Business travel tip: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)

It took me a while to get used to the cloverleaf sprawl that is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (airport code DFW). But now that I've been using it regularly, I find I like its layout a lot.   Besides, the twisty-turny access roads remind me of the old Autopia attraction in Disneyland's Tomorrowland.

Here are some random tips to know about DFW.

It's big.  There are five terminals, A through E.  If you look at a map of the place, you'll see that some of the parking lots are shaped suspiciously like terminals. It looks like they could add three entire new terminals in the future.

A freeway runs through it:  The airport terminals are divided by a north/south freeway, which is also a toll road. You take a ticket when entering, and pay upon leaving. Your car's license plate number is printed on the ticket (it's entered by the tollboth attendant when you enter.) If you just drive straight through, the toll is $2; if you linger a while (like when you drop off or pick up someone), it actually costs less.

To the left, to the left:  All exits to the terminals from the tollway are left exits, no matter which side of the tollway the terminal is on. Cloverleafs spin you around to the terminals on the opposite side.

Parking, lots: There are four types of parking, if you're driving in from the Dallas-Fort Worth area (the "Metroplex"). In order of cost (low to high), they are:

• Remote North and Remote South: These are just outside the tollway, at each entrance. Cheapest parking, large buses take you to the terminals.

• Express North and Express South. These are just INside the tollway, cost a little bit more, but have some nice amenities. Mini shuttles instead of large buses pick you up at your car, and drop you back at your car upon return. There's a free bottle of water when you check in, and the shuttles are dedicated to specific terminals so the trip is shorter.  Express North is the smaller of the two, but nicer; it fills up fast.

• Terminals A-E Infield.  This is an open air parking lot at each of the terminals. Quite a walk from the terminal. The other down side is that sometimes you may leave from one terminal, but your return flight lands at another. So it's a bus ride to get back to your car.

• Terminals A-E Parking Garages. The priciest option, but closest to the terminal.

Central air:  All the rental cars are in a central facility. From the terminal curbs, take the Rental Car Center bus.

Hang up and park: There is no cell phone lot at DFW as at many airports. If you're waiting for someone, use one of the Remote lots: the cost is only $0.50 for the first hour.

Refresh Everything, as long as it's Pepsi:  DFW is a Pepsi place. All the shops and vending machines sell Pepsi products, along with juices and water. If you're a Coke or Diet Coke person, though, don't despair.  The McDonald's outlets in the various terminals sell Coke products.

Take the A(irport) train: A computer controlled elevated train system called SkyTrain goes to all the terminals, and it's inside the secure area so you don't need to go through security again to use it. There are two stops per terminal.  Take the escalator upstairs, board the train, then take the escalator downstairs to reach your gate. If you're outside the secure area, you have to leave the terminal and use buses that load out front at the curb. It's called Terminal Link.