I was on a really nice flight in C from LHR to IAD yesterday. The London Lounge was good, the meal was edible, the movies were mildly entertaining, and the UA flight attendants could not have been more friendly and helpful.

Then we had to deal with Dulles.

Before we land, the British UA captain comes on and announces that security procedures have forced us to deal with "the most ludicrous form of transportation at any airport" he's ever seen -- the mobile lounges. After landing, we learn that we will be boarding out the BACK of the plane. So all of us in F and C will be exiting last along with the pilot and FAs. Since we had lots of time to kill waiting for the lounges, I spoke with the FAs who said that of all the places United flies, they dread flying into IAD.

Now it's been 30 minutes since we've landed and we're still on the plane. Finally we get to the back, but they've run out of space on the mobile lounge ... and to make matters worse, the mobile lounge driver can't leave because he's not allowed to close the airplane door. The FA says she can't do it ... so we all sit there.

Finally, the pilot muscles his way up to the front and says, "Welcome to Dulles, where they reinvent the wheel everyday." He closes the door and 7-8 minutes later, another lounge pulls in and the C/F passengers and the crew head to the long lines of immigration. I won't bore you with how disgusting the immigration area looks nor what a pain it would have been to go back to the C gates if we'd had to transfer to another flight.

I wonder if UA will push for some changes at IAD ... the international gateway to our nation's capital.

I think IAD is like United.bomb -- we can complain 'til we're blue in the face, but it'll do no good.

United has a lot more control over United.bomb than they do over security procedures IAD. United could change/upgrade/improve United.bomb anytime they want. Making change at IAD takes cooperation with entities outside of United.

he's not allowed to close the airplane door. The FA says she can't do it
Does this sound strange to anyone besides me? (The FA not being able to close the door part)

what a pain it would have been to go back to the C gates if we'd had to transfer to another flight.

Aren't the C gates just upsatirs from immigation/customs? Its been a couple months since I came back through IAD, did I forget something already?

Does this sound strange to anyone besides me? (The FA not being able to close the door part)


Aren't the C gates just upsatirs from immigation/customs? Its been a couple months since I came back through IAD, did I forget something already?
There are two areas for immigration/customs. One is just below the C gates and it is for onward bound passengers. The second is in the main terminal building and is normally for IAD terminating passengers. However, if a flight lands after 8:30 pm or in the morning, all passengers use the immigration/customs at the main terminal since the mid-field terminal facility is not open. I do not know when the OP landed and therefore cannot determine if the operation was abnormal.

There are two areas for immigration/customs. One is just below the C gates and it is for onward bound passengers. The second is in the main terminal building and is normally for IAD terminating passengers. However, if a flight lands after 8:30 pm or in the morning, all passengers use the immigration/customs at the main terminal since the mid-field terminal facility is not open. I do not know when the OP landed and therefore cannot determine if the operation was abnormal.

We landed at 2:30 PM ... but everyone had to go to the main terminal. The pilot seemed to imply that this was a new security procedure.

And I also thought it odd that the FA couldn't close the door.

As this is about Dulles and not specifically UA, you'll now find the thread in the Washington DC forum.

letiole
co UA-mod

I was on a really nice flight in C from LHR to IAD yesterday.

Before we land, the British UA captain comes on and announces that security procedures have forced us to deal with "the most ludicrous form of transportation at any airport" he's ever seen -- the mobile lounges.

Finally, the pilot muscles his way up to the front and says, "Welcome to Dulles, where they reinvent the wheel everyday."


As a frequent IAD flyer I am certainly not going to defend it...but for a British pilot flying out of LHR to complain about an airport "reinventing the wheel" and not be referring to LHR seems...umm...interesting to say the least.

As a frequent IAD flyer I am certainly not going to defend it...but for a British pilot flying out of LHR to complain about an airport "reinventing the wheel" and not be referring to LHR seems...umm...interesting to say the least.

I dunno about that ... I've never seen or heard of First Class passengers at Heathrow boarding LAST off a plane.

I dunno about that ... I've never seen or heard of First Class passengers at Heathrow boarding LAST off a plane.


That may be true...but have you ever seen a First Class passenger board an aircraft at IAD without being allowed any carry-ons?

That may be true...but have you ever seen a First Class passenger board an aircraft at IAD without being allowed any carry-ons?

Touche'. But at least that policy was clear and straightforward. Ridiculous, but clear.

Touche'. But at least that policy was clear and straightforward. Ridiculous, but clear.


