3 hours to transfer between IAD & DCA on "legal" ticket?
Jan 8, 2019, 8:03 pm
#76
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
A lot depends on time of day. From DCA to IAD the normal route is the GW parkway north to I-66, then to the Dulles access road.
I-66 is HOV only from 4:30 to 6:30 (maybe it's 4:00) - totally HOV, not just HOV lane. Because of the Dulles access road, they can't ticket until you get past the turnoff, meaning that people start to get on around 6:20. So if you hit I-66 before 6:15 you're in the clear; by 6:30 it's a parking lot all the way to the Dulles cutoff. The Dulles access road however will be smooth sailing. It can only be used by vehicles going to IAD (there are no exits until the airport).
I'm writing this at 6:40PM on a weekday and Google Maps shows that DCA to IAD is 29 miles and 33 minutes,
I-66 is HOV only from 4:30 to 6:30 (maybe it's 4:00) - totally HOV, not just HOV lane. Because of the Dulles access road, they can't ticket until you get past the turnoff, meaning that people start to get on around 6:20. So if you hit I-66 before 6:15 you're in the clear; by 6:30 it's a parking lot all the way to the Dulles cutoff. The Dulles access road however will be smooth sailing. It can only be used by vehicles going to IAD (there are no exits until the airport).
I'm writing this at 6:40PM on a weekday and Google Maps shows that DCA to IAD is 29 miles and 33 minutes,
Jan 9, 2019, 4:52 am
#77
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
QR has temporarily changed the A359 they were flying on that route to one of their old-style 777-300's (2-2-2 config, etc) on the BOS flight in Feburary (which is when I'm going), before switching to QSuites in the Spring. I don't need a QSuite but I'd at least like to get direct aisle access for that long flight to Doha!
So what I am saying is that I personally would not do something risky or laborious just to fly the new seats. Others will disagree.