recent experience at Dulles for 9 pm international flight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 hours for international. I just flew in and out of Dulles internationally and I needed the 3 hours. Watch out for customs on the way back too - took almost 2 hours!

You needed 3 hours for departing Dulles? Why?

Have you travelled internationally? 3 hours before is the recommended time. Incidentally, it also ensures that your baggage is loaded on the plane before the baggage area is full. The later you came and check in your baggage the more the chance that they did not have space for your baggage.

[Anonymous]

Took the 9:10pm AF flight to Paris in May. Dulles was a breeze at that time. We arrived at 7:45pm and still had a few minutes in the lounge.

[Anonymous]

I agree that 3 hours is overkill (just flew out of Dulles on an 8:30 flight, albeit a domestic one). Also, everything is closed at that hour (staffing issues) so you’re not going to be able to relax at a bar or restaurant if you get there super early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 hours for international. I just flew in and out of Dulles internationally and I needed the 3 hours. Watch out for customs on the way back too - took almost 2 hours!

You needed 3 hours for departing Dulles? Why?

Have you travelled internationally? 3 hours before is the recommended time. Incidentally, it also ensures that your baggage is loaded on the plane before the baggage area is full. The later you came and check in your baggage the more the chance that they did not have space for your baggage.

Haha, I have traveled internationally a ton and don't understand anything about this comment. They don't just fill the plane with the first X number of bags that get there and then the plane is full - they tell you 3 hours to make sure you have time to get through security, bags can move through the airport to your plane, and you yourself can get through the terminal to the gate. They aren't going to run out of space on the plane for your luggage - they'll just run out of time to get it on the plane. 3 hours is way, way overkill. Departing on an International flight from the US is practically the same in every way as departing on a domestic flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that 3 hours is overkill (just flew out of Dulles on an 8:30 flight, albeit a domestic one). Also, everything is closed at that hour (staffing issues) so you’re not going to be able to relax at a bar or restaurant if you get there super early.

I had a 9 pm domestic flight out of Dulles last night, got there at 7 and had time for a sit down meal at a restaurant near my gate from 7:30-8:15 and still had to stand around near the gate half an hour until they started boarding.

[Anonymous]

Came 3 hours early, would have been fine with 2.

[Anonymous]

honestly, you never know. and the length of lines can change real fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 hours for international. I just flew in and out of Dulles internationally and I needed the 3 hours. Watch out for customs on the way back too - took almost 2 hours!

You needed 3 hours for departing Dulles? Why?

Have you travelled internationally? 3 hours before is the recommended time. Incidentally, it also ensures that your baggage is loaded on the plane before the baggage area is full. The later you came and check in your baggage the more the chance that they did not have space for your baggage.

I have traveled internationally hundreds of times. Two hours has always been fine, even this summer.

And whilst I enjoyed your description of the baggage process, I have to add a caveat that it is totally bonkers. You really imagine that the baggae area gets full so they just leave the rest of the bags behind?