Long layover in IAD
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: SKEBB, UA Plat. , Club Carlson Red, Hilton Diam.
Posts: 42
Long layover in IAD
Hi experienced FTs, (MOD - please move if incorrect forum).
Based in CPH, going to GIG in may via AMS. Ok interary, however, rather long layover in IAD - any good ideas how to get anything usefull out of the time?
Current UA Status = Premier
Expected status when travelling = Premier Executive
Itinerary looks like:
UA 0947 AMS - IAD : 12may Depart 12:15 - 12may Arrival 14:31,
UA 0861 IAD - GIG : 12may Depart 22:15 - 13may Arrival 11:50
UA 0860 GIG - IAD : 26may Depart 19:05 - 27may Arrival 06:34
UA 0115 IAD - ORD : 27may Depart 10:00 - 27may Arrival 11:03
UA 0908 ORD - AMS: 01jun Depart 18:22 - 02jun Arrival 09:25
All good ideas are welcome :-)
/H
Based in CPH, going to GIG in may via AMS. Ok interary, however, rather long layover in IAD - any good ideas how to get anything usefull out of the time?
Current UA Status = Premier
Expected status when travelling = Premier Executive
Itinerary looks like:
UA 0947 AMS - IAD : 12may Depart 12:15 - 12may Arrival 14:31,
UA 0861 IAD - GIG : 12may Depart 22:15 - 13may Arrival 11:50
UA 0860 GIG - IAD : 26may Depart 19:05 - 27may Arrival 06:34
UA 0115 IAD - ORD : 27may Depart 10:00 - 27may Arrival 11:03
UA 0908 ORD - AMS: 01jun Depart 18:22 - 02jun Arrival 09:25
All good ideas are welcome :-)
/H
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: ATL
Posts: 516
If you don't mind spending the cash you could get a taxi to downtown DC and walk around the mall and check out some museums/monuments.
You could do the same thing in ORD on your way back.
EDIT:
Nevermind, saw you have a few days layover on ORD
You could do the same thing in ORD on your way back.
EDIT:
Nevermind, saw you have a few days layover on ORD
#5
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 66,954
The typical advice is to go visit the Udvar-Hazy Center, the huge Smithsonian Air & Space Museum annex out near IAD. There's shuttle bus service from IAD to the museum, which is pretty cheap.
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ravens Country
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott-Gold, SPG-Gold, IC RA/Plat, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,887
Dont go to DC as it is rush hour in both directions.
I would go to Tysons Corner which is at the Toll Road and Rte 7. There are 2 nice shopping malls as well as almost every chain restaurant you can think of. It is about a $25 cab ride each way.
You could also go to the Leesburg outlets which is $25 in the other direction. They have discount top brand clothing.
I would go to Tysons Corner which is at the Toll Road and Rte 7. There are 2 nice shopping malls as well as almost every chain restaurant you can think of. It is about a $25 cab ride each way.
You could also go to the Leesburg outlets which is $25 in the other direction. They have discount top brand clothing.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
The Mall/museum idea is a good one, especially if you haven't visited DC before. If the taxi fare is more than what you want to spend, you could take the Washington Flyer bus to the DC Metro.
I don't know of anything worth doing in IAD itself, other than connecting to the internet and getting some work done. But I'm not an expert on that and be interested to hear others' ideas because I anticipate spending a lot of time in IAD next fall when I'll be working in DC for a few months.
Edit: I forgot about traffic. Not sure how well the Washington Flyer bus to the Metro would work in traffic. Others probably know better.
I don't know of anything worth doing in IAD itself, other than connecting to the internet and getting some work done. But I'm not an expert on that and be interested to hear others' ideas because I anticipate spending a lot of time in IAD next fall when I'll be working in DC for a few months.
Edit: I forgot about traffic. Not sure how well the Washington Flyer bus to the Metro would work in traffic. Others probably know better.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: SKEBB, UA Plat. , Club Carlson Red, Hilton Diam.
Posts: 42
Long Layover in IAD - comment on feedback
Hi All,
thank you for the tips! - sounds like I really do have some options other than just being bored in the airport!
