Transfer from IAD (Intl) to DCA
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 772
Transfer from IAD (Intl) to DCA
I stupidly bought a reward ticket from LIS-IAD-DCA-CLE. I just realized I need to get from Dulles to National Airport. I assume this is my responsibility and that I will need to lug my bag after leaving customs and re-check it at DCA. Is this assumption correct?
Also, what would be the best way to get from IAD to DCA? I would prefer not to use a taxi and the shared ride vans seem to require more time than I have. What would Uber or a taxi cost? Is public transportation (Bus to Metro) easy enough to do? What would be the best route?
I am scheduled to arrive at IAD at 3:35 p.m. on Monday, June 6 and depart DCA at 8:00 p.m. Do I have enough time to use public transportation? I will be in BusinessFirst and have Global Entry (never used it at IAD) so that might speed things up a bit. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
Also, what would be the best way to get from IAD to DCA? I would prefer not to use a taxi and the shared ride vans seem to require more time than I have. What would Uber or a taxi cost? Is public transportation (Bus to Metro) easy enough to do? What would be the best route?
I am scheduled to arrive at IAD at 3:35 p.m. on Monday, June 6 and depart DCA at 8:00 p.m. Do I have enough time to use public transportation? I will be in BusinessFirst and have Global Entry (never used it at IAD) so that might speed things up a bit. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
I stupidly bought a reward ticket from LIS-IAD-DCA-CLE. I just realized I need to get from Dulles to National Airport. I assume this is my responsibility and that I will need to lug my bag after leaving customs and re-check it at DCA. Is this assumption correct?
Also, what would be the best way to get from IAD to DCA? I would prefer not to use a taxi and the shared ride vans seem to require more time than I have. What would Uber or a taxi cost? Is public transportation (Bus to Metro) easy enough to do? What would be the best route?
I am scheduled to arrive at IAD at 3:35 p.m. on Monday, June 6 and depart DCA at 8:00 p.m. Do I have enough time to use public transportation? I will be in BusinessFirst and have Global Entry (never used it at IAD) so that might speed things up a bit. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
Also, what would be the best way to get from IAD to DCA? I would prefer not to use a taxi and the shared ride vans seem to require more time than I have. What would Uber or a taxi cost? Is public transportation (Bus to Metro) easy enough to do? What would be the best route?
I am scheduled to arrive at IAD at 3:35 p.m. on Monday, June 6 and depart DCA at 8:00 p.m. Do I have enough time to use public transportation? I will be in BusinessFirst and have Global Entry (never used it at IAD) so that might speed things up a bit. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
#3
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 4
Getting through immigration and customs at IAD with Global Entry is really, really quick. If you don't run into any problems, you can be outside the terminal 15 minutes after you walk off the plane.
A cab from IAD to DCA will be about $70 or so, and should take less than an hour, probably closer to 45 min, depending on traffic on I-66.
The Washington Metro goes right into DCA but not IAD. There are a couple of options to connect to the Metro from IAD. See http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/new_metro/. All of them are going to take some time, and honestly if I were flying in on an international flight, I'd bite the bullet and spring for a cab.
A cab from IAD to DCA will be about $70 or so, and should take less than an hour, probably closer to 45 min, depending on traffic on I-66.
The Washington Metro goes right into DCA but not IAD. There are a couple of options to connect to the Metro from IAD. See http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/new_metro/. All of them are going to take some time, and honestly if I were flying in on an international flight, I'd bite the bullet and spring for a cab.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,604
I am scheduled to arrive at IAD at 3:35 p.m. on Monday, June 6 and depart DCA at 8:00 p.m. Do I have enough time to use public transportation? I will be in BusinessFirst and have Global Entry (never used it at IAD) so that might speed things up a bit. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
Dulles to National at 4:30 PM or so is not a short trip. 66 is worse eastbound inside the beltway than westbound. Getting up the Parkway would require sitting in traffic in Tysons as all of the Marylanders start to head home. Best bet - take the Flyer to the Wiehle Metro stop and use Metro to National. Assuming you don't have too much luggage, that shouldn't be a bad trip and should take about an hour or so, and cost about $5.00.
