Connecting from VS international to UA domestic at IAD (separate tickets) ...
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 688
Connecting from VS international to UA domestic at IAD (separate tickets) ...
I am flying Virgin Atlantic LHR-IAD and then connecting to a (separately ticketed) UA flight from IAD-MCO. All going well, I have a 2h10 connection gap.
I realise that, as my trip is separately ticketed, I am in trouble if I miss my connecting flight due to Virgin Atlantic delay.
I've read a lot about the "midfield" facility at IAD. Can I use this or will I have to go to the "main terminal" to collect my bag and then re-check it?
Grateful for any advice / tips / hints for me to make this as smooth as possible. I do have Global Entry which I hope will help.
I realise that, as my trip is separately ticketed, I am in trouble if I miss my connecting flight due to Virgin Atlantic delay.
I've read a lot about the "midfield" facility at IAD. Can I use this or will I have to go to the "main terminal" to collect my bag and then re-check it?
Grateful for any advice / tips / hints for me to make this as smooth as possible. I do have Global Entry which I hope will help.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: UA MM, MB LifeTit
Posts: 1,830
It's the main terminal for you; any checked bag will be routed there and I don't think you will even have an option to go from A/B where VS gates are located to C/D where your UA flight will depart.
If you're checking a bag, you probably won't make it because you'll have to go through immigration, wait for your bag and then go through customs. After that, I don't know if you can check in your bag at the recheck desk or if you have to go upstairs to the UA desks. Then you go through security and take the Aerotrain to C or the people mover to D.
If you're checking a bag, you probably won't make it because you'll have to go through immigration, wait for your bag and then go through customs. After that, I don't know if you can check in your bag at the recheck desk or if you have to go upstairs to the UA desks. Then you go through security and take the Aerotrain to C or the people mover to D.
Last edited by EricH; Sep 25, 2018 at 8:53 am
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
UA's bag check-in deadline is T-45 for domestic. So, the real transfer time is 1:15 to get yourself from brakes locked on the inbound to the UA bag counter.
I would definitely not check luggage if you can avoid it.
Midfield is for UA arrivals.
I would definitely not check luggage if you can avoid it.
Midfield is for UA arrivals.
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 688
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
I hate to be a wet blanket, but I really doubt 2 hours is enough time to get from IAD-DCA, check in with enough time before cut off, and then go through security. Good luck!
#9
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#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
I think you’ll be fine
ive landed at iad many times and cleared immigration (with global entry), claimed luggage, and been out of customs and immigration within 40 minutes of pulling into concourse b/a. If you arrive on time or early you should be fine. Just get your bag and head straight to United to check in. Usually baggage delivery is pretty fast so I think you’ll be fine. Good luck!
#11
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
You will most likely not make what I suspect is an AA flight 2 hours later at DCA. This will leave you stuck at DCA overnight and having to purchase a walk-up fare for the next day.
If you no show for your UA flight, there is a decent chance that UA will rebook you onto the next morning's flight without making too much of a fuss. At worst, you are stuck buying a new ticket just as you would had you made the mad dash to DCA.
If you no show for your UA flight, there is a decent chance that UA will rebook you onto the next morning's flight without making too much of a fuss. At worst, you are stuck buying a new ticket just as you would had you made the mad dash to DCA.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 688
ive landed at iad many times and cleared immigration (with global entry), claimed luggage, and been out of customs and immigration within 40 minutes of pulling into concourse b/a. If you arrive on time or early you should be fine. Just get your bag and head straight to United to check in. Usually baggage delivery is pretty fast so I think you’ll be fine. Good luck!
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 466
Thank you! I will be arriving in business class so should be first off the plane, can run through to immigration global entry line and then be at the baggage carousel pretty quickly. It's just waiting for the bag that I am a little worried about - hopefully baggage delivery won't be delayed.
Unless things have changed recently (lived in DC until a year ago and have been back a few times since but last trip was March).
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 688
First off the plane is, sadly, not often all that helpful at IAD. Everyone has to get onto the "Moving Lounges" and, unless you are lucky and just catch one still loading from a previous flight, you are generally waiting for the lounge to fill (i.e. waiting for the passengers getting off the plane behind you).
Unless things have changed recently (lived in DC until a year ago and have been back a few times since but last trip was March).
Unless things have changed recently (lived in DC until a year ago and have been back a few times since but last trip was March).
I do have an option of changing my reward flight to IAD to a flight to BOS with a 4 hour connecting time for a MCO flight. But I guess I'd lose out on getting a refund on my UA IAD-MCO flight as the schedule change which reduced my connecting time was only 30 mins earlier.
Question: when I clear customs/immigration and collect my baggage from my Virgin Atlantic flight will I need to change terminal to get to the United Airlines check-in desks for my flight to MCO? Is it a train ride or walk?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 26, 2018 at 6:47 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
The best I have done wheels-down to curb has been about 40-45 minutes - without a bag. The best I have done curb to C/D gate is about 20 minutes. So you have maybe 40 minutes of margin to collect your bag, stand in lines, and deal with any delays. This is not impossible, but is less margin than I would like.