Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t bother with udvar hazy pre-departure. Leave at 5 from Kent island, that gives you cushion to get to IAD, park, etc. if you’ll feel better having a bigger cushion, leave at 4:30 and have dinner at IAD.

This. In theory you are going against traffic the whole way. Once you hit Dulles toll road you will be in the airport lanes and no traffic.

From Kent Island, the issue is the Wilson Bridge which is often just a parking lot for rush hour.

I wouldn’t bother with udvar hazy pre-departure. Leave at 5 from Kent island, that gives you cushion to get to IAD, park, etc. if you’ll feel better having a bigger cushion, leave at 4:30 and have dinner at IAD.

It’s 3 hours before an international flight

7:45 is latest to get to tge airport

It took us over an hour and a half two weejs ago just to get through security fir a 10 pm united flight up London

Better not have checked bags carry on only

Anonymous wrote:What airline are you on? United tends to have longer lines for bag drop, although you can use curbside (for a fee) which can be quicker.

Pre-check is open until 9 at Dulles (if you have that for the family).

I travel a lot internationally and aim to arrive 2-2 1/4 hours before the flight. I always have plenty of time before boarding starts, even on the big planes where boarding can start an hour before departure.

I would plan to arrive for dinner because that gives you a cushion if you hit unexpected traffic. Not sure I would do Udvar-Hazy as that makes for a long day.

Pretty sure this is British Airways, they have a very consistent 10:45 PM daily departure to London, have been on it a couple of times. Agreed they don't need this much time.

That late security is super quick, and getting to gates is easy. No need to be through security at 8:30 for a flight that will probably start boarding around 9:50. Personally I would get to the airport parking around 8:15, be inside by 8:45. Bag drop is quick nowadays with kiosks, and you can check in everything online including scanning your passports, so you save that step also.

I'd leave home at 5:30, stop in say Reston for dinner at 7, leave Reston by 8, you are good to go.

What airline are you on? United tends to have longer lines for bag drop, although you can use curbside (for a fee) which can be quicker.

Pre-check is open until 9 at Dulles (if you have that for the family).

I travel a lot internationally and aim to arrive 2-2 1/4 hours before the flight. I always have plenty of time before boarding starts, even on the big planes where boarding can start an hour before departure.

I would plan to arrive for dinner because that gives you a cushion if you hit unexpected traffic. Not sure I would do Udvar-Hazy as that makes for a long day.

I would either do option 1 or I would drop the Udvar Hazy and just plan on dinner.

Even assuming you are doing economy parking I think you don’t need to be at Dulles before 7:30 or 7:45.

Option A.

Get out to where you have various ways to get into the airport. Tysons is its own zoo.

Udver Hazy closes at 5:30pm. What if you drove part of the way pre- rush-hour, like to Tysons, then catch a movie there and drive to IAD after?

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a premier pass? There are lounges.

If you are referring to Priority Pass, the lounges at IAD in PP are run by airlines, and they have blackout hours for their own flyers. That time of evening is when they all are busy/blacked out since they run their own flights to Europe then.

Do you have a premier pass? There are lounges.

Go to Udvar Hazy. Your kid will sleep better on the plane.

Hi everybody,

We are flying out of Dulles on an international trip for spring break. Our flight leaves on a Wednesday at 10:45 PM, so I’d like be through security by 8:30 pm. We are a family of 6, coming from Kent Island. Kids are aged 8 – 13. We are checking 3 bags. I am considering 2 options.

1. Leave the house early afternoon, go to Udvar-Hazy, have a leisurely dinner someplace, park at Dulles, go through security, etc.
2. Leave late afternoon, aim to hit the beltway at 6:00? Get to Dulles by 7:15? Parked by 8:00?

Option 1 seems like a long slog of a day. Option 2 seems risky, although I like the idea of more time at the house to get ready. What would you do?

Thank you!