What time to get to the airport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you got your electronic travel authorization?

Yes, it said they were tied to the passport number and I didn't need to print anything. I will print the boarding passes and bring them. It sounds like 2 hours should be okay since we are not checking any luggage.

An additional question, I think that we will land in terminal 5, and the Tube is between terminals 2 and 3. Is this easy to access from international arrivals?

If you got the email confirmation for the ETAs, I'd still print them out just in case.

[Anonymous]

I always arrive early just in case. Since you don’t have TSA precheck, you could end up in a long line. Imho: Dulles is the worst airport…long lines and you need to schlep a far distance to your actual gate. I’ve had one recent incident where the tram didn’t show up for nearly 30 mins.

And I always take a cab in London. Your family will be excited but exhausted. Spring for the cab and ask the driver to take a bit of a scenic route so you can get your bearings around your hotel.

Safe travels and enjoy your trip!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always arrive early just in case. Since you don’t have TSA precheck, you could end up in a long line. Imho: Dulles is the worst airport…long lines and you need to schlep a far distance to your actual gate. I’ve had one recent incident where the tram didn’t show up for nearly 30 mins.

And I always take a cab in London. Your family will be excited but exhausted. Spring for the cab and ask the driver to take a bit of a scenic route so you can get your bearings around your hotel.

Safe travels and enjoy your trip!

Dulles security lines have improved immensely since they got the new scanning machines. In fact, so many people have precheck in the DC region that the regular security line is often shorter.

Regardless, everything else is a good point. Everything at Dulles is far apart and you need to add travel buffer just getting from security to the gate. Plus airlines have started boarding up to an hour before departure time, which is important if you’re traveling with only carryon and need overhead space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always arrive early just in case. Since you don’t have TSA precheck, you could end up in a long line. Imho: Dulles is the worst airport…long lines and you need to schlep a far distance to your actual gate. I’ve had one recent incident where the tram didn’t show up for nearly 30 mins.

And I always take a cab in London. Your family will be excited but exhausted. Spring for the cab and ask the driver to take a bit of a scenic route so you can get your bearings around your hotel.

Safe travels and enjoy your trip!

Dulles security lines have improved immensely since they got the new scanning machines. In fact, so many people have precheck in the DC region that the regular security line is often shorter.

Regardless, everything else is a good point. Everything at Dulles is far apart and you need to add travel buffer just getting from security to the gate. Plus airlines have started boarding up to an hour before departure time, which is important if you’re traveling with only carryon and need overhead space.

I’d plan for long lines before an evening flight during summer vacation…when tons of families who aren’t experienced travelers are scrambling to break down strollers, etc. in the security line.

And depending on the airline, sometimes you get a message when you check in that they can’t give you a boarding pass online and you must see a gate agent. I’ve had that happen twice…no clue why. Both were international flights.

[Anonymous]

If you don't check in and go straight to the gate, you're probably going to have to show your passport to the desk agent at the gate still.

[Anonymous]

Like a pp noted, they board international flights really early (it takes much longer to board so many people on those jumbo jets).

Leave time to buy water and anything else you want for the flight.