How early to get to Dulles Friday evening for an international flight?

[Anonymous]

i am flying Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca on Friday at 9:45 pm. What is the latest I should arrive at the airport? I am a frequent traveler and have TSA pre... I consistently get to Dulles 90 minutes before domestic flights so 2.5 hours feels right for international. That said, I don't do a lot of international travel and I'll check a bag (which I don't usually do). So I am trying to gauge if i should aim for 3 hours ahead or if arriving no later than 7:15 would be ok. What is the international area of Dulles like on a Friday around 7 pm?

(I acknowledge things may be a cluster because of potential TSA and ATC issues... how should that factor in?)

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

If it were me, I would plan for 7:30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it were me, I would plan for 7:30.

Agreed- it's an optimal time to arrive, the big wave of Europe departures go between 5-7 PM, so after 7 PM things slow down a lot. We had a 9:20 PM departure this summer, arrived at 7 PM and spent an hour in the lounge (planned to eat dinner) and got to the gate for boarding just under an hour before departure.

If stuff happens around TSA and ATC it will delay everything, so you would probably know about it in advance, or every flight will be delayed. Definitely track the inbound plane to be sure it's on time.

[Anonymous]

I've always arrived 2 hrs ahead of the flight time and never had a problem.

[Anonymous]

I usually do 2 hours but I guess I could see adding 15 minutes because some of these smaller carriers can have long lines for checkin.

[Anonymous]

Royal Air Maroc does not participate in TSA pre-check, so maybe add a little more time.

[Anonymous]

2 to 2.5 hours is fine.

[Anonymous]

Are you planning to park at the airport? If so, plan in time to find a parking space especially if the lots are full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Royal Air Maroc does not participate in TSA pre-check, so maybe add a little more time.

Ah that's a good call, almost all airlines are in Precheck now, but not all! But that late at Dulles in my experience the lines are much better, even the regular line. Extra 10 minutes is all you need.

[Anonymous]

I never get to Dulles more than 1:45 before an international flight... usually I'm parking 90 minutes before departure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never get to Dulles more than 1:45 before an international flight... usually I'm parking 90 minutes before departure.

Brave.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if you book a Royal Air Maroc flight through American Airlines (eg ticketed through American) if TSA Pre would apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if you book a Royal Air Maroc flight through American Airlines (eg ticketed through American) if TSA Pre would apply?

No because you have to check-in through Royal Air Maroc. Ticketing airline doesn't transmit passenger data to TSA/CBP, operating airline does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am flying Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca on Friday at 9:45 pm. What is the latest I should arrive at the airport? I am a frequent traveler and have TSA pre... I consistently get to Dulles 90 minutes before domestic flights so 2.5 hours feels right for international. That said, I don't do a lot of international travel and I'll check a bag (which I don't usually do). So I am trying to gauge if i should aim for 3 hours ahead or if arriving no later than 7:15 would be ok. What is the international area of Dulles like on a Friday around 7 pm?

(I acknowledge things may be a cluster because of potential TSA and ATC issues... how should that factor in?)

Thanks in advance.

Good Luck.

Would suggest you rethink checking a bag. They're pretty bad.