Transfer time at IAD, domestic to international
#1
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Location: Rochester, NY USA
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Transfer time at IAD, domestic to international
Is 1 hour, 20 minutes enough time to physically transfer from an incomingUnited Express to Aer Lingus on a weekend late afternoon? I'm concerned about the time it takes to leave the UA Express arrival gate and reach the Aer Lingus departure gate.
It will all be on one ticket with checked baggage. Incoming domestic flight scheduled to arrive at 3:58 and the departing EI flight departs at 5:20 on a Saturday or Sunday
It will all be on one ticket with checked baggage. Incoming domestic flight scheduled to arrive at 3:58 and the departing EI flight departs at 5:20 on a Saturday or Sunday
Last edited by Larrude; Jan 8, 20 at 11:04 pm Reason: to clarify question
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,865
There is nothing special for international departures from the US.
If you are wondering about delays and whether or not that is enough of a buffer, you should give more info about your incoming flight and other FTers can help answer that question
If you are wondering about delays and whether or not that is enough of a buffer, you should give more info about your incoming flight and other FTers can help answer that question
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
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#4
If it's on one ticket then you will have 1 hour to walk from terminal A to the end of terminal B. Same building, no need to take bus or train. Probably 10-15 minutes slow walk.
Small edit: If you will fly on CRJ-200/700 or ERJ-145 then you will arrive at terminal A and then walk to B.
If you arrive on EMB-175 then you will arrive in terminal D and you will have to take a bus to connect to terminal A.
Either way. You will have plenty of time.
Small edit: If you will fly on CRJ-200/700 or ERJ-145 then you will arrive at terminal A and then walk to B.
If you arrive on EMB-175 then you will arrive in terminal D and you will have to take a bus to connect to terminal A.
Either way. You will have plenty of time.
#5
Join Date: May 2012
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Its a wide and long shuttle van with seats on the side and holding bars in the middle similar to trams. you get on at the terminal (not on tarmac) then drive to other terminal then let out in the terminal on terminal level.
#6
Yes, its called People Mover
And they look like this:
On this picture you see besides BA A380 People Movers - If you arrive from terminal D (on the left upper corner) you will end up by BA gate. From there you will walk to the end of terminal B (pictured) where you will walk past Delta MD-88 at the gate. That's where Aer Lingus parks.

On this picture you see besides BA A380 People Movers - If you arrive from terminal D (on the left upper corner) you will end up by BA gate. From there you will walk to the end of terminal B (pictured) where you will walk past Delta MD-88 at the gate. That's where Aer Lingus parks.
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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The sole difference between domestic and international is the gate time for departures. For EI it is T-30. This gives you 35 minutes to make it from brakes locked on the inbound UA aircraft to the EI gate. Even if you arrive at as distant a gate as is possible on the C or D concourse, you can still make this connection, but do not dawdle along the way. You also won't be offloaded by EI prior to the flight closing unless the flight is oversold.
Nonetheless, I consider this to be a tight connection as it is largely dependent on on time performance. While you will be rebooked if you misconnect, the reroute may be quite inconvenient. Depending on what the earlier UA departure is, I would consider that even if it creates a longer than absolutely necessary connection.
Nonetheless, I consider this to be a tight connection as it is largely dependent on on time performance. While you will be rebooked if you misconnect, the reroute may be quite inconvenient. Depending on what the earlier UA departure is, I would consider that even if it creates a longer than absolutely necessary connection.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 3,843
#10
1:20hr is a tight connection at IAD? I don't think so.
But it looks like your home town airport is ROC. I was on this flight last month (my last flight of the year).
UA6272 ROC - IAD. We've departed few minutes late but arrived early. Air time was 48 minutes. It was on EMB-175 and I have deplaned in terminal D.
I still had plenty of time to send off my niece who was flying to MUC at 5:30pm from gate C8.
Don't worry. Almost 1.5 hour at IAD for connection is plenty.
If you miss this flight for some reason UA will rebook you on their 10pm flight.
But it looks like your home town airport is ROC. I was on this flight last month (my last flight of the year).
