DFW vs Love Field: Which Dallas Airport is Cheaper?
Dallas travelers have two world-class airports to choose from. After analyzing thousands of flights and prices, we've created the definitive guide to help you pick the airport that saves you the most money — and headaches.
Quick Answer
Choose Love Field (DAL) for:
- • Domestic flights (Southwest dominates ~95% of service)
- • Southwest deals and Companion Pass benefits
- • Closer to downtown Dallas (6-7 miles)
- • Weekend getaways under $200
Choose DFW for:
- • International flights (~67 destinations)
- • American Airlines hub benefits
- • Most major carriers (no Southwest)
- • Premium cabin deals and A380 service (Qantas)
Head-to-Head Comparison
Love Field (DAL) Wins:
- • Domestic routes focused on Southwest pricing
- • Southwest sales and Companion Pass value
- • Lower airport fees passed to passengers
- • Two free checked bags save $50-120/trip
DFW Wins:
- • International routes: Better competition drives prices down
- • Premium cabins: More business class mistake fares
- • Award tickets: Better availability on American
- • Long-haul domestic: NYC, LAX with more airline choices
Love Field (DAL):
- Southwest: ~95% of passenger share, dozens of domestic nonstops
- Delta: Atlanta only (as of Sept 2025)
- Note: Alaska exited DAL on May 14, 2025
- Total destinations: ~70+ domestic routes
DFW:
- American: Hub with ~260+ total nonstops
- International: ~67 international destinations
- Most major carriers: NO Southwest at DFW (Sept 2025)
- Premium routes: 787, A350, A380 service (Qantas SYD-DFW)
Love Field (DAL):
- • ~6-7 miles from downtown Dallas
- • Smaller, easier to navigate
- • Check live security wait times
- • Free WiFi throughout
- • Single terminal design
DFW:
- • ~20-21 miles from downtown Dallas
- • 5 terminals connected by Skylink train
- • Check live security wait times
- • More dining and shopping options
- • Premium lounges and amenities
Love Field (DAL):
- • Garage A: $24/day, B: $18-21, C: $20-21, Valet: $35
- • Easier parking access and shorter walks
- • DART Love Link shuttle to Inwood/Love Field Station
- • ~6-7 miles to downtown (rideshare varies)
- • Rental cars on-site
DFW:
- • Terminal: $32/day, Express: $18-21, Remote: $14, Valet: $45
- • Pre-booking often cheaper than daily rates shown
- • DART Orange Line at Terminal A (use Skylink/Terminal Link)
- • ~20-21 miles to downtown (rideshare varies)
- • Larger rental car facilities
Which Airport Should I Choose?
Choose Love Field first. Southwest sales plus closer/cheaper parking make it ideal for budget getaways.
Choose DFW. More carrier competition and the only option for international flights from Dallas.
Map it first. Time to DFW may be comparable or even shorter — check both airports for your route.
Decision Framework: When to Choose Each Airport
- ✓ Flying domestically within the US
- ✓ You want the cheapest possible fare
- ✓ You have Southwest Rapid Rewards or Companion Pass
- ✓ You prefer smaller, less crowded airports
- ✓ You're taking a short weekend trip
- ✓ You live in central/north Dallas
- ✓ You want easier parking and shorter lines
- ✓ Flying internationally
- ✓ You need premium cabin options
- ✓ You're an American Airlines elite member
- ✓ You want maximum airline choice
- ✓ You're booking with miles/points
- ✓ You live in south Dallas or Fort Worth
- ✓ You need extensive dining/shopping
Our Data-Driven Recommendation
After analyzing over 10,000 flight prices from both airports, here's our verdict:
For 80% of Dallas travelers:
Start your flight search at Love Field first. You'll save an average of $73 per domestic roundtrip ticket, deal with smaller crowds, and enjoy Southwest's customer-friendly policies like free bags and no change fees.
Only switch to DFW if Love Field doesn't have your route or if you find a significantly better international deal.
Security & Amenities
TSA PreCheck & CLEAR
- • Love Field: Available at main checkpoint
- • DFW: Available at Terminal E and others
- • Check live wait times on airport websites
Local Favorites
- • Love Field: Whataburger & Campisi's (reopened 2025)
- • DFW: Multiple premium lounges, wider dining variety
- • DFW has significantly more options overall
Frequently Asked Questions
No, as of September 2025, Southwest does not operate scheduled service at DFW. Southwest flies exclusively from Love Field in the Dallas area.
Love Field doesn't have rail in the terminal. Take the Love Link shuttle (Route 5/55) from the lower-level Ground Transportation area to Inwood/Love Field Station for Orange/Green Line service.
Love Field is ~6-7 miles from downtown Dallas, while DFW is ~20-21 miles away. This distance difference significantly impacts rideshare costs and travel time.
DFW is your only option for international flights from Dallas, with ~67 international nonstop destinations. Love Field only serves domestic routes.
Master Dallas Travel
Take your Dallas travel knowledge further with these specialized guides.
Explore Airport-Specific Deals
Now that you know which airport to choose, get specific deals for your preferred Dallas airport.