When to arrive at BWI for early morning flight?
Jul 19, 2018, 7:30 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,357
Flying on UA 3573 out of BWI on Thursday morning. departure time is 5:30am, and as it's an ERJ-170 I would assume boarding will start at 5:05am
The first light rail of the day arrives at BWI at 4:50am, and I'm wondering if that's pushing it a little tight to get through security and to the gate. I do have TSA pre.
Anyone familiar with how busy BWI is first thing?
The first light rail of the day arrives at BWI at 4:50am, and I'm wondering if that's pushing it a little tight to get through security and to the gate. I do have TSA pre.
Anyone familiar with how busy BWI is first thing?
Jul 19, 2018, 7:57 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
Last month, I got off an Amtrak train at around 3:45pm, arrived at BWI airport before 4pm via the shuttle bus, stopped by the AC counter to pick up boarding passes*, and got to the gate at around 4:15 for the 5:10pm flight to YYZ on AC (boarding time was around 4:40pm).
* I wanted BPs on card stock paper since I was connecting onto the 2nd season inaugural flight from YYZ to KEF. Of course, weather disruption meant I never left BWI (flight to YYZ got cancelled). I called AC and cancelled my entire itinerary, got a last minute hotel room and cried my eyes out
Traveled back on Amtrak the next day with nothing to show for, other than wasted $ 
Jul 19, 2018, 8:14 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
BWI is the airport of choice in the DC area for inexperienced travelers or those needing extra assistance. Because of this, TSA checks are slow, and there always seem to be individuals with special needs or priorities cutting into TSA Pre lines -- so they are no bed of roses either. Never count on BWI TSA clearance taking less than 15-20 minutes, and it could easily be longer.
Jul 19, 2018, 8:57 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
BWI is the airport of choice in the DC area for inexperienced travelers or those needing extra assistance. Because of this, TSA checks are slow, and there always seem to be individuals with special needs or priorities cutting into TSA Pre lines -- so they are no bed of roses either. Never count on BWI TSA clearance taking less than 15-20 minutes, and it could easily be longer.
25.12 million vs. 22.7 million.
There are plenty of inexperienced passengers everywhere...is there any reason to believe BWI has more than IAD/DCA?
Jul 19, 2018, 9:24 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
BWI has far more Loco flights than DCA or IAD. It is WN's biggest hub, is also heavy with Spirit, Allegiant, etc. They don't attract the frequent flyer. I fly from these three airports dozens of times a year, so know what to expect at each.
Jul 20, 2018, 4:27 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Baltimore, MD (BWI/IAD)
Programs: United Mileage Plus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 347
Surely. iFly shows an ~11-20 minute wait at around that time. If you mean the passport check at the ticket counter, you can do that in the app. If you mean the passport check for the Toronto leg, they will do that at EWR.
Aug 14, 2018, 5:51 pm
#23
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
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BWI is the airport that convinced me to buy Clear. I go to the Washington area for work a lot and BWI has some of the longest PreCheck lines I've experienced. If you're going often, Clear is absolutely worth it because minus the checkpoints, BWI is very user friendly.
Aug 14, 2018, 6:14 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
I was at BWI 8/8 and noticed a shuttle bus marked LIGHT RAIL. Apparently recent heavy rains damaged the tracks and it is not running all the way to the terminal, hence the bus link. I would check before making any plans.
Aug 14, 2018, 6:16 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335