are either of these airports like BOS or MCO, i.e. different security checkpoints to enter different terminals?...or...is it like, e.g. ATL, i.e., once you clear security, you can walk and wander anywhere?

thanks!
cb

IAD has single security for all the terminals. (Well, actually a couple of security checkpoints, but they all lead to everywhere).


DCA currently has separate security for the different terminals and, in fact, for multiple piers of Terminals B/C. There is a post-security shuttle bus between the two piers of Terminal C, but I don't know of one between the two piers of Terminal B. And nothing connects to Terminal A.

There are plans to change that in the future so DCA will have unified security, but I am not sure of the schedule.

thanks for your reply!

if i'm departing on AA for DCA to ATL, will i have access to both united lounge club AND admirals club?

If you have eligibility to enter each of those clubs then you will have access to them but they are in different terminals and you will have to clear the security at each terminal.

I don't think so. United uses the South Pier of terminal B (Gates 10-22) while American uses the north pier of terminal B (Gates 23-24) and terminal C (Gates 35-45). There is a no post-security connection between the two airlines.

thanks for all the replies! very appreciated.

last question :
if i'm flying southwest (DCA to ATL), what lounges would i have access to without having to go back and forth through security?

thanks!
cb

You would be able to access the UC, but it is a longish walk which makes it not likely worth it unless you are really stuck for some reason.

None.

Southwest flies out of Terminal A (gates 1-9) at DCA, which does not have a lounge of any kind. To access the rest of the airport, you must go through security again.

http://www.flyreagan.com/dca/airline-lounges

Correct, all of the clubs are airside so you will have to go through security at each respective terminal.

In a few years the redesign of the terminal will be completed and pax will only have to clear one screening checkpoint before having access to all terminals.

Which I find it completely pointless. They are not gaining anything by moving security check points next to the subway entrance.

The retail inside of the public side of the terminal will suffer by not letting unticketed people to the terminal.

MWAA should invest that money in IAD's terminal C/D, which is disgrace to the entire country.

I mostly agree with you, although there will be benefits of not maintaining 4 or 5 checkpoints (with the new terminal) and hopefully there really will be "some" dining/retail options landside (of course it wont be nearly enough). At the same time, the amount of retail that is non-traveler is pretty small (about 10%).

Agreed about Dulles - but that kind of improvement will add a tremendous amount to the enplanement costs and Dulles is really struggling and fighting to get/keep those costs down. So I don't expect much to happen in that regard anytime soon.

They are gaining capacity. The existing checkpoints cannot expand. Because each one only accesses one pier, they also cannot balance loads if there's a backup at one pier but no line at another. With DCA's passenger numbers rising, they need the additional capacity.

The other big reason AA is willing to foot the bill for this via higher fees they'll pay is because they'll now have their operation spread over three piers (two existing and one new pier), and the existing shuttle bus transfer operation is wholly inadequate for that.

MWAA also expects the retail, once behind security, to do much better. I don't think they get much business from unticketed passengers as it is. I do expect the retail mix will change a bit, with sit down restaurants behind security, there will be a chance for new opportunities.

Plus, the space now occupied by the security checkpoints will be a good opportunity for retail.

Not quite. The OP's conundrum remains, since Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, etc. remain marooned on the banjo (Concourse A).

The C piers gets seriously crowded between banks of AA flights. Better to allow those waiting for flights to spill out into the underused National Hall, which also improves the retail choices for connecting pax.

I'm the only guy I know who's ever used National Hall as a shopping destination, back when my commute took me past the airport on the Mount Vernon Trail. I remember trying to return something to the Oakley stand there; I was instructed to do as everyone else does and take the Metro two stops up to Pentagon City.

Already, MWAA is diverting some money from DCA to IAD -- to say that it should divert even more is

it is, true, but the amount is $30mil, a literal drop in the bucket that does not significantly change enplanement costs.