Originally Posted by
Portolan
Population of the District =~710,000
Population of Northern Virgina (some of whom are certainly closer to DCA, but many/most aren't) = ~3,100,000 (and it's growing west of Dulles)
Growth potential at DCA = ~0
Growth potential at IAD = ??? (but a lot, witness the thread on additional UA banks at IAD)
So, if you like DCA, good for you. But not for us or for many, many others.
It's not a contest. The OP's question was how UA-affiliated flyers weigh the the pros and cons of DCA vs IAD for
themselves, particularly those for whom DCA is the closer or otherwise more convenient airport, but where the UA options are far fewer. If IAD is your personal choice because of proximity that's certainly responsive to the question, but statistics about how many people live closer to each airport don't seem relevant at all, unless that somehow weighs into your personal calculus.
As a DCA loyalist I don't begrudge anyone who prefers IAD - more space at DCA for me!
