I Flew Through DFW Twice in March 2026 — Here Is What Changed

I flew through DFW twice in March 2026 — once on the 8th heading to Phoenix and again on the 22nd coming back from San Diego. The terminal construction is noticeable now. Here is what actually changed and what it means for your next connection through Dallas.

The Terminal D Renovation Is Real

Terminal D is getting a significant refresh, and as of mid-March 2026 the south end near gates D28-D40 has temporary walls up blocking off a section that used to have a Panda Express and a newsstand. Both are gone. The replacement restaurants are not open yet — just bare walls behind the construction barriers.

The north end of Terminal D near the international gates is unaffected so far. If your flight leaves from D6 through D22, nothing looks different. But if you’re in the D30s, plan to walk a bit further for food options.

Skylink Runs Fine, But the Wait Boards Are Off

Skylink still runs its normal loop. During my March 8th connection I waited about 90 seconds for a train at Terminal A headed to Terminal E. Normal. But the electronic wait-time boards at two of the stations I passed through (A and C) were showing “—:—” instead of actual times. Not sure if they were being updated or just broken, but I saw the same thing on my return trip two weeks later. Do not rely on those boards right now. Just get on the platform and a train will show up within two minutes regardless.

The Capital One Lounge Still Has a Line

I checked the Capital One Lounge in Terminal D around 11:30 AM on a Saturday. There was a line of about 15 people waiting to get in, and the host said the wait was approximately 25 minutes. By the time I came back through on the 22nd (a Saturday again, around 2 PM), no line at all. Walk right in.

Takeaway: weekday lunchtimes and Saturday mornings are when the lounge backs up. Afternoons and evenings have been fine the times I have been there.

TSA PreCheck Lines at Terminal A

The PreCheck line at Terminal A on a Friday morning (March 8th, around 6:15 AM) took me 12 minutes from queue entry to shoes back on. Not terrible for a Friday morning, but longer than my usual 5-7 minutes. There were only two PreCheck lanes open. The standard line looked significantly worse — it wrapped around the stanchions and back toward the check-in counters.

On the return trip through Terminal E, PreCheck took about 4 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. Much more reasonable.

Food Worth Knowing About

Whataburger opened an airside location in Terminal E sometime in the last few months. Gate E16 area. The menu is the standard Whataburger menu, and the prices are marked up about 20% over street prices — a Whataburger meal ran me $14.50 versus roughly $11 at a regular location. Still, it is Whataburger inside an airport, which was previously not a thing at DFW.

The Salt Lick BBQ in Terminal A continues to be the best food in the airport in my opinion. Brisket plate, $19. Comparable quality to the original location in Driftwood, which is saying something.

Parking Garage B Has EV Chargers Now

I parked in Terminal B garage for my March 8th trip and noticed new Level 2 EV chargers on floors 3 and 4. Eight charging spots total on each floor. They are ChargePoint stations, $0.35 per kWh based on the signage. When I left my car on the 8th (a Friday morning) half of them were occupied. When I returned on the 10th, all the chargers on floor 3 were in use.

If you drive an EV and park at DFW, do not count on getting a charger during peak travel days. Arrive early or have a full charge before you leave.

The Cell Phone Lot Moved

The free cell phone waiting lot for Terminal A/B pickup has been relocated slightly due to construction. It is now further south along the access road. Follow the updated signs — the old GPS pin for the cell phone lot will put you in a construction zone. I watched two cars ahead of me do U-turns after following Google Maps to the old spot.

Bottom Line

DFW is mid-renovation but still functioning well. Connections are fine. Skylink works. Food is solid. But the construction in Terminal D means fewer options in that section, the PreCheck lines vary more than usual depending on time and terminal, and the parking situation for EVs is tighter than it should be. Plan accordingly and you will be fine.