Flying from the Baltimore/DC area

[Native NYer]

Since we have to pick up my nephew (in MD), we're considering flying to Orlando from the Baltimore/D.C. area. So far, it seems a bit cheaper than flying from NYC.

A couple of questions:

1. What airline do you recommend? I've got prices for AirTran, SW, and JetBlue. We'd like to use RAC for the return.

2. What airport is better? Dulles? BWI?

Thanks!!!!

 

[Leeds376]

Since we have to pick up my nephew (in MD), we're considering flying to Orlando from the Baltimore/D.C. area. So far, it seems a bit cheaper than flying from NYC.

A couple of questions:

1. What airline do you recommend? I've got prices for AirTran, SW, and JetBlue. We'd like to use RAC for the return.

2. What airport is better? Dulles? BWI?

Thanks!!!!

I live in south central PA and have flown out of BWI and Reagan, but never Dulles. No real reason why, just never booked a flight from there, until Feb. 13 when we fly out of Dulles to Orlando!

I know that the Reagan runways are small and two years ago we were flying back to Reagan from Miami and and ice/snow storm hit the area. Reagan closed while BWI stayed open. We were stranded in Miami for two days with small children while the rest of the family flying in to BWI made it home.

 

[designermv]

We usually fly JetBlue out of Dulles and we've always liked it. I like JetBlue because I like those little TV monitors on the backs of the seats. They keep my daughter and husband occupied and quiet. We're flying Southwest out of BWI on Feb 10. because we got a much better rate.

I think either one would be fine though, honestly.

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks! I love JetBlue, but have never flown on SW. I'd love to use the RAC, but I won't be able to with SW. Plus, no assigned seats on SW makes me nervous with 2 young children flying with us.

I just priced different airlines and Airtran is the cheapest. How are they?

 

[designermv]

I've not flown SW since having kids, and I'm feeling pretty at the thought of it, so I don't blame you! My youngest is only 11 weeks old, and my other daughter is 5, so I'm hoping there won't be any problem with us all sitting together.

I haven't flown AirTran, but friends of ours used them for their trip last year and liked them just fine. I would have used them this year, but for our dates SW had the best rates.

 

[Native NYer]

I've not flown SW since having kids, and I'm feeling pretty at the thought of it, so I don't blame you! My youngest is only 11 weeks old, and my other daughter is 5, so I'm hoping there won't be any problem with us all sitting together.

I haven't flown AirTran, but friends of ours used them for their trip last year and liked them just fine. I would have used them this year, but for our dates SW had the best rates.

Our dates are 8/22-8/29 and SW hasn't released fares past August 13th.
Right now, we can book 5 round trip tickets on Airtran for under $1000.

 

[uva185]

I avoid Dulles at ALL COSTS!!! Even when flying international I would rather fly from DCA and add a connection than go anywhere near Dulles!

BWI is fine, its a bit far from my house so I only use it if the fare is much lower. I do love their parking garage there. When you drive in it tells you how many spaces are available on each level, then it tells you how many spaces are available in each row, then over each parking space is a red or green light indicating whether or not the spot is open!

My personal favorite is DCA as I can walk from my car, through security, to the plane in 10 minutes. I will pay extra to fly from DCA.

 

[Native NYer]

I avoid Dulles at ALL COSTS!!! Even when flying international I would rather fly from DCA and add a connection than go anywhere near Dulles!

BWI is fine, its a bit far from my house so I only use it if the fare is much lower. I do love their parking garage there. When you drive in it tells you how many spaces are available on each level, then it tells you how many spaces are available in each row, then over each parking space is a red or green light indicating whether or not the spot is open!

My personal favorite is DCA as I can walk from my car, through security, to the plane in 10 minutes. I will pay extra to fly from DCA.

Thanks so much for the tip about Dulles. Right now, I'm looking into flights from BWI.

 

[maciec]

We fly out of BWI because of the parking. No matter where you park it's cheaper than flying out of either DC airports. You may get a cheaper flight, but you will make it up in the cost of parking.

We fly Airtran and have always had very good luck.

 

[Missytara]

I fly out of BWI all the time; it is much cheaper than PHL - I live halfway in between.

Only Airtran and SW fly non-stop out of BWI. I fly Airtran, so I can specifically use the RAC.

There are several options for parking; there is a place just off-site - cannot remember the name of it (I just used it for the first time last December) and they pick you up right at your car and take you to your Airline. It was $6.00 a day, as opposed to the on-site Parking that does the same service for $14.00 a day.

BWI is very well laid out and very easy to find. Good luck!

