosks, then to bag claim. The Global Entry office is on the lower level of Terminal D, in the hallway just south of International Arrivals.
• Enrollment on Arrival: if you are conditionally approved for Global Entry, you can do the interview at CBP booths 35 or 36 in the Passport Control arrivals hall.
• CBP Cashiers Office: lower level of Terminal D at D23, to the left of International Arrivals, for I-94 corrections, deferred inspection permits and customs documents. Open daily, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you connect to another flight, allow extra time for customs and a possible bag recheck.

DFW offers free Wi-Fi. Turn on Wi-Fi, select "DFW Public 5G Wi-Fi" or "DFW Public 6E Wi-Fi", and accept the terms and conditions.

DFW says there are charging stations with USB ports in many gate waiting areas, and seated power stations throughout the airport.

DFW has two lost and found areas, depending on where you left the item:

• DFW Lost and Found is in the Terminal E baggage claim near E4, before security. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Call +1-972-973-4420 or file a report online. DFW says it does not charge to file a lost property report.
• American Airlines Lost and Found is near gate B18, past security. Call +1-469-784-2888 for items lost on an American plane or at its gates.
• For a wallet lost at a security checkpoint, DFW points you to a TSA contact and the Terminal E office at E4.

Items left on a plane are handled by the airline. DFW warns about unverified third-party websites that charge a fee to retrieve lost items, so file only through DFW or the airline.

• Luggage storage: DFW's official pages list no luggage storage or locker service. Ask your airline about bag handling, or call DFW at +1-972-973-3112 before you plan around a locker.
• Hotels: DFW lists three on-airport hotels (Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Place) and Minute Suites inside the terminal. Grand Hyatt DFW is inside Terminal D and reached from any terminal by Skylink or Terminal Link.
• Lounges: all five terminals are connected inside security by Skylink, so you can use a lounge in any terminal. DFW lists an Admirals Club in every terminal, an American Express Centurion Lounge in Terminal D and other lounges in Terminals D and E.
• Pets: pet relief areas are inside security at A29, B28, D18 and E31. Outside security they are at A8, D15, D29, E2 and E38, with a temporary one near C17.
• Security: DFW says it has 14 checkpoints and shows live wait times and hours on its security page.
• Nursing rooms: inside security near gates A18, B40, C13/14, C36, D2, D36, E14 and E26. All restrooms are accessible, and accessible family restrooms sit next to the men's and women's restrooms.
• Accessibility: DFW takes part in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. Sunflower lanyards are free by mail (allow at least 14 business days) or at the Customer Experience Office, Terminal B43 upper level, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For wheelchair help, ask your airline. The free GoodMaps app gives accessible indoor navigation.