DCA: Airside Connections between B & C?
Apr 23, 2010 | 10:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: IAD
Programs: United 0, HH Gold
Posts: 2,827
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....
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....
Apr 23, 2010 | 11:15 am
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,825
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.
Apr 23, 2010 | 2:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: RNO
Posts: 362
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.
Apr 24, 2010 | 6:34 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
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.
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.
Apr 26, 2010 | 8:02 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 543
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.
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.
Apr 27, 2010 | 2:49 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DCA, SEA, AUS
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 260
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.
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.
[I may have just gotten an inattentive TSA agent though]
May 6, 2010 | 10:19 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: IAD
Programs: United 0, HH Gold
Posts: 2,827
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.
If you have to go through security twice, DCA is the place to do it ... it was quick and easy.
May 7, 2010 | 11:35 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 8,957
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.
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.
May 7, 2010 | 4:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,679
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.
May 12, 2010 | 9:15 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 543