Moving from NYC to WAS area - Flying DL in WAS
Mar 22, 2019, 4:42 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Alaska has DCA - PDX / LAX / SEA / SFO directs I believe.
Good option for west coast, less appealing for middle of the country and non-existent for East Coast.
In the old days AS + DL/AA for East Coast and international would've been a great option
Good option for west coast, less appealing for middle of the country and non-existent for East Coast.
In the old days AS + DL/AA for East Coast and international would've been a great option
Mar 22, 2019, 8:27 pm
#47
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1
I live in Bethesda
Depending on the time of day and your proximity to Metro, DCA is a breeze coming from Bethesda or Rockville, especially if you'll be east of 270 outside the beltway or inside the beltway.
I usually take Metro (Red Line then connect at Gallery Place to Yellow has proven the easiest connection for me) vs. driving, but when the current construction in over, if you need to drive, George Washington Parkway from 405 after crossing into VA is usually the best route. It's always worth check traffic though as bottlenecks can happen.
The construction in front of the terminals makes driving frustrating at present until the project is complete.
As a light packer, I take Metro unless I have an early AM flight on a holiday or Sunday.
I usually take Metro (Red Line then connect at Gallery Place to Yellow has proven the easiest connection for me) vs. driving, but when the current construction in over, if you need to drive, George Washington Parkway from 405 after crossing into VA is usually the best route. It's always worth check traffic though as bottlenecks can happen.
The construction in front of the terminals makes driving frustrating at present until the project is complete.
As a light packer, I take Metro unless I have an early AM flight on a holiday or Sunday.
Mar 22, 2019, 9:25 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,358
Convenient train? Sorry this made me laugh out loud. Metro's LONG delayed Silver Line extension to IAD will open next year. From downtown the ride will take more than an hour.
If you're going to be close to the city center and DCA, DL is a good choice. Super convenient airport, if you have PreCheck/Clear you're through security very fast. Nice SkyClub.
On DL you'll mainly take flights to their major hubs: ATL, JFK, LGA, SLC, MSP, DTW and they also have a NS to LAX on a D1 75S. It depends on where you travel the most.
I've been a PM with DL since 2008 and fly DL exclusively. I switched from AA.. and then back in the day TWA. DL's service is just better in my opinion.I probably fly 50-60 segments annually.
If you want more NS routes from DCA look at AA. If you are close to IAD look at UA. If you're closer to BWI look at WN.
If you're going to be close to the city center and DCA, DL is a good choice. Super convenient airport, if you have PreCheck/Clear you're through security very fast. Nice SkyClub.
On DL you'll mainly take flights to their major hubs: ATL, JFK, LGA, SLC, MSP, DTW and they also have a NS to LAX on a D1 75S. It depends on where you travel the most.
I've been a PM with DL since 2008 and fly DL exclusively. I switched from AA.. and then back in the day TWA. DL's service is just better in my opinion.I probably fly 50-60 segments annually.
If you want more NS routes from DCA look at AA. If you are close to IAD look at UA. If you're closer to BWI look at WN.
Mar 22, 2019, 11:39 pm
#49
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: 5,384
From that area, the GW Parkway is a great (and very pretty) route down to DCA. I had a client in Gaithersburg and would fly into DCA, spend a night near the airport (lots of great restaurant options in Crystal City) and then drive up the GW in the morning against the inbound commuters.
Mar 23, 2019, 1:23 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
And there has always been an express bus from downtown DC or Rosslyn in Arlington to IAD. There's a dedicated Dulles access road just off of 66 that takes you right to the airport.
Mar 24, 2019, 6:55 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern VA
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott Titanium, National Car Exec Elite
Posts: 286
I moved to Reston from Westchester County, NY about 8 years ago. I've stayed with Delta, both because of inertia (have regularly been Plat and later Diamond, with about 2 million miles) and also because I've always had a good customer experience with Delta.
In NY I always flew out of LGA or JFK. I would do one-way rentals from/to HPN. That meant about 2+/- hours of pre-flight travel time before I even stepped onto the plane.
Now I live 10 minutes from IAD and with Clear I can be at the gate within 30 minutes of leaving my house. So compared to my NY area flights, I consider IAD a breeze and am willing to overlook some of the other downsides others have mentioned.
I only wish IAD had a lounge, but I have Priority Pass so I use the Turkish lounge and occasionally the BA lounge.
I wholeheartedly agree that DCA is a great option, especially if you're near a Metro stop. Since the Wiehle station opened I don't hesitate to trek to DCA if it means a reasonable price savings.
I thought about maybe switching to United when I moved here, but most of my travel now is leisure and, like I mentioned earlier, the loyalty benefits made me stick with Delta.
In NY I always flew out of LGA or JFK. I would do one-way rentals from/to HPN. That meant about 2+/- hours of pre-flight travel time before I even stepped onto the plane.
Now I live 10 minutes from IAD and with Clear I can be at the gate within 30 minutes of leaving my house. So compared to my NY area flights, I consider IAD a breeze and am willing to overlook some of the other downsides others have mentioned.
I only wish IAD had a lounge, but I have Priority Pass so I use the Turkish lounge and occasionally the BA lounge.
I wholeheartedly agree that DCA is a great option, especially if you're near a Metro stop. Since the Wiehle station opened I don't hesitate to trek to DCA if it means a reasonable price savings.
I thought about maybe switching to United when I moved here, but most of my travel now is leisure and, like I mentioned earlier, the loyalty benefits made me stick with Delta.
Mar 24, 2019, 11:38 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,358
I'm not sure about the relevance of your subsequent comment regarding the bus and the access road.