Dulles & AirTran Question

[pbharris4]

Does AirTran have curbside luggage checkin or do I have to go to the AirTran ticketing desk to check in our luggage? I'll be checking in 24 hrs before online for our boarding passes. Also, once I go through security and go to the B Concourse are we done with security or do we do it all over again when we go to get on the plane? I haven't flown in several years. TIA

 

[Luvdisney]

Dulles has curb side check in. I did this for Independance Air a year ago. Once you go through Security in the main terminal you won't have to go through it again. I'll be doing the same thing this Saturday.

 

[jennib5426]

Sercurity is only in the main terminal, lines have been long the past few months. I fly out of Dulles every month and the past few times have been long waites.
I leave out of Dulles in September for WDW, wish it was sooner.

Have fun.

 

[pbharris4]

Thank you!! Our flight leaves at 12:31pm on Sunday 6/25..with the lines..how much time should we allow? We were planning on leaving here (Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania County line) at 8am to get there around 10 a.m. (that's leaving a little time for traffic) will we have enough time to check our baggage and get through security and eat lunch? I'll have a 3 yo in tow and 5-6 pcs of luggage plus a car seat to be checked.

 

[PlutoPony]

Thank you!! Our flight leaves at 12:31pm on Sunday 6/25..with the lines..how much time should we allow? We were planning on leaving here (Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania County line) at 8am to get there around 10 a.m. (that's leaving a little time for traffic)...

WIthout traffic that's no more than an hour and a half drive right? You should be good (but I err on the side of leaving plenty of extra time at Dulles). I would have a Plan B route, just in case, since the Beltway can be an adventure. Maybe take Fairfax County Parkway from I-95 (Route 7100, you catch it in Springfield) which dumps you on I-66 one exit east of the Route 28 exit up to Dulles.

 

[pbharris4]

We're either going to go I-95 to Rt. 123 in Lorton then to Fairfax County Pkwy, then I-66 to Rt. 28. or if we're feeling we want a scenic drive we'll go up Rt.29 through Warrenton and pick up I-66 near Gainesville, but that takes longer. DH works in Chantilly. It normally takes 1-1.5 hrs to get to Chantilly w/o traffic. What's nice is they are getting rid of the lights and doing those overpasses..saves a lot of time! So you think 2 hrs is enough time once we get to the airport for security, baggage, lunch etc?

 

[nordkin]

Saturday and Sunday mornings are horrible at Dulles. Twice we have arrived 2 hours early and barely made our flight. Security lines are very long and just a tip, go to the security line from the right side of the terminal (it is more towards the middle by the employee security checkpoint) Don't get in the line by United Airlines, everyone seems to use that one. The one on the right moves much faster because there are fewer people. Another tip is to wear slip off shoes and not tie shoes, yes you do have to take them off, and put all your keys, change, cell phone, etc. in your carryon as this is also faster. I would plan on being there by 9:30 or so to ensure you have enough time to get through security and grab something to eat. Better to be at the airport without feeling rushed with a toddler than feeling rushed and risk not making the flight.

 

[PlutoPony]

Saturday and Sunday mornings are horrible at Dulles.

Thanks for that info. What time have you been there? We have a Sunday 6:30 a.m. flight in late July to Denver and I'm debating how early to get there... And of course it's on United so we'll likely be in the left hand side security lines
BPHarris - if worse comes to worse, you can grab lunch and take it on the plane with you, or eat it at the boarding area. After a bad experience with summer thunderstorms shutting down Ohare (3 hour flight turned into 7 hours with a stop in Peoria to pick up additional fuel) I ALWAYS take water and food on a flight with me, especially flying with DS. You might want to do something like that - pack a sandwich each just in case...
It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to time Dulles travel exactly right! Either we get there and have 90 minutes to kill at the gate, or are sweating it in the dratted security line. I know this is gonna sound wierd but I really enjoy flying out of Dulles. There's something special about driving up Route 28, getting off at the Dulles exit, and all of a sudden rising up from the flatlands is this really neat terminal with the swooping roof with the a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains . Can you tell I grew up in small town in the midwest ??
Have a good trip!

 

[nordkin]

Thanks for that info. What time have you been there? We have a Sunday 6:30 a.m. flight in late July to Denver and I'm debating how early to get there... And of course it's on United so we'll likely be in the left hand side security lines

One time was an 8am flight and the other was a 9am flight, both on United and both in the last two months. The lines at United can be very long if you have to check baggage and don't do it at the curb. I would walk to the right side security line if the one by United is long, it would still be faster. Another little known fact is United has a counter on the otherside(behind) the one facing the door that is for international flights, but they can and will check you in for domestic flights when the domestic counter is busy. We used that option in April and did not have to wait in line at all.

 

[pbharris4]

Ooohhh! Thanks for the tips!!! I'll look for that security line on the right. I was wondering about the lines and how long they'd be. Now I am thinking we should leave here at around 7:30am. Even if we get there 3 hrs early..it would be fine. My DD (3) just loves to run around so she can get it out of her system before we get on the plane. I am not too worried about the traffic end of things. I like Dulles, too. You can see the mountains in the distance..it's really pretty and I always liked the way the building was shaped too. We just visited the Udvar-Hazy Museum and you could see all the planes taking off it was really neat. DH works in Westfields Business Park and every few minutes there's a plane coming from the left and the right usually at the same time..DD just loves visiting him for lunch so she can see all the planes!

 

[jennib5426]

Don't forget about all the mixing bowl and Wilson bridge construction this weekend. If you take 123 past Lorton to Fairfax County Parkay you should be fine.
I think the United counters at Dulles are so backed up because it is all the self service kiosks and people get really confused by those. It makes for slow moving lines becuase you have 1 United person for every 2-4 kiosks.

The counter opens at 5:45am and I am always in line by 5:15am because the lines get soooo long for early morning flights.