Anonymous wrote:I hate flights this early because of the actual arrival time being even earlier. Sleep is always awful the night before. Good luck.

So helpful

Anonymous wrote:Here's the other thing. Sometimes you get there so early in the AM and they haven't even opened up counters yet.

OP isn’t checking anything. No need for the counter.

5:00

Anonymous wrote:How early does security open?

East Security Checkpoint - 4:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. West Security Checkpoint - 3:45 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. TSA Pre✓™ - 4:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

How early does security open?

Are you familiar with the layout of Dulles, op?

It’s my least favorite area airport because it’s a schlep from the entrance to your ultimate gate. I always build in extra time for flights at Dulles as compared to National which is so much easier to navigate (no tram, less distance, etc.).

I hate flights this early because of the actual arrival time being even earlier. Sleep is always awful the night before. Good luck.

You will be fine if you get there by 5am. If you are checking a bag or need to check in at the ticketing desk for some reason, I'd aim for a few minute before 5 just because a lot of people will arrive at 5 and it's nice to be at the front of that line.

Also add in some buffer time if you are using longterm parking

Here's the other thing. Sometimes you get there so early in the AM and they haven't even opened up counters yet.

Here’s the thing: sometimes flights board early. In fact, my last 3 flights have boarded earlier than the initial posted boarding time.

And like another poster said, TSA lines can be crowded even in the early morning hours on a Saturday when everyone is going on vacation.

Personally, I have precheck but I would still plan to walk in the airport at least 75-95 mins before the posted boarding time. I would also build in time to park (and I always park in the lot directly next to Dulles or the garage attached to national) and deal with possible traffic or hiccups with uber/taxi.

Safe travels!

3am.

I do not like cutting things close so I would be there between 445 and 5 AM at the latest. I want time to go through screening, walk to my gate and have time to make adjustments if need be.

Anonymous wrote:International or domestic? Which terminal?

Southwest only has a few domestic destinations from Dulles so it's not international.

Security lines can often be pretty bad on early Saturdays in my experience- I think lots of people grabbing cheaper early AM departure for a quick weekend or similar.

I'd say aim to arrive by 5 AM.

International or domestic? Which terminal?

We will not be checking bags and will be ubering to the airport. No precheck or anything like that.