I go through IAD pretty often traveling domestic, but have never actually left the terminal. My niece is coming home from Cairo via Frankfurt next week, arriving in the afternoon on United. International arrivals come in through the main terminal, right? Can anyone recommend a good meeting-up point for her and the person giving her a ride? A family friend has generously offered to pick her up and drive the kid the 3 hours back to her college campus. She just wants to know where to meet her.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

The intl arrivals area at IAD is actually pretty small. You can't really miss anyone there if they stand at the rails.

As a second suugestion I'd go for the top of the ramp that leads down from the intl arrivals area to the car park and taxi rank.

The intl arrivals area at IAD is actually pretty small. You can't really miss anyone there if they stand at the rails.

As a second suugestion I'd go for the top of the ramp that leads down from the intl arrivals area to the car park and taxi rank.Speak american, kiddo :)

I'll translate. It's near the parking lot and the taxi stand :)

Please continue to follow thread in FT Washington, D.C. Forum
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

As Fraser said, the area where the International arrivals exits into the unsecured area is fairly small, I think there are 3 sets of doors total right there. If you're facing the terminal, it's on the very far right on the first floor next to the baggage claim areas (probably DL's belt)

If you are going into the terminal to meet the person, hang out at the railing or if you don't like crowds at one of those luggage belts or as others suggest, where the ramps are to get outside either to the ground transportation/parking lot or the arrival pickup area. Personally, if the arriving passenger has a local cell phone and can handle their luggage, I'd go the route of having them call the driver as they exit customs into the unsecured area and meet them (two choices for this, see below). The driver can park in the cell phone waiting lot at no cost until they get the call that the passenger is past customs. Immigrations and customs can be very slow (or quick) depending on your arrival versus other flights, afternoons can be very busy. As far as where to meet, the driver can go up to the terminal on the "arrivals" level, or go into the hourly parking lot, meet the passenger, and then exit - if they do that within 20 minutes, there is no charge at all for using the lot.

This is an image of the terminal:

http://www.metwashairports.com/_/File/_/iadterm.pdf

like everything else done by the met airport agency, it is backwards. North is down. The intl exit is at the first door upon arriving at airport.

LH & UA flights from FRA arrive at Zoo time. getting out of the airport within an hour of arrival time with luggage is close to the norm for me.

the intl exit corner of the airport is packed with people and lots of children.

If niece has a lot of luggage, have her get a cart. in either case, I'd park in the cell phone lot, wait for a call, and meet at the very beginning of the parking departure area(nobody parks there, everybody tries to park in front of the door). if she does not have a cell phone, there are pay phones in the area.

I travel into IAD from international origins at least twice a month. Immigration is actually fairly fast and easy. However, it takes literally FOREVER for you luggage to arrive. Typically 10 - 15 minutes through immigration then 45 minutes waiting on luggage and getting through customs.

I'd suggest the cell phone waiting lot as others have. If not, the international arrival area is small and it is easy to find someone there if they wait by or close to the rail.

Perfect! Many, many thanks to you guys. I will worry a lot less about her now. A great terminal map, BTW.

Happy trails!

Please can anyone give me a rough idea of how long it will take by cab from IAD to the White House after arriving on an international flight at 14:30 on a Thursday?:confused:

Thanks

Please can anyone give me a rough idea of how long it will take by cab from IAD to the White House after arriving on an international flight at 14:30 on a Thursday?:confused:

Thanks
Arrival at 2:30 - assume you're not a US citizen so figure 1.5-2 hours to get through c&i (could be less, just depends on what other flights arrive at same time) and collect your luggage. So out around 4'ish to a cab for the ride, figure about an hour plus a little between waiting for the taxi and downtown traffic.

Arrival at 2:30 - assume you're not a US citizen so figure 1.5-2 hours to get through c&i (could be less, just depends on what other flights arrive at same time) and collect your luggage. So out around 4'ish to a cab for the ride, figure about an hour plus a little between waiting for the taxi and downtown traffic.

You're right that I'm not a US citizen but I'm arriving in F and planning (if I can persuade Mrs C ;)) to travel with carry on baggage only. How much do you think this will save us from the 1.5 to 2 hours?

