Direct flight DCA - SFO or OAK?
 

Hi-

Not quite sure if this is the most appropriate forum for this question, but do any airlines run a direct flight from Washington Reagan (DCA) to either of the San Francisco airports? It looks like I may be doing that flight quite a bit in the near future, and am trying to figure out the best way...

Thanks!

Many airlines run direct flights. Are you inquiring about direct or non-stop?

I don't believe there are any non-stops to the bay area from DCA. However, if non-stop is a must, then depart from IAD to SFO or OAK. Its only a short cab ride from DC or the East Falls Church Metro (West Falls Church will cause you to back track a bit). The fares for non-stop generally cost more!

Either way Kayak.com or expedia.com are good starting points.

DCA has had a perimeter rule for over 40 years restricting flights from there to 1,250 miles or less (three US airports have rules like that) . There are about a dozen exemptions to it, but none to SFO or Oakland, so there can be no non stop flights between those points. There can be direct flights, where there is a stop on the way but that's probably not what you are asking.

Great answer Mike - thanks!

congress is again pushing to expand the dca flights to the west coast. i am amazed that with both boxer and pelosi the flight was not instituted. pelosi had air forse private flights while majority leader. i presume that terminated.

if you are flying biz class, UA has some planes with intl biz class seatng.

Sixteen additional slots were added to DCA today by the Senate in a compromise to get a funding bill to move along, but as of yet they have not said what those routes will be or who will get them. So there is still hope for Oakland or SFO.

That'd sure be nice. I'd much prefer a 15-minute Metro ride instead of a 45-minute cab ride. I wonder if Virgin America would go for any of these slots.

Senate approval doesn't guarantee these flights will fly. Reconciliation with the House version of the bill needs to be done, then it needs a Presidential signature.

Edited to add: Being discussed here.

Ditch the stupid perimeter rule!
 

Everyone gets all excited when they think their home airport/fav destination might get one of the next DCA perimeter slot exemptions. Why can't we just eliminate this 1960's relic and let airlines fly where we (paying customers) want? No one in DC or Alexandria or Arlington will know that the A320 flying overhead is going to SFO (and not LGA or ORD or wherever...)