11 hours in IAD: any ideas?
 

Hello guys,

I need your inputs. I will be in IAD at 6:39 am from a redeye from LAX. My original ticket is to leave at 830 am to my final destination that arrives at 9:30am. I learned today that my friend cannot pick me up at the airport until 4pm! So now I am thinking I'll catch the last flight to my destination which is at 530PM -- (rather than being at the airport for 11hours): I have several ideas, get on a mini-mileage run from IAD (just to burn time) to a domestic point in the US and be back in time to catch the 5:30 PM flight.. (now you might think this is stupid) but I thought it will be smarter cuz that means I'll earn more miles and have 2 free meals if the flights are more than 3 hours each way.. question is, where can I go?

Let me know what you think, I am looking for something that is less than $250 all in roundtrip.

It's for the 30th of DEC

Thanks,
-j

Adding a whole other itinerary in the middle might become a lot more interesting if there are any misconnects.

If *I* had 11 hours in Dulles, I'd go to the Air & Space Smithsonian. I was going to apologize for being a giant plane nerd... but I'm on flyertalk :D

+1, with 11 hrs to kill, you'd have enough time to visit both the Udvar-Hazy Center and the main Air & Space in downtown DC!

Go to the Lufthansa lounge in Terminal B. Open from 1 PM-6 PM.

What MLRoach said. The Udvar-Hazy branch of the Air & Space Museum is a quick cab ride from IAD--you can even watch planes land and take off from the museum.

If not the museum, maybe you could carry on as planned and find something cool in your destination city for the day. Or if you need a MR, could you do it from your destination?

You took the words right out of my mouth - er - fingers. And it's free!

I would love to visit the museums... but as much as possible i'd love to stay in the airport... cuz when I can get a 2nd booking, I know UA will be very flexible to do an exception and move me on a later flight if they see that I have purchased another itinerary. (I've done this before and they did a complimentary change)..

-j

There's a shuttle bus you can take, IIRC, too, if you want to save on the cab fare. (The link is a bit outdated, but unless they've discontinued the service, it should at least be close.)

Doesn't sound like you need additional status miles to reach an elite level, so I don't quite get the point of doing additional flying on 12/30 unless you could find some incredible cpm that would allow you to economically accrue RDMs. If this were for January 2010 travel, I could see the point. Also don't think you can get too far from IAD if you need to return later in the day so even if you managed 3 or 4 segments, it still wouldn't add up to many RDMs.

You are a lucky guy, you will have the whole day to explore Washington D.C, I have been there 3 times, there are many museums you can visit, plus if you are a *A Gold, you can go to the lounge to enjoy the food and drinks !! ^

Have fun in IAD !

I don't really need it to hit an elite level, but just primarily to burn time.. I have an expiring $250 ecert and might as well use it.. so I am thinking if the second booking will be under $250, and get upgraded to F, I'd get two free meals and extra RDM's.. but yes I will definitely consider checking out the Smithsonian -- that sounds very good... but I am more inclined on getting on a plane to burn time.

-j

Which lounge is this?

Yes I have a United gold card.. but I won't have an international BP.. I don't think that would admit me to any lounge..?

-j

see post #4

You're right - you can only get lounge access if on a same-day international trip. One suggestion would be that you purchase a one-way refundable international ticket for late in the evening and you use that ticket as a way to get lounge access before canceling later. (Heck, if you're gonna do it, book a flight in F so you can use an IFL.) It's sneaky, and if you wish to do it, I'd suggest you book with another *A carrier and not put your MP# on the reservation so you're not flagged for being on two different *A flights in the air at the same time.

Personally, I'd prefer the museums mentioned previously.

I'm not sure I understand the whole flying schedule you were talking about, but if I were at any airport for 11 hours after a long red-eye, I'd just go to an area hotel and get some sleep, a shower and a nice meal.

Most e-certs will only allow use if the base fare is at least as much as the e-cert, so even if you were able to find something just over $250 base fare, you'd still be out some $$$ for taxes and fees.