For those arriving on international flights, Immigration and Customs (at Terminal D) process usually takes 15–30 minutes, but can take over an hour at peak times. The busiest times are in the afternoon. Arrivals from Canada are pre-cleared by U.S. immigration and customs prior to boarding in Canada and arrive into the U.S. as a domestic flight.

Like all airports in the United States, there are no special transit facilities for international transfers. That means that if you are arriving from an international flight and have an immediate connection, you will still have to pass through Customs and Immigration. For details of entry and visa requirements see get in section of United States page.

Dallas is home to the third highest number of Fortune 500 companies in the United States behind only New York City and Houston, making it one of the busiest regions for business and luxury aviation in the country. It's also frequently used by business jets as a refueling stop for cross-county and intercontinental flights. Although private planes typically use Dallas Love Field (FAA: DAL) and other DFW-area airports focused on private aviation, Dallas Fort-Worth International is still used by corporate aircraft, fractionally owned aircraft, and jet card programs.

DFW Corporate Aviation operates the only private terminal at KDFW, located to the northside of the passenger terminals opposite the Express North Parking Lot. The terminal is accessible via N Service Rd and E 16th St/N 24th Ave behind the American Airlines Cargo terminal. Ameriflight is the only charter operator at KDFW, however, air charter brokers including Alliance Air Charter^{[dead link]} and Private Jets Dallas offer access to charter planes throughout Texas and across the country for private flights to/from DFW International, with planes ranging from single and twin-engine propeller aircraft, to luxury Gulfstreams and business jets. Private flights may experience a bit of a taxi upon arrival, but will enjoy quick departures from Runway 17R.

The main way most travelers get to DFW is by driving to the airport. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has grown up around the airport to the point that major expressways form a complete (though oddly-shaped) loop around the airport, with a spiderweb of freeways and toll roads going in all directions. Routes to the airport are noted on road signs 10 miles or more from the airport, though the numerous multilevel interchanges will make it difficult to just head to the airport without looking at a map or using a GPS device. If you go by car, you cannot avoid the tolls, so have some cash with you.

While there are many different parking areas and 5 terminals, all the terminals and the express and garage parking are on International Parkway, a toll road that goes from the north entrance to the south entrance and connects to all the major highways. The North Entrance connects to the DFW Connector, a several-mile-long interchange of SH 121, 114, and 26, as well as Interstate 635. A $1-billion construction project untangled what was a confusing and disjointed mix of highways that often hopelessly congested. However, the redesigned interchange eliminated the exit to the airport loop road for using the North Remote parking lot from International Parkway, so you should take Texas Trail exit from 121/114 from the west or Freeport exit on 114 from the east. The South Entrance meets with an SH 183 near interchanges with SH 360 to the west and President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) to the east. South remote parking and the car rental center are both easily reached from the south entrance before the toll plaza.

• From Downtown Dallas take I-35E north to S.H. 114/183 ("Airport Freeway"). When 114 and 183 split, you have a choice to go the north or south entrance of the airport. SH 183 (Airport Freeway goes to the south entrance, while 114 goes the north entrance.
• From Downtown Fort Worth take SH 121 to SH 183 (Airport Freeway). When 121 and 183 split, you can either take 121 to the north entrance or 183 to the south entrance.
• From Collin County or anywhere north take either SH 121 (toll road in Collin Co) to the north entrance or PGBT to 114 westbound to the north entrance.
• From Arlington and anywhere south take either SH 360 or PGBT north to the south entrance interchange.
• From Denton or further north take either I-35W south to SH 114 eastbound or I-35E to SH 121 toll road south bound to the north entrance.

Once you've arrived at the airport, you will probably do best to take one of the Shared Ride shuttle services. They offer door to door pickup and drop off, probably costing ~$30 for ~20 miles, which will get you to most places.

Another option is to pick up a rental car at DFW. To do so, you will take the shared shuttle from the airport terminal to the 32.8577-97.03511 Rental Car Center located at 2424 E. 38th St, DFW Airport. The Rental Car Center is open 24 hours daily but the individual rental car companies may keep certain hours. Shuttle buses pick up at the lower level of each terminal. Follow signs to the designated pick-up stops or phone them to arrange pick-up. The following companies are inside the shared facility:

• Advantage Rent A Car, toll-free: +1-800-777-5500. 
• Alamo, toll-free: +1-833-635-0437. Daily 6AM-11PM. 
• Avis Rent a Car, ☏ +1 972-574-4130. Daily 24 hours. (updated Aug 2018)
• Budget Car Rental, ☏ +1 972-615-4400, toll-free: +1 800 218-7992. Daily open 24 hrs. (updated Aug 2018)
• Dollar, toll-free: +1-866-434-2226. Daily 6AM-10PM. 
• Enterprise, toll-free: +1-833 635-0439. Daily 6AM-11PM. 
• E-Z Rent-A-Car, ☏ +1 972 928-9000, toll-free: +1-888-901-5121, reservations@ezrac.com. Daily open 24 hrs. 
• Hertz, ☏ +1 972 453-4600. Daily 6AM-1AM. 
• National, toll-free: +1-833 635-0438. 
• PayLess, ☏ +1 972 456-7939, toll-free: +1-800-729-5377. 
• Thrifty, toll-free: +1-800-847-4389. 
• Sixt, ☏ +1 469 518-5970, toll-free: +1 888 749-8227. Daily 6AM - 1AM. 

