Dulles - Need advice
 

Flying out of Dulles this Monday at 6:45PM - Air France.

I had planned on showing up 2 hours early. But I recently heard some horror stores about the security lines at Dulles. Do I need to show up early? I can NOT missing this flight.

I meant to say...

"Do I need to show up 3 hours early?"

Yes. Otherwise you will freak out when you see the lines to get thru security.

Security is only part of the problem. The other is the long lines to check in at this airport. I would be more worried about that. If you can check in online, do so.

Despite the long security lines, they do move pretty fast. The longest it would take to get through security would probably be about 1/2 hour.

Is checking in on-line (which I can and will do) helpful even when one has bags to check???

Sorry, I guess I didn't notice that you mentioned Air France. I assume you are traveling internationally. I'm not sure whether you can check in online for international flights on Air France out of Dulles. You might want to double check with Air France. If you can't, you will have to deal with both check in and security which will take longer. If you can, it will speed up the process and two hours should be more than enough time to make your flight

From AF's USA website, they now allow online check-in from the US, except for ATL, EWR, DTW, CVG. From 24 hours on.

I highly suggest you utilize the feature.

OK - thanks for the input.

Since you are flying at dinnertime, be aware that the food at Dulles is limited to fast food. I posted question here regarding food at Dulles when I found myself with a 3 hour layover at Dulles - responses were not encouraging. I know they will feed you on flight, but don't plan on anything decent to eat at Dulles.

You are of course flying out on Memorial day, when everyone else who came in the for the weekend is leaving. AS previously stated, on a "normal" day at Dulles the security lines are long and snaking around but they move fast. The "start" of the line can be chaotic as it is right next to an interferes in location w/some check-in counters. But usually once you figure out where to get in line and make sure you are not really in the check in lines, it moves pretty fast. However, on Memorial day evening it is very likley going to be a madhouse and not a normal day. Plus you then need to catch the little people-mover shuttle from the main terminal to your departure terminal, and it can be a hike to the gate from the people-mover docking area. On Memorial day evening I'd get there at least 2 1/2 hrs early, even if I checked in online. I give myself 2 hrs on a normal day there when I check in online, and I fly out of there a lot on Monday evenings.

There is a TGI Fridays right after you get through security. I am always too anxious to get on the people mover to stop there.

American Airlines departures are from Midfield Concourse D at IAD, according to the AA website. Concourse D also has a TGI Fridays.

Also, if you're parking and not being dropped off, keep in mind that most of Dulles' LT parking lots are kind of far from the terminal & you'll need to take a bus between the two. The last time I was there (and it's been a year or so), the bus service was kind of slow. Good luck!

Luckly - someone is dropping us off.

It took me about 50 minutes last Sunday morning to get from the United Easy Chicken kiosk on the lower level to a B gate. In the past I've been there in longer lines that moved faster. This time the line was split into three. I took the left one and that, I think, was a mistake. It led to two belt scanners but there was only one walkthrough people scanner. It was a mess.

I have no idea how long the coach- w/luggage check in line would take, but I will guess 40 minutes. So getting there two hours before means that you might not get to the gate until 30 min before departure. Which is ok, but would be after boarding had started. A flat tire, speeding ticket, bad accident on the access road dumps you onto the toll road, forgot your glasses, or whatever and you could miss your flight.