UA6272 ROC - IAD. We've departed few minutes late but arrived early. Air time was 48 minutes. It was on EMB-175 and I have deplaned in terminal D.
I still had plenty of time to send off my niece who was flying to MUC at 5:30pm from gate C8.
Don't worry. Almost 1.5 hour at IAD for connection is plenty.
If you miss this flight for some reason UA will rebook you on their 10pm flight.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
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You will have to clear immigration and customs on arrival then check-in, then go through security then get to your gate for the connecting flight. Immigration and customs times at IAD is frequently atrocious due to habitual (purposeful?) understaffing during rush hour.
If you are arriving during the morning rather than the afternoon rush, 4 hours ought to be enough but I would still build in more time.
#13
Join Date: May 2001
Location: IAD
Posts: 6,096
I would allow no less than 4 hours.
You will have to clear immigration and customs on arrival then check-in, then go through security then get to your gate for the connecting flight. Immigration and customs times at IAD is frequently atrocious due to habitual (purposeful?) understaffing during rush hour.
If you are arriving during the morning rather than the afternoon rush, 4 hours ought to be enough but I would still build in more time.
You will have to clear immigration and customs on arrival then check-in, then go through security then get to your gate for the connecting flight. Immigration and customs times at IAD is frequently atrocious due to habitual (purposeful?) understaffing during rush hour.
If you are arriving during the morning rather than the afternoon rush, 4 hours ought to be enough but I would still build in more time.
1 early QR DOH arrival or late one?
2 US citizen or not? If yes, global entry? TSA pre or Clear?
3 front of plane or back?
4 checked bag? How many and how fast moving?
5 how critical is the trip, if you miss the AC flight what bad things happen
Air Canada departs from the Z gates which are the closest possible gates to depart from after clearing customs and then security.
If the answers are 1 Late 2 non-us 3 back 4 checked bag then yeah you need 4 hours to be safe. If you get in early and have ways to move through the process quickly (including walking quickly) and no checked bag, then 2 hours is fine.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: YYZ
Posts: 36
I dont necessarily agree. There is more info required.
1 early QR DOH arrival or late one?
2 US citizen or not? If yes, global entry? TSA pre or Clear?
3 front of plane or back?
4 checked bag? How many and how fast moving?
5 how critical is the trip, if you miss the AC flight what bad things happen
Air Canada departs from the Z gates which are the closest possible gates to depart from after clearing customs and then security.
If the answers are 1 Late 2 non-us 3 back 4 checked bag then yeah you need 4 hours to be safe. If you get in early and have ways to move through the process quickly (including walking quickly) and no checked bag, then 2 hours is fine.
1 early QR DOH arrival or late one?
2 US citizen or not? If yes, global entry? TSA pre or Clear?
3 front of plane or back?
4 checked bag? How many and how fast moving?
5 how critical is the trip, if you miss the AC flight what bad things happen
Air Canada departs from the Z gates which are the closest possible gates to depart from after clearing customs and then security.
If the answers are 1 Late 2 non-us 3 back 4 checked bag then yeah you need 4 hours to be safe. If you get in early and have ways to move through the process quickly (including walking quickly) and no checked bag, then 2 hours is fine.
2. CAD citizen with nexus
3. front of plane
4 yes checked bags, will be with infant so definitely not that fast moving.
5. not critical, would just catch the next one.
#15
Join Date: May 2001
Location: IAD
Posts: 6,096
I assume you're on separate tickets and therefore have to get to the AC ticket counters. Sometimes IAD baggage is surprisingly fast, but often you're stuck waiting 30+ mins after getting through Global Entry.
With the infant, you will have to navigate: down a level from the mobile lounge bus to customs/immigration, up a level to check baggage with AC, down a level to go through security (unless Nexus qualifies for TSA Pre, this is not something I'm familiar with), up a level to get to the gate. If you are eligible to use Pre you still have to go down a 1/2 level to the gate.
The good news is the AC gates are the most convenient at the airport and the airport is much less busy that time of day.
I'd assume 2:30 total connection minimum to ensure you meet the bag check cut off with AC.