For DFW, there are courtesy phones that will let you ring them directly (for free), and they are usually pretty quick about pickups and drop offs. (at most adding an extra 30–40 minutes while you wait for them to pick up more people, or to drop your fellow passengers off on the way to your place or hotel). Click here for a list of the car rental companies at Dallas Love Field.

If you're longer on time than money or prefer to not to drive altogether, public transit is also another option.

The airport has direct rail links to both downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth from a pair of stations sandwiched between Terminal A and Terminal B. Terminal A is the best place to reach the DART Orange Line to Dallas, and Terminal B is the best place to board TexRail to Fort Worth.

There are several different levels of pricing for parking at the airport depending on proximity to the terminal and level of service. In addition, there are private parking services located near the airport that will drop you off at a terminal like the Parking Spot and Park 'N Fly.

It is possible to walk between Terminals A, B, C, and D inside security. The distances can be great though, so it is best to use the Skylink to travel between terminals. There are sidewalks outside of security, but these are outside and not really designed for easy transit by passengers carrying lots of luggage. Terminal E is also accessible but you will need to use to Skylink to go there (see below)

Skylink is an automated people mover system operating airside (secured side) between all DFW terminals. This system allows passengers simply changing planes at DFW along with originating passengers who have already gone through security to move between terminals without having to be re-screened. Skylink has 2 stops at each terminal with trains running in both directions. A train stops every 2 minutes with average rides of 5 minutes and the longest ride between most distant stops being 9 minutes.

Terminal Link is a free shuttle van system operating landside (unsecured side) between all DFW terminals. The shuttles are painted in orange and can accommodate luggage. Service operates every 10 minutes between 5AM and midnight. Between midnight and 5AM, passengers must call in advance (+1 972 574-5465) to request pick-up.

There are several airline lounges scattered around various terminals.

• American Airlines
  • Admirals Club Terminal A: Gate A24
  • Admirals Club Terminal B: Gate B6
  • Admirals Club Terminal C: Gate C20
  • American Airlines Temporary Premium Lounge Terminal D: Gate D36. This is a temporary lounge, as AA is building a renovated Admirals Club, as well as a new Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining, expected to open in 2019.
• American Express Centurion Lounge: D12
• The club (Priority Pass): D27
• The Club at DFW: D21. This lounge has a shared reception area, but each airline operates a dedicated room for its passengers. Used by Qantas, British Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar.
• Delta Sky Club: E10
• United Club: E5

• XpresSpa. Manicure $20, 10-minute massage $25. 
  • (Near Gate A25), ☏ +1 972 973-7348. Daily 6AM-9:30PM. (updated Feb 2020)
  • (Near Gate D33), ☏ +1 972 973-4472. Daily 6AM-9:30PM. (updated Feb 2020)
  • (Near Gate A17), ☏ +1 972 973-4469. Daily 5AM-10PM. (updated Feb 2020)

• Chik-fil-A, Gates C25, D18, E6
• Fuddruckers Hamburgers, Gate D18. Simple, custom made burgers and breakfast, though with less choices of meat than a normal Fuddruckers (sorry no buffalo or elk burgers here!) Meals under $10. 
• McDonald's, Gates A17, C6, C22, D33. 5AM- 10:30PM. Open early. There is also a playground at the D33 location. 
• Urban Taco, Gate C22. Opens at 7AM. Cheap, fast street-style tacos and breakfast. Spicy salsa and corn tortillas. Under $10. 
• Whataburger, Gate E27
• Shake Shack, Gate C7

• Cantina Laredo, Gate D24. A full service restaurant that serves Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican food, and has a fully stocked bar. Meals from $12. 
• Pappasito's Cantina, Gate A28. 6AM-9:30PM. Full service dinning and bar with to-go option for Tex-Mex. Makes flour tortillas fresh throughout the day. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lunch from $14. 
• Salt Lick Bar-B-Que, Gate A16. A local chain of Texas-style BBQ. Several choices of meat are slow cooked and served with cole slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. Plates from $10. 
• Chili's Too, Gate's B20 and C16. Limited menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pasta. Serves breakfast. 
• TGI Friday's, Gates A13, B10, C8, C29, D34, E17. Casual American dining restaurant and bar with dine-in or take out options. Serves breakfast. Meals around $10. 

• Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Gate A24. Louisiana-style seafood restaurant and bar with plenty of spicy Cajun and Creole dishes, and some less spicy ones as well. Has a lunch menu. 
• III Forks Prime Steakhouse, Gate D27 Upper Level. A classic American steakhouse with prime beef, seafood, salads, and sandwiches. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (updated Jan 2018)

International-bound passengers are free to shop at the two duty free shopping shops in Terminal D.

• Buckaroo Duty Free, Gate D14 & D27. Two shops sell alcohol, tobacco, jewelry, and perfume without taxes or other fees.