BWI experiences?
 

I'll be flying out of BWI on a Tuesday morning around 9am. (9/16 to be
specific). I know from previous trips, that it will take me about 33 minutes to get there. If I leave by 6, is that enough time to get to the long term parking (used to
be sattelite parking), take the shuttle to the terminal, check in, do the TSA dance, and make the flight? I have e-tickets if that makes any difference. Additionally, I'll be travelling with a 3 1/2 year old child.

It should be more than enough time to take the shuttle from long-term parking and get through security, especially if you can use the kiosk vice checking in with a ticket agent. If you are not checking any bags, remember to print-out your BP from home, and at the airport you can go straight to security. Also, BWI has a frequent traveller line through security, so if you are PM, a CRC member, or flying F/C, you should have a much easier and shorter time of it.

Be careful. You don’t say what airline your on, but I know if your flying out of the “D” pier, which is FL, HP, CO, F9, YX, NW, US, and UA, you could be in for a long wait. Because of the construction that is going on at BWI, and WN’s grasp on the market, they have shoved all of the carriers into the D pier temporarily. Earlier this month it took me 30-45 minutes and that was in the afternoon, about 3:00 pm. Also, just as an FYI, so far as the “D” pier is concerned, there is no “elite” or first class security line, at least as of the beginning of this August. The rumor I heard is that CO and NW wanted to allow such a line, but for some reason US would not allow it. Does anyone else know the story here?
Two hours should be enough time. Good luck and happy traveling!

Not to scare you, but:

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BTW, Welcome to FT, unixgeek!!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by Billiken (edited 08-20-2003).]

My past few experiences flying out of BWI were all late afternoon flights on WN. The security line for Pier B was incredibly long each time, manned by "cream of the crop" TSA screeners with crappy attitudes.

Not knowing what it's like for your departure time, I would allow at least 1 hour for screening at Pier B.

BTW, welcome to FT! Your answers may not be what you wanted, but they're usually spot-on!

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Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Anyone know how are things at Pier C ? I have a 3 PM flight from there tomorrow, and I haven't been to BWI for over a year.

This airport has one of the worst security screening processes of anywhere I have seen (except the DL terminal at FLL).

If you are an elite/fc flyer, then you have a special line at the C concourse, but not the D concourse. The D concourse line can stretch all the way into the International Terminal at the far end of the airport.

The only mitigating circumstances in this hellish nightmare are:

1) being entertained by the looks of shock, astonishment and horror as the new passengers walk around each hallway corner trying to find the end of the security line

2) the surly 'line guards' who will walk the line about every 10 minutes and start screaming "6PM and earlier, can move to the express line NOW!", as they pull passengers out of the main line within 35 minutes of departure time. So even though the line looks bad, just cool your heals because eventually someone will pull you out to join the shorter express line.

I have found it easier to get there about 45-50 minutes before departure, check-in, then hang out of sight until roughly 35 minutes before my departure, then just join the shorter express line. Be careful about check-in times...if you are not elite/fc, or cant use the machines, you might find the check-in experience at some carriers there to be a nightmare in itself.

Good luck with your upcoming BWI experience!

Some BWI experiences last month. Monday afternoon 4pm - about 5-10 minutes through B concourse(WN) security.
Wednesday mid-morning - Arrive on a WN flight at 10-ish and hoping to get on a NW flight leaving some 50 minutes later. Get through D security with plenty of time to find that the NW flight was full so no chance of standby.

I think there is a lot of discussion on this subject on in the Washington Airport Forum, which is where this topic belongs..... or do all topics in the entire airport forum belong in travelbuzz?

I'm flying on Frontier. Looks like Pier D hell for me! Whee!

BWI used to by my favorite D.C. area airport, but due to recent experiences that has changed. I'm now a Regan National fan, but to address you're question I think you should have plenty of time. The long-term parking situation on my last trip there was a nightmare though. There was not enough shuttles running to accomodate the crowds and many people missed flights because of it. Obviously this is a two-way street in that yes BWI needed more shuttles on that day, but some people still refuse to allow themselves the two hours that's recommended for checking in and going through security. It looks like you're giving yourself about 2.5 hours of airport time, thus you should be fine. If it took more time than that I would give up flying.

Be careful with your choice of language. The MP folks at UA may think you're lifting their luggage tag motto!

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