DCA - Enough Time to Make Flight?
 

Hi. It's been 5 years since I moved from DC and 2 years since I finally cleared out my storage unit there, so I'm no longer familiar with how much time I should give myself at the local airports.

I'm planning to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at Georgetown University on Sunday 02 December 2007. The test starts at 1PM and ends promptly at 4PM. My preferred return flight to Tampa (for convenience and cost) is a 7:20PM non-stop US Airways flight from DCA. I figure that getting back to my Georgetown Hotel to pick up luggage and take a cab would get me to DCA between 5:15-5:30PM. In your recent experience is this going to be enough time to check-in and get through security on a Sunday evening?

There are two other options: an 8PM US Airways flight from DCA that connects in Charlotte and a 9:32PM United flight from IAD; both arrive in Tampa around 11:30PM. Of these two, I prefer the latter despite having to get out to Dulles (I checked the wmta site and for the date and they have a bus 5A scheduled to leave from Rossylin Metro Station at 5:51PM arriving at IAD at 6:35)

Thanks for your help.

soliel, the biggest lines I've ever encountered at airports were at Dulles Airport on Sunday evenings.

If you can avoid IAD, I would.

I would say that on a Sunday if you get to National two hours ahead of flight time you shouldn't have any trouble at all.

I assume you are planning to take a taxi from your Georgetwon hotel directly to the airport

Oops..sorry, I see that you ARE planning to cab it.

Don't bother with Dulles.

Any way you could take your suitcase to the test site? Then you could cab to Metro and Metro to DCA, getting there plenty early.

Definitely go with DCA - you'll have plenty of time.

Go Travel, thanks for the heads up about Dulles. I will avoid it.

Dukey and DoctorCarrie, just what I wanted to hear! I really want to take the earlier flight and I might be able to get to the airport by 5PM.

Van Ness, that is good idea. I'm going to check on it. BTW, Van Ness was my metro stop.

Ashley

Most airlines have online check-in 24 hours prior to departure. Do it.