Too bad we can't just avoid both airports. Unfortunately IAD is a must fly for me...sigh, and the cheap flights to LHR might just get me to do a run there even though I have sworn off the airport -- oh the depths we will fall for a few extra miles.

One thing the people at IAD can do is add more immagration booths in the IAB. That can make lines shorter and speed up the process. It could also use a nice renovation.

Ben

Anyone know when the subway is supposed to be finished and we never have to take the mobile lounges again??

According to their Web site, 2009.

http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/d2_dulles_development_2/d2_home

I was stationed in the UK back in the early 1980s and had to fly from LHR to IAD about once every six weeks or so. This was in the prehistoric era before the midfield terminals. Also, the main terminal was exactly 1/2 the size it is now. The only parking lot was what is now the short term & valet lot right in front of the terminal. There was a parking garage containing rental cars on the lower level in the areas where the baggage claims are presently located. I had friends who would drive out to Dulles but would have to miss their flight because there were no parking spaces available. You never knew until you got out there.

The only way you could board a flight was to take a mobile lounge from the main terminal out to the airplane. I recall taking jam-packed PanAm or TWA 747's back to LHR. They brought you out all at once in 4 mobile lounges and they all parked simultaneously at the four doors on one side of the a/c. You had no idea which mobile lounge was going to park at which door, so you had 300-odd people climbing over each other trying to find their seats. The departure times for those flights was not the time the airplane started moving. The departure time was the time you left the main terminal in the mobile lounge to go out to the airplane. It would take a full hour from the time you left the main terminal to when the aircraft was fired up and ready to go.

These days, at least you only have to endure this agony one way, unless you're on one of the lucky airlines that still uses this boarding procedure.

Before we land, the British UA captain comes on and announces that security procedures have forced us to deal with "the most ludicrous form of transportation at any airport" he's ever seen -- the mobile lounges. After landing, we learn that we will be boarding out the BACK of the plane. So all of us in F and C will be exiting last along with the pilot and FAs. Since we had lots of time to kill waiting for the lounges, I spoke with the FAs who said that of all the places United flies, they dread flying into IAD.


Finally, the pilot muscles his way up to the front and says, "Welcome to Dulles, where they reinvent the wheel everyday." He closes the door and 7-8 minutes later, another lounge pulls in and the C/F passengers and the crew head to the long lines of immigration. I won't bore you with how disgusting the immigration area looks nor what a pain it would have been to go back to the C gates if we'd had to transfer to another flight.

I wonder if UA will push for some changes at IAD ... the international gateway to our nation's capital.


CDG has a similar device to the mobile lounge. Many European airports, including LHR move passengers to the plane on some form of a specialized bus.

I once arrived at LHR in a full UA 777.. LHR did not realize how many people can be crammed into a 777. they did not send enough busses. we waited an hour for a bus.

Once at LHR the slow terminal transfer busses got in front of the fast terminal busses. the lower lever waiting room filled up, then people from the escalator continued pouring in knocking others down.

About 4 years ago, LHR had SNOW. Close to a full inch!! Flew in on Upper class on VS. LHR could not get the luggage off the plane. cannot remove luggage if snow is on ground. must wait for it to melt? made us wait for 6 hours before signing us up for luggage delivery in downtown London. took 3 days to get the luggage to us, and it arrived at midnight.

leaving, 2 weeks later, more snow(another inch). LHR has almost no deicing equipment. sat at the gate on the plane, and drank champagn for 5 hours waiting to be deiced.

I believe that the OP has described a new procedure at Dulles for UK originating flights. I have flown into IAD from LHR many, many, times over the years and this is the first time I have experienced this on a United flight. I believe it has always been the norm on BA flights. The key diffference with the BA flights is that they bring multiple people movers to take off the passengers.

My recent experience (last week on UA) was almost exactly what the OP described. They announced as we landed that we would leave from the back of the plane. This was of course warmly received by the F and C passengers who had to wal the entire length of the cabin, and then wait for the second bus as the first was full of economy passengers.

Certainly an interesting process!

I'll bet they are short a gate, and whenever possible, "blame it on TSA".....

on a recent flight"TSA requires that you use the lavatory in your class section"

UA 921 arrived at gate D15 on Sept 1.
Maybe the Aug 31 arrival was also at a D gate.
That would explain the rear deboarding because United's D gates don't have a sterile area for international arrivals.

Anyone ever take the busses at Delhi to get to/from planes and around the INTL/Domestic terminals?

Makes one nostalgic for IAD, it do!