DCA: Airside Connections between B & C?
 

So I'm flying US in a week or so and I've got a lounge pass for CO. I was thinking of going to the airport early, hitting the CO lounge in B then going over to C for my US flight.

I've seen the bus that takes you between terminals, but I just called DCA and they said there's no way to go between terminals w/o going through security again.

Has anyone done this recently? I'm so used to flying out of IAD, I've forgotten the wonders of DCA....

Nope: security is at the entrance to each of the terminal piers. I've never heard of a terminal bus -- seems pretty pointless given how small the airport is, and how short the security lines have been whenever I've been there.

I rode the "bus" (essentially a 30 second van ride) several times last February between the UA and US gates. I had to give an explanation to the agent at the door each time as to why I needed to do go between terminals, so I don't know if "my lounge is in the other terminal" will suffice. FWIW, I was switching from US DCA-PHL-ORD to UA DCA-ORD because of a storm in PHL.

The shuttle only connects the two northern piers for US/UA connections, essentially the two C piers. CO is on the south B pier with no way to connect to other post-security areas.

i just pulled up this terminal map

http://www.metwashairports.com/galle...rminal_map.jpg

gates 23-34 have no letter. looks like they B and a half,C and a half????

US runs a bus between those two terminals(rather erratically). after the bus arrives, one is allowed to walk down a ramp onto the tarmac and wander around for a while before boarding the bus. upon debussing, one is again allowed to meander around before going into the terminal.

there is a lot of terminal to plane service by bus in europe. passengers are closely watched during that transfer. even in the Caribbean, there is adult supervision when on the tarmac.

The 'areas' (A, B & C) at DCA are only for check-in, arrival, and general location of things. The actual gates don't have any letters. There are three piers in the 'new' terminal building (north, middle and south), which cover areas B and C.

CO's gates are off of the south pier (but the actual gates, as well as the club, are not in the south pier, but in the original/oldest part of the airport). There is no way to get to the other piers airside. They probably won't even let you through security with a US BP.

US is in the entire north pier, and has some gates in the middle pier. During their rush times, they run a bus between the two so that you don't have to exit and re-clear security. Otherwise no airside transfers are possible at DCA.

At DCA, I've gone into B to visit the Admirals Club w/ a BP from an A-terminal carrier and gotten in just fine. It's just a hassle to go through security again...

[I may have just gotten an inattentive TSA agent though]

FYI ... I had no problem doing this. In fact, the agent at the B gates noticed I was at the wrong gate. I told her I wanted to go to the lounge and she just waved me on, no problem.

If you have to go through security twice, DCA is the place to do it ... it was quick and easy.

23 and 24 are US Express gates - middle pier of the new terminal. They would be classified as "C" I would think.

The gates are just numbered, but the piers in the new terminal are C (2X) and B. The northern and middle are both C and the one on the southern pier is B.

AA is in the middle pier which is actually C... just to confuse things. Terminal A is the old building for those keeping score at home.

As another data point, I have always been asked why I am going into the wrong terminal, but never been denied when I told them I was going for the lounge.

Yes they are C.

What is your source for this? The MWAA site's map divides B and C halfway through the center pier, with the gates having no official letter designation. The baggage claim areas do have a letter designation, with AA, who is the center pier, being in "terminal" B, not C.

A/B/C are really "zones" for ticket counters. There are two terminals...A is the old terminal; and B/C are the new terminal.

Has anyone done this recently? I'd like to go to the Tap Room in C (Priority Pass) and then my American gate is in B.
Do I have to do security or bus?

There remains an airside bus shuttle between B&C. It does involve walking down and then up a flight of steel stairs. But, it is very doable.

You can do the bus.

My flight leaves tomorrow but in term. B/C, want to go to Tap Room in term. C then back to B/C. I assume the shuttle bus is still a viable option even though you are not connecting? Do they check boarding pass or check for anything?

Thought I saw a sign stating that Tap Room is no longer accepting Priority Pass. Either that or one of the Amex benefits.

Can I take the C -> B/C shuttle even if I'm not flying AA? Next week I'm taking JetBlue, but want to hit up one of the PP restaurants before I board.

And I assume there's no way to transfer airside B -> B/C? I prefer Bracket Room to American Tap...

No airside transfer between B and B/C. I have never tried the AA shuttle so dont know if they check BPs...but if they do restrict to only AA then it's about a 5 minute walk.

If you have PreCheck, changing landside isn't too bad. Actually, lines usually aren't terrible without PreCheck either.

I have never seen a BP check, although a lot of people show theirs to make sure that they really are headed to the right place.

Never an issue, I have done it many times to pick up dinner after arrival. There is no ID check.

DCA Terminal B/C signage
 

As easy as DCA is for flight arrivals and leaving the airport quickly, it is extremely confusing to depart from, as the signage shows a Terminal B, Terminal B/C, and then another Terminal C. If you're looking for the Tap Room Restaurant in Terminal B, you can only enter through Terminal B - not Terminal B/C. And the bus goes from Terminal C to Terminal B/C, but not to terminal B. It's signed this way to line up with two zones of ticket counters - Zone B and Zone C, but it's enormously confusing. I wish they'd name each terminal separately - B, C, and D, with the new terminal named E when it's complete.

yup. when I have asked during meetings why not simply change the signage to something normal the response is that it is a WAY complicated issue and stoopidly expensive - but it WILL be corrected after all the construction and the opening of new terminal.

I have a flight from A but want to use priority pass credit at B, I imagine I wont get any trouble going into B even if my flight is from A?

Correct, no trouble at all. BUT, security is done for each pier (still, I believe - this is being rectified by the new construction) so you will go through the checkpoint for B then exit B and go through the checkpoint for A. But its a short walk and crowds are so light that it wont take any time at all.

TSA might be helpful and point out you're in the wrong place, but not an issue.