NCEPR: Flying into DC

[twotrue]

I might be headed to a conference in DC this February.  Is there any particular airport I should avoid? I've only ever flown into BWI but since this is for work I need to shop around for best flight time and price.  TIA!

[aspentosh]

Where is your conference? If DC proper, then Reagan would be easiest because it's closest to DC and transportation is right there. If you'll be in Northern VA area, Dulles would also work.

[themandapanda]

Yeah, what aspentosh, said. If your conference is reachable by Metro, fly into DCA. If you will need a car anyway, fly into IAD.

[Susie]

I always fly into DCA because I can take the metro blue line right to my client.  BWI is wayyyy far away from where I need to go in DC, and there's no convenient or particularly direct mass transit from there.  You can do it, but it takes a couple transfers.  I also avoid IAD because again, transfers to the metro.  I could get an uber to and from IAD, but then I have to risk lateness due to traffic, and the flights aren't really much cheaper or more convenient for me anyway.

[aurora]

DCA is definitely most convenient for DC proper, but I do fly to IAD sometimes due to scheduling and the silver line bus to silver line metro isn't terrible. Also not great. It will be better when the metro is completed.

[y4m]

Jan 22, 2018 13:00:54 GMT -5 @mx said:

Unless your actual destination is far from DC itself, DCA. The other airports are terrible and difficult/expensive to access.

I will pay $100 more to fly out of DCA and basically break even because of how much it costs to get to the other airports in any reasonable time frame.

Ditto.  I regularly connect in other airports (rather than taking direct flights out of IAD) because DCA is that much more convenient to the city.

[twotrue]

Thank you! This was very helpful! The location of the conference is DC proper so I will look at DCA first.

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2018 13:00:54 GMT -5 @mx said:

Unless your actual destination is far from DC itself, DCA. The other airports are terrible and difficult/expensive to access.

I will pay $100 more to fly out of DCA and basically break even because of how much it costs to get to the other airports in any reasonable time frame.

Not to mention TIME. If you land at the wrong time at IAD and need to get into DC (or even close in northern Virginia), just stab yourself in the eyes. It will be less painful than the travel.

twotrue, since it's in DC proper, definitely look for DCA. Being able to hop on the Metro is SO easy. I know it depends on where you're flying from, but I've never found IAD to be significantly cheaper for my travels.

[AJL]

Another vote for DCA. I've flown into all of them and DCA is the easiest to navigate from if you're destination is in DC proper.

[wise_rita]

I flew out of DCA a few months ago and have never seen a more inefficient, slow moving and awful security line in my entire life.

Give yourself plenty of time when you fly out.

[sushi]

Jan 23, 2018 22:19:28 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

I flew out of DCA a few months ago and have never seen a more inefficient, slow moving and awful security line in my entire life.

Give yourself plenty of time when you fly out.

And I used to fly out of there regularly and was impressed with short lines. The exception to that is if you're flying out when Congress is returning home. Friday afternoons can be a nightmare.

[seeyalater52]

Aside from Friday evenings I dont ever have that much trouble with DCA and I go back and forth a LOT (and often for the day and I am too cheap for precheck.) Definitely the worst thing ever is when you mess up and accidentally book Dulles and then it takes forever to get into DC. Not that I know from experience...

[wise_rita]

Jan 23, 2018 23:23:02 GMT -5 sushi said:

Jan 23, 2018 22:19:28 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

I flew out of DCA a few months ago and have never seen a more inefficient, slow moving and awful security line in my entire life.

Give yourself plenty of time when you fly out.

And I used to fly out of there regularly and was impressed with short lines. The exception to that is if you're flying out when Congress is returning home. Friday afternoons can be a nightmare.

I wouldn't say the lines were particularly long, they just DIDN'T MOVE. Therefore the lines didn't shorten.

A case study in inefficiency.