IAD versus DCA
 

I'm going to DC in october, flying from BDL. There are many nonstop flights per day to IAD on UA and to DCA on US.

I have the UA economy plus yearly pass, so i can get better seats on UA, but will be spending the entire trip in downtown DC, so it seems DCA is much closer (I've never actually flown into DCA).

Ticket prices are the same in principle, but I do have a $75 voucher I can use on UA which will drop the price down. I'm unsure if having to get to and from IAD is a worthwhile price to pay in exchange for $75 cheaper ticket and an E+ seat. what are people's thoughts?

how much does it cost for some of the options for getting downtown from IAD? I assume from DCA i can just take the metro to my hotel.

I may be forgetting a couple, but these are the circumstances in which one would choose IAD over DCA:

Significantly Cheaper Ticket Cost
Destination/Origin not served by DCA
Connecting Onward from IAD
Destination/Residence in DC area closer to IAD

None of these seem applicable in your scenario (you'll find the $75 difference being eaten partially or wholly with transport to the city, depending on your mode). Time in the air is less than an hour, so unless you'd be in pain without E+, I'd opt for DCA.

Side note: I live much closer to IAD than DCA but routinely opt for DCA if the price is the same. Security lines are shorter, and the US gates smell like donuts!

From BDL, DCA is an easy choice. It's a 10-minute taxi ride to downtown (and not much more by Metro). On the outbound, checkpoint waits at DCA are almost uniformly significantly shorter than IAD. E+ isn't much of a benefit on a 40-min flight.

Frankly, I routinely fly TCON on UA DCA-ORD-West Coast rather than the mess of treking to IAD for non-stop, waiting at security and still having to get to an inconvenient gate.

River Visual FTW
 

Then you've been missing one of the greatest views in commercial aviation, courtesy of the "River Visual" approach pilots fly south along the Potomac. From the left of the plane, you get a postcard vista of downtown D.C., the Mall and the monuments. On the right, you can look down on the tops of 20 and 30-story buildings in Rosslyn.

(If the wind is blowing downstream, you miss out on that, but you can still get a great look at Old Town Alexandria from the left of the plane. Either way, this is not a flight to be stuck in a middle or aisle seat.)

BTW, if you're going downtown anytime near rush hour, skip the taxi lines and take Metro.

you have that all wrong. if one approaches from the south, sit on the right hand side of the plane, and one can see MY house.

it does appear to me(i have no stats) that take offs tend to be to the north, and landings are up from the south.

that was a joke, but sit on the right for take off, and the left for landing. it actually is a bit difficult to see my house, as they tend do fly directly over it

Since nobody answered this question yet.... The cheappest way is $6 for the 5A metro bus that will take you downtown (L'Enfant Plaza stop) then probably $2 or so to your hotel on the metro. The 5A runs about every 40 minutes, I think.

There's also the "Washington Flyer" bus that goes to a metro station closer to IAD. I believe it's about $10-15 for the bus.

Even if you're a cheapskate like me :D, it's at least worth a $20 price difference to fly into DCA. it's also a tiny airport, so you'll be in and out of there quickly. Last DCA flight I took, plane pulled into the gate at 9 am, I waited for my checked luggage, took a taxi that got stuck in morning traffic, and still got to Dupont Circle by 9:30.

DCA. Without a doubt.

If everything else was equal, I would go for DCA, but in your case they are not. Your decision, obviously on the plusses of taking United vs. US Airways.

I wouldn't describe DCA at "tiny" (it's much larger than, say, BUR or even GSP), but it is easier to navigate and to get into DC from than IAD. From DCA you can take the Metro into town, though doing this at rush hour, with bags, can be cumbersome.

From IAD, the aforementioned Metro bus is the cheapest method, but it can take a while, with, at least the last time I used it (a few years ago), no extra space for luggage. I think the next cheapest is to take the Washington Flyer bus to West Falls Church Metro station and then Metro from there. Quckest, and most expensive, options are taxi or rental car. I think Washington Flyer used to have busses between IAD and DCA but that these were ended years ago.

You didn't mention BWI. Flights often cheaper going there. It's closer to Baltimore than to DC, but you can get to DC by MARC or Amtrak trains (shuttle bus from the terminal to the BWI train station and train from there to beautiful Union Station in downtown DC). MARC trains cost less but run only on weekdays and can get crowded with commuters. Amtrak trains cost more but also have more space for bags. Rating things just on convenience, I'd put BWI after DCA but ahead of IAD.

All B30 to BWI/5A to IAD Metrobuses have luggage racks and upholstered seats now. At least we get something for the higher price.

As does the 201 (Shady Grove to BWI), which is generally a nicer and emptier bus than the B30. Also, at $5, slightly cheaper. Of course which one makes sense depends on where you're trying to go. I count not having to deal with the Green line a plus, though.

+1 for DCA. I only prefer IAD because it's closer to my house, which doesn't apply to an out of towner going downtown.

I'd spend that voucher on a different trip if you can.

I'm fairly price sensitive when on personal travel, but being Downtown and choosing between IAD or DCA seems like an easy call for DCA. Washington Flyer cab or a roving RedTop cab will cost you close to $70.00 each way.

That negates the value of your voucher.

You could take the 5A, but that takes a fair amount of time and luggage space is very limited.

Not to mention security lines, traffic, congestion, etc.

Say what???????????????? 40 gates would not be considered tiny - unless you're comparing it to ATL.

FWA - tiny. SHD - tiny. DCA - not so much.

i've heard the whole airport fits in one of the jfk terminals.

Was going to ask this very question until I spotted this thread.

I've got options of DCA, IAD or BWI for an AA domestic flight that connects in Miami. Will be staying close to L'Enfant Plaza so DCA should be only a few stops away for me compared to IAD with the metro/bus combo or costlier taxi option.
Flight will probably be mid to late morning so no rush hour to deal with and the flight costs are the same airport wise.