Bad experiences at National Airport
 

I've had a terrible time with airport security every time I fly at Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C. It's not that security checks, but the long lines and rude screeners. I travel a lot and this doesn't happen to me at any other airport. The whole check-in process is chaos. I've told friends about the incompetence and long waits at National, but none of them have had any bad experiences to report. I was wondering if any of you had problems at National. Is it the airport or me that?s the problem?

Thanks,

Tom

Tom,
I've flown out of National probably 3 times in the past 3 years- only time I had trouble was in October. The security line was horrendous. It was a Friday around 7 a.m., lines were backed up quite a ways.
Jan

I think it must vary by terminal. Flying Northwest out of National has presented no particular issue for me this year.

You might consider sending a letter of complaint to the airport security office and to the TSA--you should be able to find both if you Google the airport name and "TSA". I'm not suggesting that'll fix the problem! But I'm always hopeful that letters like that get filed and reviewed periodically, and if there are enough of them, someone may be called to account. (In general, I've been surprised at, a)how quickly security lines move at most major airports, and b)how utterly useless and unprofessional the non-TSA screeners are.)

I fly out of National all the time and have never had a problem.

We just returned from Washington DC and flew Continental Airlines from Reagan National. Fortunately didn't have any problems, but our flight was at 2pm on a Monday afternoon, so it was not as badly crowded.

Never had a problem at National. I use all three in DC area and DCA is usually the best in terms of shortest lines and check-in issues.

As for the TSA, it's hit or miss where ever I go. But I hit the double whammy on a business trip to Orlando last Feb. -- horrendous lines and power-tripping, trailer trash TSAs.

Maybe you are also not use to the DC way of doing things. Service in DC is appallingly bad, so maybe the airport just doesn't seem any different from my everyday life. I've actually commented how efficient and easy the airport is to use and how quick you get thyrough security.

Mike, too bad about that overall negative attitude about DC. Hardly qualifies you to render an objective opinion about DCA. Suggest from now on you limit your trips in and out of BWI and taxi south. See how you like 95, 495 and the parkway. Have fun.

I fly out of DCA at least twice a month, and have never had a problem. In fact, I find it the easiest of all airports to deal with. But there's a different set of workers at each of the three groupings of gates. I use the United or Delta gates. The other one I've never tried.

I fly often, and I've actually had the best experience of any airport at National in the past year. This includes Heathrow, Gatwick, Belfast, Newark, Rome (FCO), Paris (CDG), Dublin, BWI, and Amsterdam. Security lines were the shortest at National, and they also had the most officers working.

Supposem it depends on what you think of as "bad." Flew out of DCA in October on USAirways and the line to get through security was backed up half way down the main "hall." But USAirways was doing an excellent job of moving passengers whose flight times were approaching to the front of the line. Made our flight with plenty of time to spare and never did have to be moved to the front.

As always, get there early anticipating any "problems" rather than being surprised by them due to a last-minute arrival.

I have flown out of National about 10 times in the last 6 months, it has always been very easy. I always get there early in anticipation of long lines but have never had a problem. We have an apartment about 1-2 miles away from the terminal, once in July the baggage check-in was so effortless and the security line was so short that I actually went home for about 45 minutes and then went back for my flight.

OK, I take back my glowing report of DCA. My husband flew outta there Tuesday AM and said it was hellish; he almost missed his flight.

Flew the 5:30 p.m.Delta shuttle to NY - LGA on Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Got there for the 6:30 but was so early with no problems, I caught the 5:30. No problems. Security line had a director checking tickets and directing people to 3 different check points. It worked. Hassle more taking off shoes, coats, purse, etc. into bins to go through the metal detector.