Originally Posted by UA_Flyer
I am really sorry that you have to endure the pains of going through the international gateway of our nation's capital.
Regarding RCC, I really don't think anyone of the three really jumps out from other two. I wouldn't walk all that distance just to find C17 RCC is just fairly average. I personally think C5 or D6 are not as bad as some have claimed, and don't understand all fuss about C17.
As I found out this Monday coming back from LHR, the mid-field INS/Custom can be closed without prior warnings, so do get mentally prepared to go to the main terminal and get through that long TSA line.
I'm getting concerned at the number of comments about immigration and customs at IAD. I have connected through IAD (both ways) a number of times without too many problems. Inbound from the UK the connecting flight has normally been 2 hours or so after arrival BUT NOV 17th I am arriving on UA 923 (estimated 11.28 a.m) with a connection to MCO (UA 1561) at 12.35am, only 1 hour and 7 minutes. Should I risk it, or try and switch my flight to UA 1555 at 2.45pm prior to my journey? Availability seems reasonable at the moment so will UA accommodate the change at no cost? Currently the UK fare on both flights is the same. Making my booked connection may mean missing the opportunity of a visit to an IAD RCC but that doesn't come into my reckoning!