Flight to Canada from Dulles Tuesday morning -- airport timing?

[Anonymous]

I have a flight to Montreal early Tuesday morning -- it leaves Dulles around 6:30 a.m. What time would you arrive at IAD, given all the issues with air travel lately and the fact that it's an international flight?

[Anonymous]

Assuming you can check-in online, you won't really need any extra time for this kind of international flight. Gate agent needs an extra 5 seconds to check passport, that's the only difference. Not one of the big planes which start boarding an hour before departure.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP, that’s what I was hoping to hear. I mean, it’s technically international, but not really international (sorry, Canada).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP, that’s what I was hoping to hear. I mean, it’s technically international, but not really international (sorry, Canada).

It’s the same as flying from the US to any other country.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who thinks extra time for international flights is sort of a crock

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who thinks extra time for international flights is sort of a crock

Departing from IAD, it makes sense if you're fllying a foreign airline. For example, ANA and SAS each operate one flight per day. They use outsourced ground staff. Those staff first man the check-in desks, then at a certain time before departure, they shut the check-in desk and head to the gate and do their tasks there. So if you miss the check-in window, tough luck.

Different story if you're flying United, since their check-in desks are open all the time due to so many flights, and they don't use the same staff for check-in as gate agents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who thinks extra time for international flights is sort of a crock

Well if it's to Europe or South America or Asia, and on a widebody plane, those start boarding usually about an hour before departure time. So a solid 25-30 minutes before a standard 737 flight boards. But yes, especially with being able to check-in and confirm your passport info online, and being able to quickly drop bags, that extra time you needed 10 years ago really isn't very necessary now.

The funniest to me is when say someone has a domestic flight out of DCA going to Newark to connect to an international long haul flight from there, and they assume they need to be at DCA 2-3 hours before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you can check-in online, you won't really need any extra time for this kind of international flight. Gate agent needs an extra 5 seconds to check passport, that's the only difference. Not one of the big planes which start boarding an hour before departure.

I don't agree. Maybe it's "5 seconds" but you have to stand in the line at check-in and that's what takes the time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you can check-in online, you won't really need any extra time for this kind of international flight. Gate agent needs an extra 5 seconds to check passport, that's the only difference. Not one of the big planes which start boarding an hour before departure.

I don't agree. Maybe it's "5 seconds" but you have to stand in the line at check-in and that's what takes the time

I haven't stood in line at check-in for 10.years. For what reason?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a flight to Montreal early Tuesday morning -- it leaves Dulles around 6:30 a.m. What time would you arrive at IAD, given all the issues with air travel lately and the fact that it's an international flight?

OP, not to be combative, but are you sure you have the details right? There are no flights from Dulles scheduled to Montreal tomorrow until 9:30 AM, per Flightaware. There is a 6 AM departure on Air Canada, but that's from DCA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who thinks extra time for international flights is sort of a crock

Well if it's to Europe or South America or Asia, and on a widebody plane, those start boarding usually about an hour before departure time. So a solid 25-30 minutes before a standard 737 flight boards. But yes, especially with being able to check-in and confirm your passport info online, and being able to quickly drop bags, that extra time you needed 10 years ago really isn't very necessary now.

The funniest to me is when say someone has a domestic flight out of DCA going to Newark to connect to an international long haul flight from there, and they assume they need to be at DCA 2-3 hours before.

Well I guess you can board earlier in some cases if you so if you are in arush to get on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who thinks extra time for international flights is sort of a crock

Departing from IAD, it makes sense if you're fllying a foreign airline. For example, ANA and SAS each operate one flight per day. They use outsourced ground staff. Those staff first man the check-in desks, then at a certain time before departure, they shut the check-in desk and head to the gate and do their tasks there. So if you miss the check-in window, tough luck.

Different story if you're flying United, since their check-in desks are open all the time due to so many flights, and they don't use the same staff for check-in as gate agents.

But the gate agents aren't leaving more than an hour before the flight starts boarding

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing the flight to Montreal left from z gate and OP was carrying on. Very short walk from security and a regular boarding process since it was prob a CRJ. They check passports at the gate, they'll call your name and it does take 5 seconds.