 

[maurene]

(Delurking)

I've flown from all 3 airports - although its been about 6 years since I've flown from BWI. My favorite is Reagan (DCA) followed by Dulles - and then BWI last. Reagan is just so easy because of its small size. And with the renovation they did several years back, the new terminal is quite pretty. Parking is easy too - but I would guess that BWI has the cheapest parking rates. I'm not sure why I don't like BWI. I'm just more comfortable at Dulles.

But, BWI does tend to be the cheapest choice much of the time. And combined with parking fees (assuming you're going to have to park there for an extended time), I'd probably choose BWI, in your case.

And actually, I will be flying out of BWI in 2 weeks (flying SW) and then again in May for our trip to Disney (flying AirTran). I'm annoyed that AirTran charges you for seat selection (unless you go through Kayak) but flying SW without seat assignments with two small kids makes me nervous too. I've flown Jet Blue once, and it was fine. I've never had a problem with any airline, really.

I tend to make my airtravel decisions based on cost mostly. Although I'll pay a little (10-20, maybe) extra to fly out of Reagan or Dulles because it is more convenient to my house.

 

[Native NYer]

We fly out of BWI because of the parking. No matter where you park it's cheaper than flying out of either DC airports. You may get a cheaper flight, but you will make it up in the cost of parking.

We fly Airtran and have always had very good luck.

We would have our car so parking is something we have to consider. And inexpensive parking sounds great to me!

I fly out of BWI all the time; it is much cheaper than PHL - I live halfway in between.

Only Airtran and SW fly non-stop out of BWI. I fly Airtran, so I can specifically use the RAC.

There are several options for parking; there is a place just off-site - cannot remember the name of it (I just used it for the first time last December) and they pick you up right at your car and take you to your Airline. It was $6.00 a day, as opposed to the on-site Parking that does the same service for $14.00 a day.

BWI is very well laid out and very easy to find. Good luck!

I got rates for Airtran. SW doesn't have rates for our dates out yet. RAC is the reason Airtran is appealing. That and assigned seats. Parking is really cheap there! I think BWI is going to be it for us.

(Delurking)

I've flown from all 3 airports - although its been about 6 years since I've flown from BWI. My favorite is Reagan (DCA) followed by Dulles - and then BWI last. Reagan is just so easy because of its small size. And with the renovation they did several years back, the new terminal is quite pretty. Parking is easy too - but I would guess that BWI has the cheapest parking rates. I'm not sure why I don't like BWI. I'm just more comfortable at Dulles.

But, BWI does tend to be the cheapest choice much of the time. And combined with parking fees (assuming you're going to have to park there for an extended time), I'd probably choose BWI, in your case.

And actually, I will be flying out of BWI in 2 weeks (flying SW) and then again in May for our trip to Disney (flying AirTran). I'm annoyed that AirTran charges you for seat selection (unless you go through Kayak) but flying SW without seat assignments with two small kids makes me nervous too. I've flown Jet Blue once, and it was fine. I've never had a problem with any airline, really.

I tend to make my airtravel decisions based on cost mostly. Although I'll pay a little (10-20, maybe) extra to fly out of Reagan or Dulles because it is more convenient to my house.

Thanks for the info. Right now, BWI is cheaper that Dulles and Regan and over $800 cheaper than American from JFK

 

[Missytara]

Found it! It is called Park n Go and it is $8.00 a day, but you need to reserve it.

Have fun!

 

[n2mm]

We fly out of Dulles always. I have flown out of BWI and DCA, but our preference is always Dulles. An easy airport to figure out. The long term parking is $10 a day. There are 4 nonstop carriers out of Dulles, United, Jetblue, SW, AT. Only SW and JB lets your bags go free (SW=2 and JB=1). Currently only JB participates in RAC (between SW and JB)(United and Airtran also participates in RAC, but both have hefty baggage fees, so I avoid them now), except SW does participate in RAC at the value resorts -- no word when the other resorts will join as I asked last weekend at the BWV and told they don't have a clue. Love, love, love Jetblue! Great fares, great seats, and great direct TV! I'm holding tickets with Jetblue for my March, April, Sept, and October trips. My September/October trip is only $59 each way, and considering that you get assigned seating, this is a better deal than SW with their new extra $10 fee for early boarding passes. Though no one beats SW in making changes to your flights prior to your trip. We fly to Orlando 6 trips a year and currently Dulles is upgrading their airport, so you do have to watch for signs to get around. We flew last week and security was only about 10 minutes on a Thursday morning (1/21). Of course you should follow your carrier's instruction on time allowed.