Flying AA, AMS to DFW, edit: Amsterdam to Dallas Ft Worth

I've forgotten...but do you have Global Entry or do you use the Mobile Passport app? Just asking to see if your answers help those familiar with both airports give you good responses!

Thanks Pam, good call. I’ve got Global Entry.

Choose the flight that takes you to PHL. Avoids the craziness of LHR, a bit more time, and very easy entry in PHL.

I usually pick the city I’d rather be stuck in if I missed my connection or if my flight were canceled.

You might check to see what later flights might be available if you miss your connection.

IMO, I’d choose the option that gets me back in the United States the fastest, therefore I would (and am in March from Amsterdam) go through PHL.

I would far rather be on the home side of the pond than stuck in Europe on a missed flight.

Plus you can get a cheesesteak at PHL.

I agree with the others, go through PHL; I've always found it less expensive than connecting through LHR anyway. Much less chaotic too. And, as Jojo mentioned, opportunity to get a philly cheese steak. Concourse C, around gate 28.

Ah, the cheese steak advantage! I had not thought of that. Very good point. I was more wondering if I’d be hearing some bad news about the airport or not since it’s not one that I’ve heard of or used. But a good review plus cheese steaks. Win-win. Thanks

I believe AA uses terminal B and C for domestic in PHL and A for international flights. Easy walk to both. It is our home airport and we find it just fine. Agree with all responses to get on US soil in case you have problems with flights in Europe you have lots of options here to get back to Texas.

If both your flights are into and out of Heathrow terminal 5, I would pick the Heathrow connection. My favorite connection airport is Heathrow T5.

Given the time of year I would avoid a potential messy weather situation at PHL and do the LHR-DFW option.

I transited Heathrow in April from terminal 5 to terminal 3 with absolutely no issues. My 2+ hour connection was shortened by a delayed arrival from Paris and I still had plenty of time and minimal lines.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still pondering….I had wondered about the possibility of bad weather in February having an effect and chances of that is worse in Philadelphia than London to some extent. But the point of getting across the pond with the first flight hadn’t really occurred to me before. And, of course, there’s cheese steaks. 😉

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still pondering….I had wondered about the possibility of bad weather in February having an effect and chances of that is worse in Philadelphia than London to some extent. But the point of getting across the pond with the first flight hadn’t really occurred to me before. And, of course, there’s cheese steaks. 😉

Don't overthink it.

One question: is the AMS to LHR on British Air? Ummm, they cancel lots of intra-Europe flights, beware. Happened to me last year...

Last year. I had to change planes in Philadelphia.

I was not expecting such a huge airport.

I was returning from Barcelona and had to go through immigration. I I think there was a lot of confusion but it was because of me, not the airport.

I had a glitch that I had to straighten out and it took some time and a lot of walking but everything worked out in the end. Because it was my first time in this airport, there was a lot of confusion on my end.

There are a lot of places to eat. There is at least one nice hotel in the airport itself and maybe two hotels. They have comfortable chairs and lots of shopping is my memory.

I am mentioning this in case you get delayed or stranded.

It was all ok and if I had to change planes in Philadelphia again, I would do so.

I would choose PHL for the following reasons...

1. The layover is an extra 20 minutes. Every minute is helpful.
2. At this point, you've gotten the transatlantic portion over. In case there is a delay, it's nicer to be closer to home.
3. If you do miss your connecting flight and have to take another, where you sit on the plane matters much less. A middle seat from PHL to DFW isn't great, but it's a lot better than a middle seat from LHR to DFW.
4. There are several flights from PHL to DFW each day.

As for weather, I wouldn't consider it. Weather can happen anytime and anywhere. Last month, I got stuck in Scotland because of excessive wind. I never could have predicted that.

Well, fingers crossed that isn’t my fate because I did make the call to fly home through Philadelphia. I have 2 hours and 10 minutes between flights. I sometimes check my bag on the return flight but I’ve decided to carryon so I can avoid waiting for the bag to show up and then recheck again in hopes to speed the process up a bit.

I really debated this because I usually feel pretty fried after getting home from a transatlantic flight and I normally hug my husband, pet my dog and crash. This choice means I go through another airport and back on a plane for 3 1/2 hours. But there were advantages to this plan so I’ll live and learn.

I’ll also add that this was a change to an already existing airfare. I was going to Paris only and then decided to add Amsterdam to my agenda. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to do the change through the AA app and I even ended up with a small credit. Seems like the last time I had to make a change it was a lot more complicated.

Lyndash, you should be fine. I am from Philly, this my home airport. Most of the international flights come in 3:30 and later, the Amsterdam flight comes in way earlier so passport control is quick, and nobody is asking questions as you walk out customs. It is NOT a long walk to either B or C. FWIW, my plane from London last week gated at 3:17at the furthest gate out, we were on row 30, I made my 3:41 train back to my house. Granted, I walk fast.

Wow, thanks Larry. That is good news. I am scheduled to land at 3:30 pm. And walking fast after a 10+ hour flight will feel really good.

A couple of Philadelphia airport tips. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve Account or priority plus (?) don’t miss their lounge there. It is quite nice.

You can miss some of the shopping area congestion by taking express hallways that go behind the stores and speed up the walking. Watch for signs.

Apologies lyndash. I did not realize that flight was later in the winter. I have that as 11 to 1 most of the year. I still believe you should be fine. And I ignore the PHL haters here.