Security Line wait time at IAD?
 

Can anyone tell me how early we should be there? We are flying from IAD to Rome on the 24th of Nov and have no clue how long the wait will be ( I am sure it will be bad since it is pre-thanksgiving). Our flight is at 10:35p.

Thanks,

D.

IAD is my home airport - although I've waited a max of 45 minutes during peak hours, in the late evening, the lines are sparse 5-10 minutes. Never flown during Thanksgiving but the lines look worst than they really are. Worst time would be around 4-5pm any given day because of the large transatlantic volume that go out during that time, so if you have a 10:35pm the lines will be light.

On the other hand...
 

For an International flight, you want to be at the airport early. Remember, there are a lot less options to re-book if you miss your flight. IMHO be at the airport with a least 1 1/2 hours to spare.

Your agent will recommend arriving to check in 2 hours before the flight leaves. That'll give you plenty of time to check in and do security and allow the duty free shop to relieve you of a few dollars.

Having flown out of IAD half a dozen times at 6.30pm and 9.30pm I would say you made the right choice ^

I've had to wait maximum of 3mins on the late departures whereas the 6.30pm flight (not doing that again!) was a joke. Longest security line I have seen in my short life, all security stations open and we were walking for about 90% of the time and it took approx 45mins to get through!

I agree with all of my fellow IAD'ers. You definitely want to avoid flights between 1600-1900. The airport is nothing short of neurotic. Early evening flights -- most are wide-bodies -- are leaving for Europe and the west coast. International flights from Europe either have just arrived or their passengers are finally clearing customs and making connections. Early morning flights from the west coast are arriving and people are connecting.

So, late morning/early afternoon or after 2100 is your best bet.

IAD Security Line
 

Also, consider that the line at these peak hours "snakes" its way back and forth in the terminal in an impromptu manner. Make sure you stand at the correct "end" of the line and not unintentionally jump the line. In case of the latter, one immediately catches a barrage of verbal abuse :confused: from fellow travelers who themselves are likewise stunned by the length of the line.

On the bright side: I have traveled through these "peak times", often for trans Atlantic flights leaving between 5 and 6pm, about 20 times in the last year. My wait has never been more than 40 minutes, even though it sure doesn't seem that way when you first stand in line :eek: !

^ I thought it was a one-off cockup of some sort when I turned up. I couldn't believe how long the line was. There were even people with balloons marking the turn points when the line left the regular rails and came towards the doors to the terminal

Although the IAD security line is long, it tends to move faster than you'd expect. I've never spent more than 20 minutes in it, though I tend to avoid the transatlantic peak hours in the early evening.

Is it just me or have security lines at DCA have become much worse lately (at least at the B pier)? I always used to breeze through the checkpoint there but now it's a mess.

4-6pm is a nightmare at IAD. I usually assume half an hour. Mostly though it looks like it could take longer, it's a source of stress for sure in starting out a trip. :(

I've hit longer security lines at DCA recently, so your experience matches mine. Not sure what the cause it. One benefit of the A concourse, anyway, is that I've never experienced more than a couple people in line ahead of me.