On saturday the 4th, I am looking to take a frontier flight from OMA that is scheduled to land in DCA at 719pm. How likely is it that I will be able to make an international transfer on United that is scheduled to leave at 945pm. What would be the safest/quickest route?

This is best asked in the Washington D.C. Forum, where there are many other posts on this topic, including:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/washi...-airports.html

I will move this thread there.

Safe Travels,

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum

Any car/taxi/Uber should be okay. Check this thread for recs:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/washi...sfer-recs.html

On saturday evening traffic between the two airports should be minimal. Figure 45 minutes, perhaps a bit less. The route is standard: you'll likely go I-66 to the Dulles Airport access road.

Security lines at Dulles at that time should not be terrible.

That said, are you checking bags on the first leg? Baggage can be a bit slow at DCA . . . if you're checking you might not be in a car until 7:45 or 8, which starts to make things tight. If you're going gate to curb and your flight is on time you should be curbside at Dulles by 8:30 or 8:45.

This should be doable, but I would make 100% certain that you are on a single ticket. If you are on separate tickets and miss your xIAD, you may or may not be rebooked. Aircraft are late and there are traffic accidents and the like. It's a lot to risk.

Some carriers will take pity and rebook you. Others (and depending on the fare basis on which you are traveling) will either require you to buy a new ticket at walk-up fares, charge you the fare difference or require a change fees.

Taxi from DCA-IAD should be easy on a Saturday PM. Presuming no checked luggage, just walk out of the terminal, there will be a taxi line to your right and that line moves quickly. About 45 mins to IAD should get you to IAD at T-90. That's fine on a Saturday PM.

You don't provide the carrier xIAD, but carefully read the check-in requirements for that carrier. Make certain that you meet the deadlines for check-in (including passport & document check by the carrier) as well as gate times. Remember, if you are required to be checked in with docs reviewed no later than T-60, that's 8:45 PM, not 9:45 PM.

I agree with drewguy, PROVIDED that it is not raining. That trip can turn into a horror in wet weather; twice the travel time would not be unusual. Even so, it should work, though it might be closer than you want.

If rain is forecast, I'd try to switch from DCA to an IAD arrival.

I'm connecting on the last UA LHR flight, and also won't be checking bags. Thanks for the tips everyone.

Are you sure you are "connecting"? The question posed is whether you are on one or two tickets. That makes all of the difference if things go sideways.

It'll be separate tickets, but given the information provided, I think I'll be able to make it work out.

Wouldn't you have to check in to your flight at 7:45 in IAD? Everything would have to go perfectly and even then it's cutting it close.

Sorry, but having said that the transfer was doable, armed with the additional fact that OP is on separate tickets, I would now not do this. If one small thing goes wrong, OP misses his xIAD flight and he's not a connecting pax so he's simply a no show.

While UA, unlike some foreign carriers, will likely rebook OP, it's not obligated to do so and OP will come behind all other IRROPS pax. At a minimum, OP will be stuck with the costs of hotel + food and the wait for the next flight with availability.

This is one of those deals where OP will be fine if everything goes according to schedule, but will have a substantial delay and maybe substantial costs if things don't.

Danpeake, I would just check in online and show at the gate.

Often1, I understand the situation, but I have back up planes in store. I appreciate you looking out for a fellow flyer. It is truly appreciated.

hey, let us know if you make it. people that book the crazy tight flights never report back. i assume they are stuck with charlie on the MTA

I just looked online...

there is a 7am departure from OMA arrive in Dulles at 3:40 through IAH for $98

There are a couple others through Denver for $100 they arrive around the same time +/- 1 hr

these are United flights--even though they are purchased separately they can be linked in case of delays occur and you will be protected if you miss the flight at IAD.

The cab between DCA and IAD is what now $75?