You're right that I'm not a US citizen but I'm arriving in F and planning (if I can persuade Mrs C ;)) to travel with carry on baggage only. How much do you think this will save us from the 1.5 to 2 hours?
On a recent afternoon arrival at Dulles (a bit later than yours actually) - my wait was under 30 min for immig as a US citizen, I then waited an additional 45 min to an hour for my non-US citizen friend to clear on his side, so the wait can be timely, it's just a matter of luck with the lines and the timing if any other flights are there (and where they came from as some flights take longer to process than other). Luggage is normally out and waiting by the time you get through immigration, so not having anything checked won't save you much except you don't have to search the piles.

What you can do is arrange for a pick-up by car service instead of waiting for the taxi. It's a matter of supply and demand - you should be okay there as the demand really starts picking up around that time so plenty of taxis should be available, but if you want to just clear and go, then having a car waiting would be ideal.

With no traffic figure 30-45 minutes from IAD to the White House once you are in the car. Traveling in F will not make a difference at immigration as all passengers have to board the same moon buggy to go from the terminal to international arrivals. The trick to to wait near the front door so you can be one of the first people off and into the immigration line.

Hey, you're giving away our secrets!

With no traffic figure 30-45 minutes from IAD to the White House once you are in the car. Traveling in F will not make a difference at immigration as all passengers have to board the same moon buggy to go from the terminal to international arrivals. The trick to to wait near the front door so you can be one of the first people off and into the immigration line.

And get behind the people from the 10 widebodies that arrived just before you did.

The time it takes with no traffic does not bear on the 4-5pm "reverse commute" time to dc. would guess more like an hour.

And get behind the people from the 10 widebodies that arrived just before you did.

The time it takes with no traffic does not bear on the 4-5pm "reverse commute" time to dc. would guess more like an hour.

I'm arriving on UA from Europe. Am I right in thinking I might have read somewhere that treatment of UA flights is different in that they have their own terminal with no need for the "moon buggies"? i may just have mis-understood another thread.:confused:

Either way, with immigration delays it seems there's nothing to be gained from having just carry-on with no checked luggage.:td:

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm arriving on UA from Europe. Am I right in thinking I might have read somewhere that treatment of UA flights is different in that they have their own terminal with no need for the "moon buggies"? i may just have mis-understood another thread.:confused:

Either way, with immigration delays it seems there's nothing to be gained from having just carry-on with no checked luggage.:td:

Thanks for the feedback.
the difference is if you're connecting. There is a mid-field customs/immigration center for those passengers. UA/LH and I'm not sure who else has access, it's located under Terminal C. For anyone terminating at IAD, they all go through the main terminal C&I facility which is old, small and cramped.

For anyone terminating at IAD, they all go through the main terminal C&I facility which is old, small and cramped.

We'll just have to hope we're not on the last of the 10 widebodies then....:(

You're right that I'm not a US citizen but I'm arriving in F and planning (if I can persuade Mrs C ;)) to travel with carry on baggage only. How much do you think this will save us from the 1.5 to 2 hours?Unfortunately none, zip, nada! Everyone is in the same boat, as has been pointed out. Try to stand near the entrance/exit doors of the moon buggy (do not proceed too far into it).

If you don't have any checked bags, then I've theorized that you could just feign ignorance and proceed to the mid-field facility to clear there (where you would be first in line). After customes then just re-clear security, go airside, proceed to the mobile lounge, take it back to the main terminal, and exit. I do not know if they make you have a continiung boarding pass to re-clear security (I've only ever terminated at IAD) - but even if you don't, what are they going to do if you're already past immigration & customs??? Anyone have an opinion? I'm tempted to give that a try next time I don't have checked bags.

they all go through the main terminal C&I facility which is old, small and cramped.Ha, "old" :D - I remember the facility that was there before the current one, back in the very late 80's/1990. You'd call this one spacious, modern and up-to-date... :D

If you don't have any checked bags, then I've theorized that you could just feign ignorance and proceed to the mid-field facility to clear there (where you would be first in line). After customes then just re-clear security, go airside, proceed to the mobile lounge, take it back to the main terminal, and exit. I do not know if they make you have a continiung boarding pass to re-clear security (I've only ever terminated at IAD) - but even if you don't, what are they going to do if you're already past immigration & customs??? Anyone have an opinion? I'm tempted to give that a try next time I don't have checked bags.

