Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Spending time at IAD

Hello, I arrive at IAD at 6am from LGB but I have to wait for my brother. His flight is scheduled for 2:30 pm, but it is an international flight so he has to go through immigration too.
However, I have to wait for approximately 9 hours. Do you have any idea how to spend a few hours at IAD. Is it for instance possible to use a lounge if I am not flying Business or have a Premium Miles Card? Or are there hotels which offer services for non guests?

Philipp

Hello, I arrive at IAD at 6am from LGB but I have to wait for my brother. His flight is scheduled for 2:30 pm, but it is an international flight so he has to go through immigration too.
However, I have to wait for approximately 9 hours. Do you have any idea how to spend a few hours at IAD. Is it for instance possible to use a lounge if I am not flying Business or have a Premium Miles Card? Or are there hotels which offer services for non guests?

Philipp

Welcome to FT! As others have suggested in this forum, the Air and Space Museum (Annex), the Udvar-Hazy Center, right next to IAD is a great place to spend some time:

http://nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/

Since I live in the area, I don't spend time at any of the hotels so others may be of more hope but I hope that you do give yourself some time at this fascinating museum.

+1 on the Udvar-Hazy suggestion. The museum is great; the admission is free; open from 10-5:30 every day but Christmas; MacDonalds-operated food service is "OK"; very good IMAX movies (see "Fighter Pilot"); 50 cents for the shuttle bus ride between the airport and museum.

The shuttle leaves from curb 2E (look for the rental car shuttles and parking shuttles, and find the 2E overhead sign in the middle of that area. The first shuttle on weekdays is at 10:30am, and then every 45 minutes. The return schedule on weekdays starts at 10:45am, and then every 45 minutes. (Weekend schedule is once an hour - you can find it online.)

thanks for your reply. unfortunately, the problem i see is my luggage. i don't know where to store it meanwhile.

You might be able to get an airport hotel for cheap - look around for hotel rates, and then lowball priceline (but beware some of the airport hotels they offer may not have a shuttle service). Take a nap, grab a shower, visit the museum than meet your brother and head off to wherever you're going. The room also gives you a place to dump your stuff for a few hours.

Where are you going once you meet up? If you're staying in DC, you might just want to head downtown and meet up there once he's in town. If it's an age/get around thing for either of you, the hotel option is a good idea. Otherwise you could buy a one time entry for a lounge pass ($50 - I'd rather do the hotel room in your situation, personally). You can't leave your stuff and walk around, the one time pass is really one time and the lounges are really not a good place to hang out for long hours. You'd do better to find a quiet gate where you can lay across a few chairs, IMO.

Hello, well I think I will go to DC, because we will be staying there anyway. I just was thinking it would take too long driving there and back again. But as I checked it's 40 min or so. Is it doable in 40 min?
I have a different question, how is the parking situation in DC? We stay at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill. What would you say where to park in DC?

Hello, well I think I will go to DC, because we will be staying there anyway. I just was thinking it would take too long driving there and back again. But as I checked it's 40 min or so. Is it doable in 40 min?
I have a different question, how is the parking situation in DC? We stay at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill. What would you say where to park in DC?
Why rent a car at all? What are your plans once in the city? Parking is a major PITA or $$$ in the city, its better not to have a car and you won't need it if you're sticking to the city itself.

Although if you are going back and forth twice, it could be worth it to rent the car at IAD, drive twice to the hotel for you and your brother, then return to the car to DCA or to somewhere downtown. If you're a taxi person, that'd likely be cheaper. If you are a bus person, the 5A will bring you downtown and be significantly less expensive

well, we will be going to Philadelphia and eventually to NYC.

well, we will be going to Philadelphia and eventually to NYC.
Amtrak is a good option - or rent the car when you are ready to head North. You certainly don't want a car in NYC. Downtown Philadelphia isn't much better.

well, we will just drop it off in ny as soon as we arrive there!

is it that bad in the cities?

