Holy cr*p, traveling on the 20th out of DCA...I think I'm screwed!
I thought flying out of DCA very early on Inauguration Day wouldn't be a problem, but many main roads will be blocked and Rt 1 will be the ONLY way in for those not using mass transit. Parking at some far away Metro station will be a royal pain. Do any of you know if airlines will allow you to reschedule given those conditions? More importantly, I don't see how even the employees at DCA or flight crew flying out that day will get there on a timely basis. Before calling the airline, I thought some of you have some real life experience with that miserable scenario.
What's the airline?
I think the actual experience of flying OUT on the 20th will be easy. Getting, will be hard (as you mentioned). If you reschedule to a later date, getting there may not be too difficult, but flying out will be.
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From the sounds of what I have been reading in the Post taxi cabs and car services will be able to get though a lot of streets closed to the general public so I would consider hiring one. Where in the DC area are you coming from; if you are near or outside of 495 in VA you might be better off changing to IAD since you can take surface streets to the Toll Road and then pick up the access lanes which shouldn't be THAT bad.
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I'm driving up from central Va. IAD isn't an option. I normally take 29 to 66 to GW Parkway. I'm thinking I'll drive up 29 (since 66 will be closed for non-HOV, non-bus) to Nutley St and try to park at the Vienna Metro station and take the train at 4AM. A major PITA but it looks like the only way. I'm still wondering how flight crews and airport employees are going to get to DCA (which isn't my problem until they cancel the flight). I figure Rt 1 will be a major mess even in the early A.M. because alot of traffic will get funneled there, not just DCA bound but anyone going to Crystal City, Pentagon etc. 66 isn't an option, neither is 395 or GW Parkway (they'll all be shut for single passenger cars). I can try calling AA but I doubt they'll let me change dates and the fare is non-refundable.
It might sound selfish (heck, it [b]IS[b] selfish) but I hope there's enough of a weather event to cancel all flights. Then the airline has to let me travel at a later date.
Last edited by metsfan1962; Jan 9, 09 at 5:17 pm.
Reason: to add comment re weather
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From what I've read the GW Parkway will be open to private cars between DCA and Old Town Alexandria. Of course, traffic will be something else...
I think you would do better by taking I-495 towards the Wilson Bridge and head for the Huntington Metro Station very early in the morning. Then a short ride to DCA.
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You say flying out of IAD is not an option but when you calculate the extra HOURS you will probably need to reach DCA, you may very well find IAD a better option.
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I am flying out on Tuesday morning, too. I had planned on parking in the economy lot but now I expect it to be full. I live about two or three miles from DCA so I will probably just call a cab. Good luck to all of us.
You say flying out of IAD is not an option but when you calculate the extra HOURS you will probably need to reach DCA, you may very well find IAD a better option.
Well, what I meant is that to get the original routing, IAD isn't an option, but I might try getting an AC AAngel or the EXP line to possibly reroute me out of there, given the miserable alternative. I don't know how flexible they'll be but I'll never know unless I try. I still think some flights out of DCA that day might get canceled because crew couldn't get to the airport. Even getting to IAD might be an "adventure". I'll probably have to take 15 north, 50 east and then back roads to 28. I NEVER would have thought that major highways would be closed to normal travel at the wee hours of the morning because of the Inauguration. Personally, I think it's overkill.
I am flying out on Tuesday morning, too. I had planned on parking in the economy lot but now I expect it to be full.
I guess that's possible, but it doesn't seem logical, i.e. the many thousands coming TO Washington wouldn't be parking there, so unless there's supposed to be a mass exodus of locals, those lots should be fine. But then again, I never would have expected major commuter routes to be shut after midnight, so I'm hardly an expert.
I would take the Metro to the airport but don't expect to find a parking space at Vienna, Huntington or Franconia-Springfield after 4 AM. Also, the Metro lots are not for overnight parking. You can try it, but your car may be towed depending on how long you will be gone. You may be better off parking in a Fairfax Co. park and ride lot and taking a taxi or bus to Franconia-Springfield Merto or a similar lot near Vienna.
Good Luck
if there are a reasonable number of spaces available, drive. pick a major/minor road from 29 that will get you very close to airport(glebe comes to mind). i will really be surprised if there are many people up and around.
i would stay away from all metro stops. i think they will be a zoo. people will be trying to get into the non spaces.
buses will be running. is there a bus to dca from someplace in va that you can get? i am not familiar with bus transit in va.
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I am flying out of IAD on the 9:55 pm flight to DEN. I plan on being downtown for the afternoon festivities and my wife thinks there is no way I'll get to IAD if I leave by 6:00. I think that once you get out of the core of the city, things should open up by then.
That said, I originally thought of flying out of BWI, but figured 95 would be a parking lot.
What's the airline?
I think the actual experience of flying OUT on the 20th will be easy. Getting, will be hard (as you mentioned). If you reschedule to a later date, getting there may not be too difficult, but flying out will be.
Where are you coming from?
Can you imagine the VIEW during takeoff (if you're taking off north)? That's going to be nuts!
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check this the night before: http://www.metwashairports.com/reaga...on_4/parking_2 if there are a reasonable number of spaces available, drive. pick a major/minor road from 29 that will get you very close to airport(glebe comes to mind). i will really be surprised if there are many people up and around. i would stay away from all metro stops. i think they will be a zoo. people will be trying to get into the non spaces. buses will be running. is there a bus to dca from someplace in va that you can get? i am not familiar with bus transit in va.
It will be a day trip, so the Vienna lot probably wouldn't be a problem from that standpoint (even getting back there at midnight) but you know I was thinking exactly the same thing re Glebe Rd, i.e. taking 29 north to a right on Glebe and then down to Rt 1. Lots of traffic lights but at 4 in the morning, it shouldn't be that much of a problem, plus I'm thinking even if I could get to the Metro lot, the stops will be loony bins, even at 4 or 5AM. Getting on at the beginning of the line (Vienna) helps, but the transfer at Roslyn might prove to be more difficult. But I think alternate routing from IAD, if AA allows it, might be better. If that's not possible, the Glebe Rd option might be best. I still have serious doubts about crew and other airline employees getting to DCA in a timely manner to operate flights. Good luck to all of you trying to fly out of DCA that day, ESPECIALLY if you plan on taking a flight late morning/early afternoon. That just seems like Mission Impossible.
