Duke787

Just make sure you factor in the cost of taking a cab from IAD ---> Union Station which will likely be at least $65-70 (Uber is fixed at $80 and UberX is $65 though getting UberX from IAD can be difficult) though the cabs from Dulles will take credit cards so taking Uber isn't a requirement if you don't have cash.

That being said timing-wise you should have no problem. If you get in a cab at let's say 1:45am to be safe you'll be at Union Station by 2:45am at the latest (probably much sooner since no traffic that hour but to be safe let's call it 2:45am at the latest) and mentioned by Tblack15 you can take the 315am NE Regional and then ZFV to PHL via the airport line. The NE Regional should take ~2 hours to get to PHL/ZFV.

vandrei

Or, a lot less expensive than a taxi: catch the 5A Express Metro bus from IAD to Rosslyn. From there, take a Blue or Orange Line train to Metro Center and transfer to the Red Line, which stops at Union Station.

discoverCSG

August 13 is a Wednesday. MetroRail shuts down at midnight.

kmfdm91

And perhaps for a much more comfortable and cheaper option (but with some issue) is just to simply rent a car one-way from IAD to PHL.

However, it would mean that you have to be coherent at 01h45, but the drive from the Sticks of Virginia to Philadelphia isn't bad and at that hour naturally there shouldn't be any traffic at all. Plus, it would give you the option to get some food off the beaten track and keep your bag(s) with you in the trunk!

I traditionally would always go the public transit route, but in Washington, the lack of good transport in the middle of the night (even on weekends) makes me suggest the following option. From DCA you would have better options, but of course the CM fare doesn't allow that...

-jeremy

dantorsiello

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Getting from IAD to Union wouldn't be a problem. I have a friend who lives in that area who owes me a couple of airport pick ups at this point, so he'd be on the hook for it.

Tblack15

Well then. Occam's razor it is. Good call. Take the earliest NE Regional you can, then get a Philly Cheesesteak for breakfast :-)

jfkeze

for a 1 AM pickup? hehe... get him something nice at duty free!!

getmyassoutofdebt

I just impulsively booked this flight for November 20-28. If anyone is willing to travel with me, let me know. So far I've just booked for myself.

Also, can anyone clarify for me whether or not COPA miles can still be redeemed on US Airways? A google search shows US still has a webpage outlining the redemption details but I'm thinking this is an error.

Spiff

US is now in Oneworld, so it is unlikely that a Star Alliance (CM) carrier's miles will be able to be used with them.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

discoverCSG

There's no such thing as COPA miles. COPA's FFP is United Mileage Plus.

pbd456

actually, i booked on the same date.
one plan that i am thinking is to pick up all guyana, suriname and french guiana in the same trip.

i will probably spend the first night in guyana, and head to suriname on Nov 22 (unless i can arrange a trip to the Fall on Nov 22)... as i dont need a visa for Suriname, and then head to French guiana (day tirp or not.. it depends.) and then back to georgetown to on Nov 27.

anyone has any suggestion to spend a week in those regions?

dantorsiello

All booked. Departing IAD on August 4 for the long layover in PTY. In Guyana from August 5 to 12, get into IAD at 1 am, taking the train up to ZFV, jumping on a 12:30 pm PHL-IAH-SAN returning on August 21.

margaritahh

Fare is dead. I should have booked when I first saw it.

pbd456

not dead. just saw it at copaair.com

Duke787

The reports of the death of this fare have been greatly exaggerated. It's still there and bookable via google.com/flights ---> the big O. Every single Monday - Friday in September, October, and November