NW in DC - IAD or DCA? Any Suggestions?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ontario, CAN
Posts: 5,813
NW in DC - IAD or DCA? Any Suggestions?
Hi All-
Heading to DC in a few months.
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday.
- Easier access to rental cars?
- shorter Baggage arrival time?
- Shorter security lines when departing?
- Better u/g potential?
- Better NW World club?
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC)
Thanks.
Heading to DC in a few months.
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday.
- Easier access to rental cars?
- shorter Baggage arrival time?
- Shorter security lines when departing?
- Better u/g potential?
- Better NW World club?
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC)
Thanks.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
Programs: Delta (nee NW), Hilton Diamond. IHG (PT)
Posts: 4,823
Hi All-
Heading to DC in a few months.
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday.
- Easier access to rental cars?
- shorter Baggage arrival time?
- Shorter security lines when departing?
- Better u/g potential?
- Better NW World club?
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC)
Thanks.
Heading to DC in a few months.
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday.
- Easier access to rental cars?
- shorter Baggage arrival time?
- Shorter security lines when departing?
- Better u/g potential?
- Better NW World club?
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC)
Thanks.
When we lived there, we preferred BWI..... but that was before WN came in there and in fact the DC9's were operated by Republic.
Bob H
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Gold, MR Lifetime Gold
Posts: 6,989
It depends where exactly you are going. I always fly into DCA because it is better located for DC. (IAD is far away.) Also, DCA looks crappy but it's fast (security lines are very quick, luggage comes out quickly). IAD is bigger and I find it more of a mess. (You have int'l pax as well, people with more luggage, etc.) I don't have a good enough basis for comparing UG's.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ontario, CAN
Posts: 5,813
It's actually a golfing weekend. It's late March - I'm hoping the weather is warm enough to play?
We'll be driving all over. We might have to head further south if it's colder than usual I guess.
Just wondered which DC airport was more "seamless" for NW travellers really.
** Just saw that our IAD option is on the CRJ . . . Nuff said, DCA it is ** Thanks all
Last edited by CloudsBelow; Dec 28, 2007 at 10:06 am
#5
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,256
Like others said, it depends on your final destination. Keep in mind that DCA and IAD are separated by 29 miles of pure traffic hell.
If you have plans to be in Virginia outside of the Alexandria/Arlington area, pick IAD. If you plan to be in the city of DC, go with DCA.
All things being equal and trying to answer your question, DCA is better for "gate to rental car" time. IAD B Terminal is better for food/shopping options or if you happen to be stuck for a few hours.
I have no experience with upgrades via DCA but this NW Gold has been upgraded on the IAD-DTW and IAD-MSP flights I take 100% of the time.
March is NOT an ideal month for golfing in northern Virginia unless you like occasional snow squalls, wind and heavy rain.
If you have plans to be in Virginia outside of the Alexandria/Arlington area, pick IAD. If you plan to be in the city of DC, go with DCA.
All things being equal and trying to answer your question, DCA is better for "gate to rental car" time. IAD B Terminal is better for food/shopping options or if you happen to be stuck for a few hours.
I have no experience with upgrades via DCA but this NW Gold has been upgraded on the IAD-DTW and IAD-MSP flights I take 100% of the time.
March is NOT an ideal month for golfing in northern Virginia unless you like occasional snow squalls, wind and heavy rain.
Last edited by MileageAddict; Dec 28, 2007 at 10:37 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL (ex-NW) Plat pining for self-serve WC's and real cheese
Posts: 715
It depends where exactly you are going. I always fly into DCA because it is better located for DC. (IAD is far away.) Also, DCA looks crappy but it's fast (security lines are very quick, luggage comes out quickly). IAD is bigger and I find it more of a mess. (You have int'l pax as well, people with more luggage, etc.) I don't have a good enough basis for comparing UG's.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: BDL
Programs: NWA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, SPG, YX, AA
Posts: 5,351
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday. Traffic at these times will be manageable for either airport: Tie
- Easier access to rental cars? DCA hands down
- shorter Baggage arrival time? Both are bad. I'd suggest renting clubs
- Shorter security lines when departing? DCA hands down
- Better u/g potential? Tied, both are good
- Better NW World club? IAD hands down
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC) DCA has better views on your flight approach, if coming from the North you follow the Potomac River and can clearly see the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, etc.