/H
thank you for the tips! - sounds like I really do have some options other than just being bored in the airport!
/H
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,943
I'd add that if you wanted to go downtown, you might be better off renting a car so you'd have someplace to leave your stuff (although parking downtown isn't fun) and it is likely cheaper and more convenient than taking a taxi roundtrip.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: SSSS Preferred, UA 1K
Posts: 309
I would agree with renting a car and driving it in. The Dulles Toll Road isn't a toll road (more an expressway) when leaving IAD, or returning to it from Washington DC. It won't get you all the way to the downtown area without hitting traffic, but it'll get you at least half way.
Once you are on surface streets, DC has the absolute worst commute-time drivers (or just anytime). Be warned. :-)
The weather should be pleasant in May, and you could park either near the Lincoln Memorial right after exiting the highway and wander up towards the capitol, or park near the Smithsonian and wander around there.
If you are interested in aircraft/spacecraft, the Udvar-Hazy is amazing. If not, it might be a yawner. I don't know if they have later hours in the summer, but their website says they're only open until ~5:30pm now. Entry to the museum is free, but parking is $15. You can avoid that by taking the shuttle, but that's probably not practical if you've got a lot of luggage.
Back at IAD, if you want to use the Senator Lounge, make sure you have a *G _card_. A boarding pass has not been adequate in my experience at other airports.
Once you are on surface streets, DC has the absolute worst commute-time drivers (or just anytime). Be warned. :-)
The weather should be pleasant in May, and you could park either near the Lincoln Memorial right after exiting the highway and wander up towards the capitol, or park near the Smithsonian and wander around there.
If you are interested in aircraft/spacecraft, the Udvar-Hazy is amazing. If not, it might be a yawner. I don't know if they have later hours in the summer, but their website says they're only open until ~5:30pm now. Entry to the museum is free, but parking is $15. You can avoid that by taking the shuttle, but that's probably not practical if you've got a lot of luggage.
Back at IAD, if you want to use the Senator Lounge, make sure you have a *G _card_. A boarding pass has not been adequate in my experience at other airports.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: united, american, alaska
Posts: 1,780
No need for a taxi or rental car if you want to see the monuments and such. The 5A bus goes directly to L'Enfant Plaza, a block from the Mall. I've found that it is pretty good at being on schedule (see www.wmata.com for the latest schedule, as they do change from time to time.) Just bear in mind that security at IAD can be a bit unpredictable and being back there 2 hours before your flight is probably advisable.
If you were to rent a car, I'll suggest touring some other things in suburbia. It's a fairly short drive to Leesburg, for example, which has an interesting little small town museum and various historic buildings. It's an even shorter drive to Claude Moore Park in Stirling (which has both Revolutionary and Civil War sites) or Manassas Battlefield National Park.
There are regular DC Happy Hours on Community Buzz and you could possibly find a group of us to get together for a meal.
If you were to rent a car, I'll suggest touring some other things in suburbia. It's a fairly short drive to Leesburg, for example, which has an interesting little small town museum and various historic buildings. It's an even shorter drive to Claude Moore Park in Stirling (which has both Revolutionary and Civil War sites) or Manassas Battlefield National Park.
There are regular DC Happy Hours on Community Buzz and you could possibly find a group of us to get together for a meal.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: united, american, alaska
Posts: 1,780
#13
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
yes, as someone else suggested, there are public transit options you can easily use.
I would also strongly favor the Udvar Hazy center too... you can spend hours and hours in there.
However, for a different flavor, go to DC and see the monuments.
I would also strongly favor the Udvar Hazy center too... you can spend hours and hours in there.
However, for a different flavor, go to DC and see the monuments.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: 1K, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Hilton Silver, Priority Club Gold
Posts: 109
Doesn't the 5A bus run into traffic on 66 though? If you take the Washington Flyer bus to West Falls Church Metro Station, you can take Metro to the Mall.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,943
5A takes same route as that shuttle to West Falls Church then heads into the City from there with some traffic, but it's "opposite" the worst traffic