I'd be very happy to try this for fun just to see if it works.@:-):cool: However....Mrs C wouldn't want to make a fuss and "risk getting into trouble"....:rolleyes::eek:

I'd be very happy to try this for fun just to see if it works.@:-):cool: However....Mrs C wouldn't want to make a fuss and "risk getting into trouble"....:rolleyes::eek:
I believe I've seen posts that others have done this ... the problem is there is no good "out" if that area is just as crowded or worse than the main terminal is at the particular time of arrival. It's a crapshoot.

Give yourself about 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs upon arrival to get to downtown DC. It is about 45 minutes to clear customs and another 30 to 45 minutes taxi ride to DC.

the difference is if you're connecting. There is a mid-field customs/immigration center for those passengers. UA/LH and I'm not sure who else has access, it's located under Terminal C. For anyone terminating at IAD, they all go through the main terminal C&I facility which is old, small and cramped.

Austrian (OS) arrivals also use the C&I facilities in the C Concourse for connecting passengers.

Last time I came through, there were signs forbidding cell phone use until you were through customs. I've heard that they enforce this. So the time to call is after she gets out...

if she does not have a cell phone, there are pay phones in the area.

Arrival at 2:30 - assume you're not a US citizen so figure 1.5-2 hours to get through c&i (could be less, just depends on what other flights arrive at same time) and collect your luggage. So out around 4'ish to a cab for the ride, figure about an hour plus a little between waiting for the taxi and downtown traffic.

Bumping this thread to see if the quoted wait time to get through C&I is still correct. My boyfriend (not a US citizen) is arriving next Tuesday at 13:00 from Munich. I think there are about 3 or 4 other flights arriving around the same time (15-30 min. apart). What would you say is the maximum time I could expect to wait?

Bumping this thread to see if the quoted wait time to get through C&I is still correct. My boyfriend (not a US citizen) is arriving next Tuesday at 13:00 from Munich. I think there are about 3 or 4 other flights arriving around the same time (15-30 min. apart). What would you say is the maximum time I could expect to wait?
Maximum Time? Could be hours - it just depends on the flight arrivals, mix of citizen/non-citizen and folks they have behind the desks. No way to tell the max - I'd say figure an hour from arrival at the minimum though (and be surprised if he gets out sooner)

Maximum Time? Could be hours - it just depends on the flight arrivals, mix of citizen/non-citizen and folks they have behind the desks. No way to tell the max - I'd say figure an hour from arrival at the minimum though (and be surprised if he gets out sooner)

As GoingAway said, assume it will take your boyfriend at least one hour from touchdown of the plane to exiting the Immigration & Customs facility. There are so many variables -- how your flight parks from the people mover docking station, where you're seated on the flight (i.e., how close are you to the door), how many people are terminating at IAD and how many are connecting to other flights, how many other international arrivals precede you, how fully staffed the immigration hall is, etc.

I'm a US citizen and when I've arrived during the early afternoon bank of arrivals from Europe & Japan, my best time ever from landing to exiting the immigration and customs facility is 25 minutes, but that's with no checked luggage, parking at Gate C1, only one other flight in the int'l arrivals facility at the same time, being one of the last people on a people mover about to depart (and standing near the entrance), being about the 3rd person off the people mover, and arriving just after there was an increase in the number of Immigration inspectors. For me, average time is about 45 minutes.

The one good thing your boyfriend should have going in his favor is that his luggage should be out by the time he gets through Immigration.

If I were you, I'd take a book, and tell him meet me near a domestic baggage claim carousel (number 14 or 13, perhaps). Standing along the barriers waiting for him to emerge from the int'l arrivals facility could prove quite tedious.

GoingAway and gvdIAD, thanks very much for your responses. I'll be sure to bring a book along, maybe get there late so I don't have to pay too much for parking and pass on the tips I've read in these forums to my boyfriend. It's too bad his reserved seat is smack dab in the middle of the plane! :rolleyes:

GoingAway and gvdIAD, thanks very much for your responses. I'll be sure to bring a book along, maybe get there late so I don't have to pay too much for parking and pass on the tips I've read in these forums to my boyfriend. It's too bad his reserved seat is smack dab in the middle of the plane! :rolleyes:
Oh - parking - it gets very expensive very quickly in the short term lot. You have a few choices. Hang out in the cell phone waiting lot and let him call you when he exits c&i; or park in the garage (it's only worth it after a certain time period) or like you say, show up later and park in short term.

Note that the lots allow 20 minutes free parking but if the check out queues are long, you can go over because of it.