4 hours or so is plenty of time to get between the airports. Its a question of how much you want to spend and how you like sitting either in traffic or on the subway.
4 hours or so is plenty of time to get between the airports. Its a question of how much you want to spend and how you like sitting either in traffic or on the subway.
#7
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
Agree with other posters that public transport may actually be almost as fast as a cab or Uber, and far, far cheaper at that hour of the day on a weekday. Washington Flyer to Wiehle Metro stop leaves every 15 minutes and is $5, then the Metro fare to DCA will be an additional $5.90. Assuming you have only one substantial piece of luggage and it's on wheels, no problem. More than one would be awkward however.
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP - You have plenty of time. If you are flying UA, when you are through CBP at IAD, head upstairs and ask UA if they will stick you on their 5:30 PM to CLE. Don't ask for SDC as it's not SDC-eligible. Just ask if it's doable and see if it can be done without a fee. If it can be, it's your lucky day.
After a TATL flight, with another flight to go, I would not fancy Washington public transportation which is not exactly designed with the long distance traveler in mind.
Uber is easy and relatively cheap. OP has more than plenty of time. If there's traffic, and there will be, just sit back and relax.
After a TATL flight, with another flight to go, I would not fancy Washington public transportation which is not exactly designed with the long distance traveler in mind.
Uber is easy and relatively cheap. OP has more than plenty of time. If there's traffic, and there will be, just sit back and relax.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 33
As others have said, you have plenty of time for public transportation. Uber is a good option but will be fairly expensive compared to the alternatives and may not even be quicker since it will be rush hour and 66 gets pretty backed up going east into Arlington every night.
I've taken public transportation from IAD to DCA. As catocony said, the way to do this is to take the Washington Flyer from the terminal to Wiehle-Reston, then the Silver Line to Rosslyn and the Blue line to DCA from there. It'll probably take about an hour door to door during rush hour, maybe an hour and a half.
I've taken public transportation from IAD to DCA. As catocony said, the way to do this is to take the Washington Flyer from the terminal to Wiehle-Reston, then the Silver Line to Rosslyn and the Blue line to DCA from there. It'll probably take about an hour door to door during rush hour, maybe an hour and a half.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 772
Thanks for all the suggestions. I would rather be moving in the Metro (and saving money-I'm inherently thrifty), than sitting in DC's rush hour traffic. I will also ask if UA will put me on the nonstop IAD-CLE. Maybe they will be nice and just do it. By the way, I did call UA and the nice agent said that they'd be happy to switch me to the IAD-CLE flight for just 92,500 more miles. I said thank you and hung up!
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
See if Saver space opens on the xIAD. As you are ticketed in C, but don't likely care about F on the domestic micro-hop, you still need the F Saver to reticket or UA will reprice the entire itinerary xLIS.
You may find UA more willing to do this closer in, especially if you are willing to accept a Y seat on the domestic.
You may find UA more willing to do this closer in, especially if you are willing to accept a Y seat on the domestic.
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
See if Saver space opens on the xIAD. As you are ticketed in C, but don't likely care about F on the domestic micro-hop, you still need the F Saver to reticket or UA will reprice the entire itinerary xLIS.
You may find UA more willing to do this closer in, especially if you are willing to accept a Y seat on the domestic.
You may find UA more willing to do this closer in, especially if you are willing to accept a Y seat on the domestic.
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I'm not sure he asked correctly, but it's perhaps worth a call back to see if UA will acommodate him on the IAD flight in Y.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I more ore less agree with the idea of taking Metro. Your only annoyance is transferring from Silver to Blue at Rosslyn (infrequent service on the Blue line at that point).