Question about a relatively short connection to London through Dulles

[sayhello]

There's been a discussion going on recently about customs and the experience flying back to the US with a short layover. It made me think I should ask about my question. My short layover is going *to* Europe (heading to London Heathrow via Dulles). Has anyone gone *to* Europe through Dulles? I've only gone through Dulles coming back home, and it was a nightmare. But I'm assuming I won't have to go through anything like customs, since I'll do that in Columbus.

But when I flew to Barcelona through JFK, I had to actually leave the terminal I arrived in, and go through security again to get into the international terminal. Anything like this at Dulles? I normally wouldn't book less than 3 hours, but it was either an hour & 40 minutes or 13+ hours! There just weren't any flights with decent layovers. I booked this through ABD, and she didn't seem to think it would be a problem. But I must admit, it makes me nervous.

Thanks for any input!

Sayhello

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My home airport is IAD, so I've flown to Europe many times from there. An hour and 20 minutes is plenty of time to make your international flight. You won't have to go through security to get between terminals; they don't have a special international terminal. Here's a good map:

http://www.metwashairports.com/file/iad_terminal_map.pdf

 

[sayhello]

My home airport is IAD, so I've flown to Europe many times from there. An hour and 20 minutes is plenty of time to make your international flight. You won't have to go through security to get between terminals; they don't have a special international terminal. Here's a good map:

http://www.metwashairports.com/file/iad_terminal_map.pdf

Thanks, lost*in*cyberspace! That helps to hear!

Sayhello

 

[jsilvers]

But note that depending on the airline(s) you're flying, you may have to switch between the two mid-field terminals, which can take some time (the map shows the train/shuttle routes). United's mainline operations are in concourse C/D, but some of its express flights use concourse A. The other carriers with nonstop flights to London - British Airways and Virgin Atlantic - are in concourse A/B.

 

[lovetotravel]

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[sayhello]

But note that depending on the airline(s) you're flying, you may have to switch between the two mid-field terminals, which can take some time (the map shows the train/shuttle routes). United's mainline operations are in concourse C/D, but some of its express flights use concourse A. The other carriers with nonstop flights to London - British Airways and Virgin Atlantic - are in concourse A/B.

OK, I *am* flying United, so with my luck, I'll have to switch concourses. Good to know.

Maybe you should call the airport and get specific information regarding the location of the terminals with your airline? I'm assuming you will be in the domestic terminal between Columbus and Dulles. Then international terminal Dulles to London.

But, but lost*in*cyberspace said there *wasn't* an international terminal at Dulles! Now I'm confused! But you're right, it couldn't hurt to call Dulles & find out how it's set up.

Sayhello

 

[jsilvers]

But, but lost*in*cyberspace said there *wasn't* an international terminal at Dulles! Now I'm confused!

There isn't a separate terminal for international flights, but United does use more than one midfield concourse (C/D, which are connected, and A, which is not). So you may or may not have to take a train/bus to get to your London flight, depending on where your flight to Dulles arrives. But the only United flights that arrive in A are the "puddle jumpers", so if you are booked to arrive at Dulles on a mainline aircraft (B737/A320/etc.), it won't arrive at A.

 

[sayhello]

There isn't a separate terminal for international flights, but United does use more than one midfield concourse (C/D, which are connected, and A, which is not). So you may or may not have to take a train/bus to get to your London flight, depending on where your flight to Dulles arrives. But the only United flights that arrive in A are the "puddle jumpers", so if you are booked to arrive at Dulles on a mainline aircraft (B737/A320/etc.), it won't arrive at A.

It's an Embraer RJ145. I think that qualifies as a puddle jumper? Looks like I'll likely be changing concourses. Good to know.

