Originally Posted by
House
For IAD, you've next to no real chance of seeing anything recognisable - the airport is too far from DC (much like STN in London is too far from most of London to get the kind of views you would get on approach to LHR.
On arrival at IAD, positioning is all important - keep as close to the doors of the buses that take you over to immigration as you can, so you have the best chance of making the front of the queue!
Yes, that is absolutely key. Be off the plane as fast as possible and then stay as close to the front of the mobile lounge as possible - do not move to the back! The driver will open the right-hand side door to the arrival lounge first, then the left door so do your best to be on that side of the lounge, too. US passport holders queue to the right - all you foreigners queue to the left. If you time it right you can be in and out of immigration in no time and on to the ridiculously long wait for your baggage. If you hand carry baggage only you could be off the plane and out the front door of the airport in under 30 minutes. Good luck.