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday. Traffic at these times will be manageable for either airport: Tie
- Easier access to rental cars? DCA hands down
- shorter Baggage arrival time? Both are bad. I'd suggest renting clubs
- Shorter security lines when departing? DCA hands down
- Better u/g potential? Tied, both are good
- Better NW World club? IAD hands down
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC) DCA has better views on your flight approach, if coming from the North you follow the Potomac River and can clearly see the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, etc.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Upper midwest
Programs: Delta Pb Medallion
Posts: 608
Um... yes. Just came in on the 25th to DCA. Slow travel day, right? It was over 20 minutes from deplaning before the carousel even started. And it was like a cruel joke too, because after finally seeing the thing start up after 20 minutes, it then just ran another 5-10 minutes before a single bag came up. I also had priority tagged luggage, and I stopped counting after the 40th or so bag came up and it was not mine.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,713
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Hi All-
Heading to DC in a few months.
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday.
- Easier access to rental cars?
- shorter Baggage arrival time?
- Shorter security lines when departing?
- Better u/g potential?
- Better NW World club?
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC)
Thanks.
Heading to DC in a few months.
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday.
- Easier access to rental cars?
- shorter Baggage arrival time?
- Shorter security lines when departing?
- Better u/g potential?
- Better NW World club?
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC)
Thanks.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Permission to disagree. DC-Dulles traffic can be a ..... in the afternoon, any day. Remember IAD is really busy in the 4-7 period, when the Europe flights are leaving. From DC -- and again it depends where you plan to be -- DCA is a heavenly 15 minutes away.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: NFY, AA EXP, Marriott TE
Posts: 515
Price is same for IAD / DCA - Does the board have a preference?
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday. Traffic at these times will be manageable for either airport: Tie
- Easier access to rental cars? DCA hands down
- shorter Baggage arrival time? Both are bad. I'd suggest renting clubs
- Shorter security lines when departing? DCA hands down
- Better u/g potential? Tied, both are good
- Better NW World club? IAD hands down
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC) DCA has better views on your flight approach, if coming from the North you follow the Potomac River and can clearly see the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, etc.
Arriving 10AM Friday, Departing 4PM on a Monday. Traffic at these times will be manageable for either airport: Tie
- Easier access to rental cars? DCA hands down
- shorter Baggage arrival time? Both are bad. I'd suggest renting clubs
- Shorter security lines when departing? DCA hands down
- Better u/g potential? Tied, both are good
- Better NW World club? IAD hands down
- Anything else worth considering. (I've never been to DC) DCA has better views on your flight approach, if coming from the North you follow the Potomac River and can clearly see the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, etc.
All the best, James
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL (ex-NW) Plat pining for self-serve WC's and real cheese
Posts: 715
Um... yes. Just came in on the 25th to DCA. Slow travel day, right? It was over 20 minutes from deplaning before the carousel even started. And it was like a cruel joke too, because after finally seeing the thing start up after 20 minutes, it then just ran another 5-10 minutes before a single bag came up. I also had priority tagged luggage, and I stopped counting after the 40th or so bag came up and it was not mine.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: (formerly) Northwest, Continental, Delta, American, United, ANA
Posts: 118
Unless I'm actually doing business in Herndon or McLean, I go DCA every time. The baggage waits can be counter-intuitively long, but that's the only downside. I've flown in/out of both, and DCA's much more convenient.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: FNT, Michigan
Programs: DL DM (PMNW), occasional AMTK, National Exec Elite and IHG Spire
Posts: 751
- Better u/g potential? Tied, both are good
Then again, with little over an hour enroute, I would pick airport location and convenience over a possible elite UG any day.
Last edited by dmitzel; Dec 29, 2007 at 4:38 pm Reason: Corrected OP's status