Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - IAD transit information

Hi.
On monday I am transiting IAD on an international flight from Buenos Aires and onwards to Copenhagen. I will have to go through immigration as transit to have my luggage cleared. Afther this can i leave the airport (I have 10 hrs)?

And another. What is the easiest way to get to and from Reston. By taxi?

Thanks:)

Hi.
On monday I am transiting IAD on an international flight from Buenos Aires and onwards to Copenhagen. I will have to go through immigration as transit to have my luggage cleared. Afther this can i leave the airport (I have 10 hrs)?

And another. What is the easiest way to get to and from Reston. By taxi?

Thanks:)

If you mean to Reston from IAD, a taxi is easiest. But there are transit options. You'd take the 5A bus to Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride and transfer to another bus--there are several that go to Reston Town Center, mostly Fairfax County Connector buses. Best-case scenario, you could do door-to-door Dulles to Reston Town Center in about half an hour. Worst-case, it could take a couple hours. Your options for doing this via bus are much higher on a weekday during rush hour than at other times.

You can also walk the two miles to Reston Town Center from Herndon-Monroe--there's a bike path that parallels Fairfax County Parkway that you could walk on--but I'm hard-pressed to think of why you'd want to. Particularly since there's nowhere to store luggage at IAD, so you'll be carrying it. (Which is a vote against bus as well.)

If you mean to Reston from IAD, a taxi is not only the easiest way but pretty much the only way, unless you wanted to rent a car. Your alternative would be to take the 5A bus to Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride and walk the two miles to Reston Town Center (assuming that's your destination). You can do this--there's a bike path that parallels Fairfax County Parkway that you could walk on--but I'm hard-pressed to think of why you'd want to. Particularly since there's nowhere to store luggage at IAD, so you'll be carrying it.+1

And I'm wondering just what all you will want to do at RTC for 7 hours? Ok shopping. But for 7 hours? A movie? Ok. Ice skating might still be open. Lots of dining. You might want to consider taking the airport bus over to Udvar-Hazy first, then go to RTC or vice-versa. you can easily burn 3-4 hours there.

Hopefully somebody can give you a recommendation on what to do with bags. I live 4 miles from the IAD terminal so I've never had to worry about this here.

I assume you are arriving on UA from EZE-IAD, and connecting on SK to Copenhagen. If the itinerary is booked on one ticket, and since both airlines are Star Alliance, you should be able to re-check your checked bags immediately after Customs and prior to TSA security - all in the C-Concourse Customs&Immigration facility. That eliminates the further handling of baggage.

You then go upstairs into the C-concourse. Follow the signs for Ground Transportation - which will take you to the airport's AeroTrain station. Two stops on the train is the Main Terminal, where you can exit and take the transportation of choice.

When you return to Dulles, assuming you have your SK boarding passes in hand, go through TSA security and proceed to gate B38 (check the screens of course for possible gate change).

Thanks for the detailed information given - both on leaving the airport and on getting around. I appriciated the help.

Look forward to spend some good hours in the area.

regards :)

Many hotels in Reston also run shuttles to/from Dulles, although they're meant for paying hotel guests. The only hotel within Reston Town Center is the Hyatt.

Taking the 5A bus is $6 each way; a taxi is about $15 each way (plus tip).

If you mean to Reston from IAD, a taxi is easiest. But there are transit options. You'd take the 5A bus to Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride and transfer to another bus--there are several that go to Reston Town Center, mostly Fairfax County Connector buses.

From the Herndon-Monroe bus interchange, the bus for Reston Town Center would be RIBS 2 (http://www.linkinfo.org/park_ride.cfm#herndon).

Many hotels in Reston also run shuttles to/from Dulles, although they're meant for paying hotel guests. The only hotel within Reston Town Center is the Hyatt.

Taking the 5A bus is $6 each way; a taxi is about $15 each way (plus tip).



From the Herndon-Monroe bus interchange, the bus for Reston Town Center would be RIBS 2 (http://www.linkinfo.org/park_ride.cfm#herndon).

That will work--but so will FCC 950 and 952.

I've a UA connecting flight next month and the gap between flights will be many hours. I don't like to have my bags checked so early and I wanna know if it's possible to leave Concourse C with my bags and have them re-checked a few hours before my flight.

Thanks!

I've a UA connecting flight next month and the gap between flights will be many hours. I don't like to have my bags checked so early and I wanna know if it's possible to leave Concourse C with my bags and have them re-checked a few hours before my flight.

Thanks!
Assuming that you are connecting UA-to-UA, it won't likely be possible without a great deal of delay. As an arriving UA to UA connection, you will process entry formalities at the mid-field terminal and then proceed through a TSA checkpoint into Terminal C. If you've got your checked luggage with you, it won't likely fit through the X-ray scanners (which are designed for carryons). While it is theoretically possible for TSA to hand-inspect your luggage, it's horribly backed up, they won't likely do it and there will be all kinds of security alerts surrounding it.

Even if it worked, you would be stuck with your bags and have to head out of the secure zone, recheck your bags and head bac through another TSA checkpoint to get to your connecting flight.

Better not to upset the apple cart and drop your bags at recheck and then proceed through the TSA checkpoint and do whatever you want.

