Todd. We have connected through DFW a few times returning from St Maarten and have had to overnight in Dallas because of weather and delayed/cancelled flights a few times. It can happen at any airport but or track record going through DFW hasn't been that great. We prefer the SEA-MIA or SEA-CLT direct for leaving or returning to/from SEA. Our daughter that lives in Vancouver has taken the Alaska PDX flight to SEA and then on to MIA or CLT on American. Alaska handled the baggage transfers and connections. Even did it using Alaska miles too in First class/Business. Might want to look into that.