What does change terminals mean for American Airlines?

Generally, this means that the airport has more than one terminal building or concourse, and you will have to get from the one in which you arrive to a different one in order to make your next flight.



For American Airlines passengers, "changing terminals" means that your connecting flight departs from a different building or terminal area than the one you arrived in. This is most common at large hub airports like Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), or Los Angeles (LAX). At DFW, for example, American operates out of Terminals A, B, C, D, and E. If you arrive at Gate A20 and your next flight is at Gate D15, you must "change terminals." In most major AA hubs, you can use a post-security shuttle or train (like the "Skylink" at DFW) to transfer between terminals without having to exit the secure area or go through TSA security again. However, if you are arriving on an international flight, you must always clear customs and immigration, which often involves exiting the secure terminal, reclaiming your bags, and then re-clearing security at your departure terminal. It is vital to check your boarding pass or the American Airlines app for the "Terminal" and "Gate" letters to ensure you have enough "Minimum Connection Time" for the transfer.

People Also Ask

For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

MORE DETAILS

Give yourself a fighting chance
But the 45-minute rule only applies under ideal circumstances; if your connection takes you to a notoriously troublesome airport during the winter months (we're looking at you, Chicago O'Hare), try for a flight with at least a 75-minute layover.

MORE DETAILS

While skiplagging isn't illegal, American Airlines filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month against Skiplagged.com, accusing the company of unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices and tricking customers into believing they've gained access to a secret loophole.

MORE DETAILS

Factor in a minimum three-hour window when flying to high traffic airports or traveling during peak days or hours. It's also important to know if you have to exit your terminal, collect your bags, and go through security again. If so, it's best to add another hour cushion for self-transfer flights.

MORE DETAILS

*Customers traveling on a Basic Economy fare can't make changes at a kiosk and should find their trip on the American app, aa.com or visit a ticket counter to request a change.

MORE DETAILS

In most cases, you will only need to go to check-in when you have checked-in online if you need to drop off an item of hold baggage. Please ensure that you are aware of the hand baggage requirements for your specific airline before you travel.

MORE DETAILS

The General Guideline for How Early You Should Get to the Airport. Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.

MORE DETAILS

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

MORE DETAILS

Generally speaking, most airlines will make some kind of efforts to wait for delayed passengers on a connecting flight, though this is not necessarily guaranteed. In some cases, airlines may be able to hold a connecting flight for a period of time, but it is not something that is typically guaranteed by any airline.

MORE DETAILS

Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

MORE DETAILS