Thanks Often 1.

Hi Often1,

I understood the reason why I do have to recheck my luggage before entering Concourse C.
Recently I found out that a friend of mine will be in Washington and since I'll be spending a few days with her before returning to Brazil, I'd like to leave one luggage with her (stuff I won't need for the 1st part of my trip). Do you know if it's possible to leave this mid-field terminal with luggage (without entering Concourse C) and go outside to meet with my friend?
One more question about re-checking my luggage: is there someone with the airline collecting the luggage or it's up to the passenger to place the luggage inside a kind of conveyor belt?

Thanks a lot!!!

hmmm, I have never had bags tagged to separate destinations, but logically will be okay unless there is some unknown airline rule. If you are coming in internationally, you are the one who actually takes the luggage from the conveyor belt and go through customs check.

Once you have successfully gone through customs & immigration, you proceed to the luggage counter and you yourself drop your luggage with the airline for its onwards journey. I would think that your 2nd luggage which you got the airline to tag as going to IAD instead of your onward journey need not be dropped at the luggage counter. And you will be like any other passenger arriving at IAD for its final destination. Of course, just don't forget that if you actually change your plans and decide to re-check your 2nd luggage for your onward journey, that this could result in a baggage fee. Best to check with the airline directly to make sure.

hmmm, I have never had bags tagged to separate destinations, but logically will be okay unless there is some unknown airline rule. If you are coming in internationally, you are the one who actually takes the luggage from the conveyor belt and go through customs check.

Once you have successfully gone through customs & immigration, you proceed to the luggage counter and you yourself drop your luggage with the airline for its onwards journey. I would think that your 2nd luggage which you got the airline to tag as going to IAD instead of your onward journey need not be dropped at the luggage counter. And you will be like any other passenger arriving at IAD for its final destination. Of course, just don't forget that if you actually change your plans and decide to re-check your 2nd luggage for your onward journey, that this could result in a baggage fee. Best to check with the airline directly to make sure.

Gets conflusing with so many people asking their own questions on one thread, but . . .

I thought there were regs against tagging checked luggage for a destination other than your ultimate desination, so tagging one bag to IAD may not work (and you'd want to make sure it isn't charged at the air freight rate). You could phone United about that option. They are the ones that would tag your bags and charge any fees. If checking one bag to IAD won't work, and all of them need to be tagged to your final destination, I can't think of what would prevent you from just holding on to the bag after your drop the other bags off at a transit desk outside Customs (maybe take off the tag showing your final stop as the bag's destination). I don't recall anyone every looking at my bags as I left the transit desk, bu't haven't tried what you are proposing (I have transited IAD, but never on an international-to-intrnational connection). Hopefully others have had similar "problems," even at other airports.

Bad information in this thread. Hopefully this sorts it out:

1. OP's bags will be checked through to her final destination. UA (and almost all carriers) prohibit short-checking to an intermediate stop. Asking raises all kinds of issues about ticketing conditions and may well raise serious security concerns by Brazilian authorities.

2. OP is arriving at the mid-field terminal because she is a connecting pax. She may not take checked luggage (or anything larger than hand luggage through the security checkpoint after the bag drop. Attempting to do so will cause all kinds of security concerns on the IAD side of things.

Unfortunately, the system for UA intl. arrivals is set up to be very convenient for connecting passengers, but also means that what OP wants to do is most likely not doable.

The taxi monopoly at Dulles really pisses me off. Last night I arrived at 1 am from a scheduled on-time flight from Denver. Had to wait over 30 minutes for a cab. The company running the taxi service knows there are a handful of flights that get in late, they need cabs on duty. Nothing worst than waiting so long for a cab after a long flight.

This thread was about an international transfer situation at Dulles. Why are you adding a comment about late-night taxi service at Dulles?

You have a legitimate complaint. But start a new thread and you'll get lots of attention.

Ummm....The OP did ask about cab service from IAD to Reston. So, the complaint about th way Washington Flyer manages its cabs seems legit to me.

The taxi monopoly at Dulles really pisses me off. Last night I arrived at 1 am from a scheduled on-time flight from Denver. Had to wait over 30 minutes for a cab. The company running the taxi service knows there are a handful of flights that get in late, they need cabs on duty. Nothing worst than waiting so long for a cab after a long flight.

Actually, having a monopoly concession probably makes it better rather than worse. If it were not a monopoly, IAD would have a very difficult time convincing cabs to come wait around for late flights. With one company they are able to insist that they have cabs available at late hours.

+1 - And, there's no reason to wait for a cab. You can pre-arrange a Red Top Executive Sedan and the rate is the approximate meter in a cab + $15. Well worth the $15. And, for $15 above that, they will meet you inside at baggage claim.

The taxi monopoly at Dulles really pisses me off. Last night I arrived at 1 am from a scheduled on-time flight from Denver. Had to wait over 30 minutes for a cab. The company running the taxi service knows there are a handful of flights that get in late, they need cabs on duty. Nothing worst than waiting so long for a cab after a long flight.

i agree there is that horrible company that has a monoply.

by the bye, have you ever had a late arrival to union station? would recommend you catch the metro to metro center, and catch a cab in front of a hotel. very few cabs after 11pm at union station.