It depends on your appetite - your hotel parking is $46/day (41 plus tax). Is there street parking? Sure, but meters in DC were "upgraded" and most areas you need to feed the meters (and meet the parking time restrictions) until 10pm M-Sa, only Sunday is gratis. If you happen to come in when there is snow, that will make the situation even worse as there are streets where no parking would be allowed during the storm and clean up periods. A car is just a hassle in the city, I'm in the burbs and even I hate driving in these days.

so you would recommend not renting a car. how is the public transport in DC and Philadelphia? Would you say, there is no need for a car when you want to go sight seeing?

so you would recommend not renting a car. how is the public transport in DC and Philadelphia? Would you say, there is no need for a car when you want to go sight seeing?
If you are spending a few days in each location, and your interest is in sightseeing in the city then public transportation, walking and taxis should do you fine. You can choose to drive or use Amtrak to get between each city (buy in advance, use a AAA rate and the price is very reasonable), that's again a decision on your preference and whether you plan on doing anything between the cities or just going from Point A to Point B

The Dulles Airport Marriott is on the IAD site. Has a free shuttle every 15 minutes. Decent resturant. You can get a room if you need to crash for a few hours. Leave luggage with the concierge if you want to visit Uzvar-Hazy (I recommend it.)

I have a 7 hour layover in January at IAD. The way I remember it from my last time I took a connecting flight I had to pick up my own luggage and get it over to the recheck, from there I got the impression that I couldn't exit the airport but had to get myself through TSA and into the gates. Am I wrong on this? Is there any way to get out and to the museum after rechecking your baggage following an international flight?

I have a 7 hour layover in January at IAD. The way I remember it from my last time I took a connecting flight I had to pick up my own luggage and get it over to the recheck, from there I got the impression that I couldn't exit the airport but had to get myself through TSA and into the gates. Am I wrong on this? Is there any way to get out and to the museum after rechecking your baggage following an international flight?

I assume you are arriving on an International flight on UA or a Star Alliance airline. If so, yes, you go through Immigration/Customs/Baggage Recheck in the C Concourse. You then go through TSA security and come upstairs across from gate C7.

At that point most folks go to their connecting flight. But you are perfectly free to follow the signs for BAGGAGE CLAIM/GROUND TRANSPORTATION. That will take you to the AeroTrain station - take the train two stops to the TERMINAL - exit security area into Baggage Claim - go down the exit ramp to the second sidewalk where most of the shuttles pickup (hotel, car rental, parking) and look for the overhead 2E sign. That is where the shuttle to Udvar-Hazy stops.

When you return to IAD from the museum, look for the "Dulles Diamond" TSA security checkpoint between baggage carousels 8 & 10. (That checkpoint closes at 6pm.) Then head for your gate.

Feel free to message me with any questions.

When you return to IAD from the museum, look for the "Dulles Diamond" TSA security checkpoint between baggage carousels 8 & 10. (That checkpoint closes at 6pm.) Then head for your gate.


Thanks for your advice. But what happens after 6pm? I come in at 3:30pm and take off again at (ca) 11pm. Are there other options to get in or do I simply have to be inside by 6?

The regular security lines are downstairs, just follow the signs whenever you are ready to head through. Two warnings, it takes a little bit of time to get out to the terminal after you pass security and walk to your gate (budget 15 min at a minimum) plus tsa reduces staffing later iin the evening and can cause 15-20 min waits at security. You just never know what you'll encounter. Enjoy your trip.

Most, but not all, airline clubs I know of sell one-day passes for $40-50. Check the Web sites of the various airlines there. Otherwise, you normally have to be a registered/paid club member, or be at a very high level of the airline's frequent flyer program, or be flying international business or first class ("just" flying domestic first class isn't usually enough). The exact amenities vary, depending on the airline and exact location.

Marriott just outside the airport entrance is expensive, but you lose nothing by checking. If you rent a car, you could drive to the museum, or park at the airport, and then go to the museum and return to meet your brother. 40 minutes to some parts of DC could be doable, but double that (at least) at rush hour. If you're using the airport you can use the free airport access road from the Beltway (I-495), vs. the toll road, but be prepared to show something or at least have the info of the fight you're meeting, in case a cop pulls you over (they regularly give tickets to people illegally using the access road to avoid tolls).

Can you go into DC and wait for your brother there? There is a Metro bus from the airport to Herndon, Rosslyn and L'Enfant Plaza (DC). Check www.wmata.com. It is (or at least was) a regular bus, with no extra space for luggage. But cheap. Next chapest alternative is probably the Washington Flyer bus to the West Falls Church Metro station, then Metro into DC. If you are staying in DC, parking is expensive, even at hotels. My wife and I stayed at a hotel in Rosslyn (Arlington), just across the Potomac from DC, and paid $10 for parking. Used our car to go shopping in outlying areas, etc., but used Metro to go into DC itself. Paid about the same when we stayed in Silver Spring, Maryland, north of DC.

To go on to NYC, train, or "Chinatown" bus (Google it) or renting a car at a closer-in airport (e.g., DCA, or even BWI, which is accessible by MARC commuter train or Amtrak from DC) would be options.