Originally Posted by Sneezy
If IAD adds an elite security line, we won't really know.
But I've seen IAD security lines that take 2+ hours to go through - the one at the UA end went all the way to the DL and the one at the DL end went all the way to the UA end.
I doubt you'll see anything that bad, but then again I've taken to getting dropped off with just carry-on bags before 3 PM for 5:30 or 6 PM Sunday departures just to avoid the post-3 PM crush at IAD on Sunday afternoons. I just go to the RCC and get some work done.
I am sorry but this is useless scare mongering probably based on old anecdotal info, which does not reflect the current situation. I see it time and again here on FT. IAD had long security lines about 2 years ago, but I have never seen any lines extend beyond or even close to filling the "cattle pen" in recent memory.
Wouldn't Friday afternoon be a busy time of the week? Yesterday I left home at 4:35 pm for a 5:50 pm flight. I was at the C17 RCC by 5:10 pm......... Yes, 15 min from drop-off to being in the RCC.
The worst time is typically around 3-3:30 pm when many people arrive early for their 5-5:30 pm international flights.
If you depart around 6 pm then it is good to arrive as late as possible since it becomes quiet after 4:30 pm or so. Similarly in the morning I arrive around 08:15-08:30 for the 09:30 LHR flight. Nary a soul in the terminal at that hour.
If I travel on a Sunday then I would take a late flight after 9 pm since it would be a business trip with a Monday am appointment. I am sure that I have arrived Sunday afternoon/evening and have not noticed anything special.
Anyway, after July 11 things will change......
Also, if someone says that they had to wait 30 minutes at 04:40 then it's because they are undermanned at that very early hour and the worry-worts are all there bright eyed and bushy tailed. Maybe they open up more positions after 05:00? But I am still skeptical because when things were at their worst 2 years ago then a line snaking frombeyond the 1K check-in up beyond SAS and back again would not take more than 30 min!
But you also had to be smart and choose good departure times.... Like, avoid 8 am, 4:30 pm domestic flights, for example.