FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Possible to exit Dulles midfield terminal with baggage after customs?
Old Feb 22, 2026 | 2:14 pm
  #11  
cfischer
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Originally Posted by mduell
If your FRA/MUC-IAD-XXX is all on one res, I wouldn't expect LH to short check the bag to IAD, regardless of your other DCA-XXX.
LH is usually o.k. Short-checking. Any recent experience to the contrary?

Originally Posted by FlyerBeek
IAD continues to be a mess (especially with mid-field customs now closed for the morning international arrivals). That being said, when mid-field is open I find its baggage claim to be far quicker than main terminal. The last couple of times I've terminated at Dulles off an international flight, the bags have taken 45+ minutes to come out at the main terminal. My recent experiences at mid-field have always been much quicker (despite the terrible security setup there). YMMV.

I feel really bad for the early morning international arrivals who are connecting onto the 8am domestic bank - as they hardly have any time to retrieve/recheck their bags at the main terminal and then make it all the way back to the C/D gates.

-FlyerBeek
​​​​​​​30-50 min wait for bags and 30+ for security for me last year - 4 trips through IAD.
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