connecting from DCA to IAD?
 

Has anyone any experience in connecting between DCA and IAD? Is 3 hours enough? It is US NAS - DCA and then UA IAD - FRA

What time? If it's during rush hour you may have issues. How will you be traveling between the two?

I'll move this to the Washington D.C. Forum where there are numerous threads/posts on this topic such as:

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum

Three hours is plenty of time.

It never takes more than an hour to go DCA-IAD. In rush hour it can take an hour; in dead of night could be under 30 minutes. Check in and security and moving to the mid-field terminal at IAD will all take an hour or less total. You will have an hour at the gate.

All this is assuming you land at DCA on time.

It can easily take over an hour from DCA-IAD. For example, if OP has checked bags, it can take an hour to get them at DCA.

While the Washington Flyer bus is reliable as far as schedule, the metro has been known to be completely hosed and is especially iffy when one has to change trains (as is needed from DCA to WFC station to get the Flyer). It would probably be better to take the 5A from Rosslyn but that runs only every 40 minutes or so and takes an hour.

As for using a taxi, there can be lengthy taxi lines at DCA at times. I have waited 40 minutes for a taxi (admittedly quite late at night, which is why I needed a taxi in the first place).

And actual driving time can be screwed up due to weather and/or rush hour.

Depending on what airline one is using and one's status, an hour may be cutting it close for check-in and security at IAD, also.

Personally, I would not be comfortable with just 3 hours between those flights.

Thanks for the thoughts. I would get a taxi (thats the plan) between the two. Presumably if its booked on one ticket and you miss the onward flight the airline would have to re-book you on to the next available flight - or would they have a get out and say the Taxi was too slow or something?!

that is just flat out wrong. someone may do it occasionally, but 30 min gate to gate is absurd, and 1 hr with tsa in 4-6mp range is not easy. if you are in the back of the plane and have luggage, the ua line may be 20min or so. i would not comment, other than the fact that you might miss your plane. i think ua calls for arrival 2 hrs before flight. do you have a single ticket, and this is an airline agreed transfer or are you on two separate tickets? i presume you have to transfer your own luggage if you have any.

you do have enough time. the taxi can run on the hov lanes. take a taxi or a limo.

The DCA-NAS flight gets into DCA at 3:00 pm. Its an Express flight.

I am going to bet 20 minutes for baggage. Reagan to Dulles will take about 40 minutes.

If you don't want to run the risk of waiting in the taxi queue, call Red Top Cab at (703) 522-3333 and the cab will be waiting for you at outer passenger pickup area - and you won't get charged the DCA cab stand surcharge! I have a regular driver and I do this all the time (I can give you his number and he'll happily wait for you).

I think its doable.

Ths is optimistic in my experience. While I admit that I don't have a statistically valid sample, I'd figure a minimum of a half hour for baggage.

That is also the worst time of day from a traffic standpoint since it is before I-66 switches to HOV only.

I'd probably try to switch to the later flight from IAD to FRA, but I have a lower risk tolerance than some. (And I would definitely not trust NAS-DCA to be on time. Since it's an express flight, they don't publish statistics, but I've never been on a flight out of NAS that wasn't delayed and isn't the US Express average on-time percentage something like 60%?)

Three hours is plenty of time presuming that you don't have checked bags. If you have to wait at DCA for bags, that can easily take 45 mins. depending on time of day. If you do have bags, add an hour.

Easiest transport is to book a car service. No wait times and no added worry.

May I intrude to ask about how much time to expect on the following itinerary?:
US2167 0900 LGA - DCA 10:23 in Y on a Sunday in November
UA823 17:15 IAD - MEX in C on a Sunday in November

I'll have one maybe two bags and plan to head to the Capitol and maybe Lincoln memorial before heading to the IAD.

I'm *G now although probably won't be by the time of the flight :(

That itinerary is fine unless there are MAJOR weather issues - which there shouldn't be unless its Thanksgiving weekend.

5:15 PM is the first big salvo of the European departure banks at IAD and security can be horrendous. I would be comfortable being at IAD no later than 3:15 for that departure.

Wow, such a quick reply! Thank you.
Does travelling C on UA get me past some of these security queues or will they be of similar length?

I know the UA website says "Premier AccessSM check-in, baggage handling, boarding and security lines (where available)", but I'm not clear if these are (1) available, (2) subject to the same long security lines.

Premier Access security at IAD is a joke. The dedicated line only leads to the TDC, and then you are mixed with the regular pax for the actual screening.

Fortunately for you, your arrival at IAD should be early enough to avoid the afternoon rush. If you are lucky, you could be there at the dead time between noon and 1 p.m.

Luggage will be a problem unless you are hiring a car service for the day. Capitol security will be unmanageable if you've got any serious luggage.

Arriving at DCA with checked luggage will have you in downtown DC by 11:00 AM. You should plan on leaving downtown DCA no later than 2:45 PM. Sundays are heavy travel days xIAD and, as others note, premium security access doesn't do you any particular good.