Thanks!
Sayhello

ETA: OMG, OK, all changed now. I looked up my reservation on United's website to verify it was really the Embraer RJ145 (I was looking at TripIt) and they CHANGED my flight! Not horribly surprising, but no notification! So it turns out I only had 59 minutes between flights! I was nervous enough about 90 minutes, no way was I going with this change! So I called up ABD, explained the situation, and ABD called United. United switched me to the next earlier flight. So now, I have a 6 hour layover. Still better than 59 minutes... And, as the ABD rep said, that's only my schedule for now. Chances are, it will change again, so that layover may shrink. Ah, the joys of flying! But I'd rather sit in Dulles for 6 hours, waiting for my flight, then sit in Dulles for heaven knows how long while they try to shoehorn me into some other flight, maybe the next day! Sigh!

 

[Cousin Orville]

Sayhello,

Same thing happened to me. I logged onto united to review my flights which I have listed in Tripit. One of the return flights had completely changed. I'm surprised I wasn't notified about this. Is it because we booked our flights through ABD? I wonder if ABD was notified, but they didn't forward it. So now my connection time in San Francisco (from Hong Kong, to Houston) is 1.5 hrs. Not ideal, but I guess we'll chance it. Hopefully having global entry will help.

 

[sayhello]

Sayhello,

Same thing happened to me. I logged onto united to review my flights which I have listed in Tripit. One of the return flights had completely changed. I'm surprised I wasn't notified about this. Is it because we booked our flights through ABD? I wonder if ABD was notified, but they didn't forward it. So now my connection time in San Francisco (from Hong Kong, to Houston) is 1.5 hrs. Not ideal, but I guess we'll chance it. Hopefully having global entry will help.

Might be that the notice went to ABD, but I've had them forward it before. This is one of those things I hate about flying. How many industries, can you purchase something, and the person supplying it then can give you basically anything they want, as long as it looks vaguely like what you originally purchased?

At least if you're headed home and miss the connection, it's not quite as bad as missing a connection *going*. But it's still a pain. I imagine Global Entry should help!

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

Agreed.

Yeah, because we're headed home I'm not too worried.

It now seems to be the exception to the rule that the flights and times remain basically the same from when we purchased them. Granted I do tend to buy tickets early, but still.

 

[sayhello]

Agreed.

Yeah, because we're headed home I'm not too worried.

It now seems to be the exception to the rule that the flights and times remain basically the same from when we purchased them. Granted I do tend to buy tickets early, but still.

I've never had the times on flights from Southwest changed. Just sayin'. Too bad they don't fly to Europe!

Sayhello

 

[jsilvers]

It's an Embraer RJ145. I think that qualifies as a puddle jumper?

FYI, looking at some current flight data, some United Express RJ145s use concourse A but some use C/D. Of course, your rescheduled flight might be on a different aircraft type…

(Also, a 6 hour layover ought to allow you enough time to visit the Dulles branch of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, which is separate from the terminal but can be accessed by bus or taxi.)

 

[lovetotravel]

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[sayhello]

FYI, looking at some current flight data, some United Express RJ145s use concourse A but some use C/D. Of course, your rescheduled flight might be on a different aircraft type…

(Also, a 6 hour layover ought to allow you enough time to visit the Dulles branch of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, which is separate from the terminal but can be accessed by bus or taxi.)

The new flight is on a Canadair Regional Jet 200. It looks pretty small, too. As tempting as the Museum sounds, I'm probably way too paranoid to actually leave the airport. Sounds like tempting fate! Besides, I'm not sure I'd want to lug my carryon around a museum. I don't pack light!

Sayhello,

Glad it worked out for your benefit! On our delta flight that we booked, they kept changing planes and moving my family around having my minor children sit alone. It happened twice.

Thanks! Delta is the worst at changing flights, in my experience. I had one flight that they kept changing, and every time they did, I'd lose my seat assignment, or, like you, they'd re-assign me to some random seat. One time, they changed the plane, and assigned me a seat that didn't even exist on the new plane! I've had them move my flights so I had 10 minutes between flights. I paid extra one time to get a non-stop flight, and they got rid of the non-stop and routed me to Atlanta, adding over 6 hours to my trip. And did they re-imburse me for moving me from my more expensive non-stop flight to a cheaper connecting flight that I could have booked for less had I actually wanted it? Of COURSE NOT! Sorry! It's a sore spot!

