Originally Posted by blueDC

LOL!

I wish IAD was getting better but it's structurally disadvantaged, IMHO. I do agree that security has been quite a breeze in my multiple trips there these past two months.

For UA frequent fliers, IAD is really tough. The mobile lounges to C/D are slow and cumbersome. Sometimes the lines are so long to get on it could be a 20-min wait. And they have to circumnavigate the globe to get to their destinations these days due to construction. Worse is there's no alternative. Yea, the train will make things better but that'll be years from now and the underground walkway isn't even gonna go to C/D coz it's a "temporary" concourse (like 20+ years "temporary"). And for a temporary concourse, C/D is crimes against humanity! It's such a zoo, there's nothing to eat/buy, and the public spaces are, well, what space? The low ceilings lend a claustrophobic look. That combined with the number of pax using IAD as a UA hub makes IAD a total cluster**** for UA fliers. Don't even get me started about the UX/G terminal (G for Greyhound?). Not to mention daily parking used to be 50% cheaper when you could park closer to the terminal. Why did they build those garages so far away? Even without checked bags and travelling during off-peak hours, I have never gotten from C/D/G to my car or vice-versa in less than 20mins. Add 30mins if you have checked bags.

I do want to like IAD, I do. The trans-con/Atlantic non-stops are awesome. Great fares too. But the endless walks, cramped concourses, weird mobile lounges and just sheer hassle of navigating the airport from car-to-gate-to-car makes it hard to like IAD especially when DCA is none of the above. Good thing we have a choice in the DC area!