Mid-Atlantic - connecting at iad...some advice needed

hey there...i've never been to iad before, and i need a little advice...

this september i'm flying out of chicago with ua, connecting to a vs flight to lhr (tickets bought separately). currently i have booked ted out of midway, which arrives at iad at 1600 (actually 1557), and my vs flight leaves at 1900. are three hours enough to collect my bags and make my way to vs to check in? i need to be at check in at least 60 mins before, even if i check in online. i have no idea how the terminals work at iad...so any advice please...

i could book an earlier flight out of ord which arrives before 1400, and i have an red carpet club pass so i could wait there til my vs flight leaves if there is one in the terminal where vs leaves from. is this a better idea?

thanks in advance.

In general cross-posting on FlyerTalk is frowned upon. If you need a post movedto another forum for better response , a quick PM or email to the moderator will address it. This post is being answered in the UA forum (they check FT earlier than the DC fliers, I guess ;) )

i understand where you are coming from but my post had both a united and an iad slant to it, hence i posted in both places to get feedback on both.

still, thanks for the tip, goingaway :)

hey there...i've never been to iad before, and i need a little advice...

this september i'm flying out of chicago with ua, connecting to a vs flight to lhr (tickets bought separately). currently i have booked ted out of midway, which arrives at iad at 1600 (actually 1557), and my vs flight leaves at 1900. are three hours enough to collect my bags and make my way to vs to check in? i need to be at check in at least 60 mins before, even if i check in online. i have no idea how the terminals work at iad...so any advice please...

i could book an earlier flight out of ord which arrives before 1400, and i have an red carpet club pass so i could wait there til my vs flight leaves if there is one in the terminal where vs leaves from. is this a better idea?

thanks in advance.

You shouldn't have any problems with this. You say "collect my bags" - does that mean you are checking bags rather than carrying-on? If so, get off the Ted flight (they usually use gates in the neighborhood of the C17 RCC) - take the shuttle to the Main Terminal - collect your checked bags - go upstairs and check your bags at the VS counter (5 minutes from baggage claim to the VS counter) - then go back through security.

If you are then getting a bit short on time, just follow the signs for the walkway to Concourse B for the VS flight.

If you still have lots of time, take the shuttle back to Concourse C and use the RCC just to the right of the shuttle dock, next to C17. Later, take the shuttle to A/B (do NOT take the shuttle back to the Main Terminal). Get off the shuttle (a 2 minute ride), turn left over the bridge into the B Concourse and walk to the VS gate.

Have a great trip.