What time to arrive at DCA prior to a domestic flight?

[Anonymous]

I have a domestic flight at 5am. Is it still necessary to be at DCA 2 hours prior (3am)?

[Anonymous]

how are you getting there? I’d be more concerned with getting an Uber to show up and building in time in case it doesn’t show than getting to the airport 2 hrs early.

Generally getting through security at DCA has been quite quick this past year even when I flew on Dec 24. Like 45 minutes from setting foot in the building to getting to my gate - including checking a bag.

if I had a 5am flight I’d probably be comfortable getting to the airport around 3:30-3:45.

[Anonymous]

No kids? 60 mins.

You need to be sure of your transport though. Pad your travel time.

[Anonymous]

Honestly I never feel it is necessary to get to DCA more than 90 minutes before my flight if I'm checked in online and not checking a bag.

That time of day you will absolutely fly through security. Sometimes I look at the airports departure times online to see how busy it will be but at 5am it's going to be super quiet.

I'd say you are golden if you get there at 3:30 and if you're running late for some reason and get there at 4 you will probably still be fine.

There also won't be any traffic that time of day so you will likely get there earlier than you even intend to.

[Anonymous]

Walking into the airport 60-75 minutes ahead of departure. But it's parking, getting from your parking spot to the terminal, driving there .. those are what all add-up.

[Anonymous]

I've never been to DCA more than 1 hour prior. But we have Clear and Precheck.

[Anonymous]

It depends on which part of DCA. The main terminal, you're fine to arrive 60 minutes. The far away terminal where Southwest flies from? I'd give it 90 minutes but they you won't have a seat to sit in if it takes less time. I hate that terminal with a burning passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been to DCA more than 1 hour prior. But we have Clear and Precheck.

This but we only have precheck. But to clarify, I mean walking through the door 60 minutes ahead, not parking the car. If you don’t need to check a bag and have precheck, 45 minutes is usually sufficient.

[Anonymous]

I always try to walk into the airport 60 min before a domestic flight if not checking bags. I have precheck but I don’t think it saves much time - I just hate taking off my shoes!

When I fly Southwest I uber directly to that terminal, which works out great (other than the lack of good food options).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on which part of DCA. The main terminal, you're fine to arrive 60 minutes. The far away terminal where Southwest flies from? I'd give it 90 minutes but they you won't have a seat to sit in if it takes less time. I hate that terminal with a burning passion.

What? It’s exactly the opposite. You need no time at all to fly out of Terminal 1.

[Anonymous]

30 minutes prior to boarding if no checked bags. I'd do 4am assuming a 4:30 boarding time.

[Anonymous]

If you're not checking bags, arriving an hour early is plenty of time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how are you getting there? I’d be more concerned with getting an Uber to show up and building in time in case it doesn’t show than getting to the airport 2 hrs early.

Generally getting through security at DCA has been quite quick this past year even when I flew on Dec 24. Like 45 minutes from setting foot in the building to getting to my gate - including checking a bag.

if I had a 5am flight I’d probably be comfortable getting to the airport around 3:30-3:45.

You can reserve and uber the day before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on which part of DCA. The main terminal, you're fine to arrive 60 minutes. The far away terminal where Southwest flies from? I'd give it 90 minutes but they you won't have a seat to sit in if it takes less time. I hate that terminal with a burning passion.

What? It’s exactly the opposite. You need no time at all to fly out of Terminal 1.

+1, security at Terminal 1 is always a breeze even when during busy times. I budget in an extra 10 minutes if I'm taking metro so that I can walk over but that's it. Also if you fly into that terminal with checked bags, you will get them so much faster because there are only two luggage claims and most of the flights are Southwest and they are efficient. In the main terminal they will change your luggage claim number 3x and it can take up to an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always try to walk into the airport 60 min before a domestic flight if not checking bags. I have precheck but I don’t think it saves much time - I just hate taking off my shoes!

When I fly Southwest I uber directly to that terminal, which works out great (other than the lack of good food options).

That is my goal too. I always park in the adjacent lot so realistically need to arrive 5-10 minutes before to get a parking spot and walk in. I don't mess around with parking - I'll drive directly up to level 4 or 5 where there are more open spots rather than drive up and down the aisles on levels 2 or 3 searching for the 6 available spots.

If I am checking bags I will add 15-20 minutes, 30 if I am checking skis.