DCA SC Refresh Complete [after partial closure]
Feb 24, 2018, 6:08 pm
#107
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,378
WWADS occasionally makes some tongue in check remarks regarding DCA, I hope this is one as I don't see how that opinion is defensible. Opening up is a major benefit to all passengers. Yes, we will have to deal with a some time of construction, but worth it in the end I hope.
Count me as someone who is hoping AMEX announces a CL as soon as National Hall post TSA begins.
Count me as someone who is hoping AMEX announces a CL as soon as National Hall post TSA begins.
Feb 24, 2018, 6:16 pm
#108
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I'm a regular at DCA who has never been inside security at the other two piers in the "new" North Terminal. I'm looking forward to the new security entrance, as it will make the entire North Terminal readily accessible to a ticketed passenger. I don't know what this is going to do for the access from the Metro station to the terminal, however.
Feb 24, 2018, 8:48 pm
#109
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,298
I don’t think the Metro tracks have ever been an issue with construction as they are even with Level 3 and across the street from the terminal. They are going to build two new security checkpoints next to both of the Metro/Parking Garage bridges (BTW, the convinent DL ticket counter on the Metro Bridge is moving to the National Hall on Monday) I wish that they could somehow had built the checkpoints upstairs like they did at JFK T4. It’s strange that you are now going to walk away from the gates to get to the security checkpoint.
Feb 25, 2018, 4:46 am
#110
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,033
I'm a regular at DCA who has never been inside security at the other two piers in the "new" North Terminal. I'm looking forward to the new security entrance, as it will make the entire North Terminal readily accessible to a ticketed passenger. I don't know what this is going to do for the access from the Metro station to the terminal, however.
Feb 26, 2018, 9:50 am
#111
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: United 1K, Delta DM 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Diamond, Hertz PC, Europcar Elite VIP, Accor Gold
Posts: 145
Feb 26, 2018, 3:18 pm
#113
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
I spoke with the DCA SkyClub agents last week. They are saying late spring/early summer. Last week they closed the bar and moved it to a temporary rolling cart similar to what you'd see at a banquet. Glassware is all paper and plastic right now.
Other side note for DCA travelers, the lower level check-in desk is gone! I saw them disassembling it and hauling away the bag screening equipment last Friday! I loved dropping bags there after parking in the B garage.
Other side note for DCA travelers, the lower level check-in desk is gone! I saw them disassembling it and hauling away the bag screening equipment last Friday! I loved dropping bags there after parking in the B garage.
Feb 26, 2018, 4:49 pm
#114
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,298
I spoke with the DCA SkyClub agents last week. They are saying late spring/early summer. Last week they closed the bar and moved it to a temporary rolling cart similar to what you'd see at a banquet. Glassware is all paper and plastic right now.
Other side note for DCA travelers, the lower level check-in desk is gone! I saw them disassembling it and hauling away the bag screening equipment last Friday! I loved dropping bags there after parking in the B garage.
Other side note for DCA travelers, the lower level check-in desk is gone! I saw them disassembling it and hauling away the bag screening equipment last Friday! I loved dropping bags there after parking in the B garage.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:22 pm
#115
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
Feb 27, 2018, 1:36 pm
#116
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,492
The far gates (including 35x) are much much worse than Delta so I welcome the change with open arms, much as I love the airy feel of National Hall that will be diminished with all the people milling around and whatever else is put in there. The security buildings will be between the metro and National Hall, with security on the same level as the current bridge so it will be great for those of us who check in online and don't check luggage. Existing ticketing inside the terminal will remain, but passengers will need to double back to go through security. So I guess if you want to enter the gates from the metro you stay at bridge level but there is some other exit that dumps you outside security and into the building, but you have to go upstairs to ticketing, then back downstairs to get through security. Sounds a bit painful. I hope they have something like the quick-check outside security, DL on one building, AA in the other.
Once the security clearance area is changed I will trade the Reserve cards my wife and I use for a single AA Executive card instead, as the lounge access policy is far more generous (I can even add her as an authorized user for no additional fee). We can then use it on all our flights, which tend to be Delta 50%, AA 30% and JetBlue 20%.
For flights out of the other DC airports, I'm really happy with the Priority Pass to get into the Turkish Lounge at IAD and the Club at BWI.
Feb 27, 2018, 2:07 pm
#117
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,033
I don't think the two non-Delta concourses (gates 23-45) are any different than the concourse Delta uses. I actually don't really mind 35X. Great people watching in the holding pen downstairs and the bus system isn't so bad as long as you're the last one to board the bus.
Once the security clearance area is changed I will trade the Reserve cards my wife and I use for a single AA Executive card instead, as the lounge access policy is far more generous (I can even add her as an authorized user for no additional fee). We can then use it on all our flights, which tend to be Delta 50%, AA 30% and JetBlue 20%.
For flights out of the other DC airports, I'm really happy with the Priority Pass to get into the Turkish Lounge at IAD and the Club at BWI.
Once the security clearance area is changed I will trade the Reserve cards my wife and I use for a single AA Executive card instead, as the lounge access policy is far more generous (I can even add her as an authorized user for no additional fee). We can then use it on all our flights, which tend to be Delta 50%, AA 30% and JetBlue 20%.
For flights out of the other DC airports, I'm really happy with the Priority Pass to get into the Turkish Lounge at IAD and the Club at BWI.
I don't have lounge access with AA so that concourse always seems worse because I don't have the SC to take a pee. Wow, that's quite a realization regarding the relative merits of the two concourses in my mind
Feb 27, 2018, 2:26 pm
#118
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,492
I'm usually in a rush to get to work when arriving back to DCA. So with DL I get off the plane quickly and within minutes I'm on the metro. With AA at 35X I'm still waiting in that darned bus to travel 100 meters.
I don't have lounge access with AA so that concourse always seems worse because I don't have the SC to take a pee. Wow, that's quite a realization regarding the relative merits of the two concourses in my mind
I don't have lounge access with AA so that concourse always seems worse because I don't have the SC to take a pee. Wow, that's quite a realization regarding the relative merits of the two concourses in my mind
Feb 27, 2018, 5:22 pm
#119
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,033
Feb 28, 2018, 12:59 am
#120
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DCA, LEX
Programs: DL Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Caesars Diamond, K Fund
Posts: 375