It’s our pleasure to share our updated and informative guide to DFW transportation for commuter airline crew. I’ll even share a secret hack to help you save money and time! Whether you just received your new shiny wings or are new to the commuting lifestyle, we know that being prepared means everything when you’re first arriving at base! I remember when I first drove to the airport as a new hire arriving at base for Indoc! Because there are no location listings in Google Maps for any of the employee parking lots, I ended up in the costly South Remote lot! Don’t let this happen to you! My hope is that you put this information into your virtual pocket and then use it as a resource to navigate Dallas-Fort-Worth Airport and the surrounding areas whenever you need it!

DART airport station

DFW Airport Station (DART Rail).

DART is certainly the most futuristic, fast and affordable way to get to and from DFW Airport if you’re in the right location for it. Unfortunately, the DART Rail does not extend to most areas yet, but you can check their website to see their routes and stations. The Orange Line provides service to DFW Airport Station in terminal D.

 

Bus Route 408 to DFW Airport South Remote Parking.

City bus is a great option if it’s available to your crashpad. Route 408 takes you directly to the Airport South Remote Parking, where you can then take their FREE shuttle into the airport terminal. I wish that DFW was more pedestrian friendly, but many of the sidewalks are not especially kind to our roller-boards, so be sure to double check the routes you plan to use- and for your sake, do a test run before you report to base! The fare is just $2.50 each way and tickets are easily purchased online. Since the buses and routes make up part of DART, you can learn more on how to ride both the bus and DART Rail at https://www.dart.org/riding/riding.asp

 

Lyft vs. Uber.

First off when considering using a rideshare service, make sure to note that all of them have a surcharge if you get picked up at the airport terminal. There’s also a $2 minimum entry toll, driving the cost up further. Instead, we recommend that our clients make life easier and more affordable by taking a FREE shuttle to the Rental Car Center, then take a Lyft or Uber to the crashpad house from there. To get back to the airport, just get a five minute ride to the rental car center, then take a shuttle to any of the terminals. The terminal shuttles are outside, and upstairs in the Rental Car Center. I recommend Uber, as they usually have the lowest fare, however it’s smart to check both apps before requesting your ride so you can compare and save.

If you’ve never tried Uber, click here so both of us get a discount on your first ride:

 

If you’ve never tried Lyft, click here so both of us get a discount on your first ride:

DFW Airport Rental Car Center

DFW-employee bus

DFW Airport Employee Parking.

Got your own ride? Awesome! You will have access to really dive deep into DFW and explore all that it has to offer! Below are the Google Map pin locations of the DFW Airport employee parking lots, both of which you can access and use with a valid parking permit (talk to the Manager On Duty about that).

DFW Employee South Parking Lot

DFW Employee North Parking

DFW Airport Aries Shuttle to American Airlines Training & Conference Center.

Aries shuttle transportation is available and complimentary for American Airlines crew only. These grey courtesy shuttles/vans run between the airport and American Airlines Training Center, just across from the C.R. Smith Museum. Call (817) 956-1000 for the American Airlines Training and Conference Center to learn more about their complimentary airport shuttle, operating seven days a week during the hours of 6:30AM-11PM.

  • Terminal A Gate 10
  • Terminal D Gate 17 & 29
  • Terminal B Gate 22
  • Terminal E Gate 2 & 35
  • Terminal C Gate 24 (take the stairs down by Gate 25)

The location of the American Airlines Training & Conference Center

Hope This Guide Serves You Well!

I hope you enjoy your time in DFW, however long or short your stay will be! If you’re looking for more commuter airline crew tools and resources to assist you in the transition, I invite you to check out our full blog! If you’re in need of a commuter crashpad as well, we’ve got that covered too! With more than 5 years in the industry, it is our mission as always to provide a safe and comfortable space to my fellow airline crew. Lastly, please let me know of any other DFW transportation hacks in the comments below and I’ll gladly update this guide. Thanks for reading and I hope this guide serves you well!