Sayhello

 

[calypso726]

Sayhello,

Same thing happened to me. I logged onto united to review my flights which I have listed in Tripit. One of the return flights had completely changed. I'm surprised I wasn't notified about this. Is it because we booked our flights through ABD? I wonder if ABD was notified, but they didn't forward it. So now my connection time in San Francisco (from Hong Kong, to Houston) is 1.5 hrs. Not ideal, but I guess we'll chance it. Hopefully having global entry will help.

I don't think it has anything to do with booking through ABD. I just recently checked our flights with United for 2 upcoming trips. All were changed and no notification given. I booked these myself with airline miles. Our flight out to Vancouver for our Alaska cruise now leaves and hour later. Our return flight home changed from a direct flight to a 7 hour lay over in Houston. For our London/Paris ABD trip our flight also changed. Although I don't mind the change on that one I had to call them up and explain the return flight from Vancouver was unacceptable. They did fix it though.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

OK, I *am* flying United, so with my luck, I'll have to switch concourses. Good to know.

But, but lost*in*cyberspace said there *wasn't* an international terminal at Dulles! Now I'm confused! But you're right, it couldn't hurt to call Dulles & find out how it's set up.

Sayhello

Don't be confused. There is no international terminal at Dulles. United flies from the C and D terminal, as well as the A terminal (for United Express). Most of the United Express flights I have taken have not been from the A terminal. You don't need to call, just look at the map:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/Travel/airport/maps/iad.aspx

Your original layover time of 90 minutes was more than enough. Waiting for 6 hours at Dulles was unnecessary. I would never have made such a change; bring something to do!

You can walk between the C and the D terminal. From the main terminal, you take the old people movers to the D terminal or the new train to the C terminal. You don't have to leave security to move between the terminals.

As far as flight changes, it happens and never depend on an airline to notify you about changes. United will not email you. They will note changes if you check your reservation on their website. It's up to you to keep an eye on your reservation in case of time changes or aircraft swaps.

 

[sayhello]

Don't be confused. There is no international terminal at Dulles. United flies from the C and D terminal, as well as the A terminal (for United Express). Most of the United Express flights I have taken have not been from the A terminal. You don't need to call, just look at the map:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/Travel/airport/maps/iad.aspx

Your original layover time of 90 minutes was more than enough. Waiting for 6 hours at Dulles was unnecessary. I would never have made such a change; bring something to do!

You can walk between the C and the D terminal. From the main terminal, you take the old people movers to the D terminal or the new train to the C terminal. You don't have to leave security to move between the terminals.

As far as flight changes, it happens and never depend on an airline to notify you about changes. United will not email you. They will note changes if you check your reservation on their website. It's up to you to keep an eye on your reservation in case of time changes or aircraft swaps.

Thanks, lost*in*cyberspace. The original 90 minute layover, I was willing to risk (a bit nervously). But when United switched it to under an hour, and knowing how often my flights do NOT leave on time from Columbus, I personally think it's worth the long layover to lessen the chance of missing my connection. I've missed flights before, and trying to re-schedule and re-arrange usually ends up wasting far more time than 6 hours. I guess it all depends on what folks are comfortable with. Coming home, especially for the domestic leg is a whole different story. But going *to* the start of my vacation, with a long, international flight ahead of me, I think cutting the times too close is a stress that's unnecessary.

And I never rely on airlines to tell me they are changing my flights. I guess I still just am surprised when they don't, even when I sign up for notifications. I guess hope dies hard!

Thanks again for all the info on Dulles. It's nice to know the setup before I get there. I could have really messed myself up at JFK, thinking I had a couple of hours to relax when I actually had to get to another terminal AND go through security again.

Sayhello

 

[jsilvers]

Most of the United Express flights I have taken have not been from the A terminal.

Note that the OP is traveling to Dulles from Columbus. A quick check of yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's arrivals on the United website finds that 10 of the 12 Columbus flights arrive at A - and the exceptions are operated with larger regional jets (ERJ-170).

 

[sayhello]

Note that the OP is traveling to Dulles from Columbus. A quick check of yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's arrivals on the United website finds that 10 of the 12 Columbus flights arrive at A - and the exceptions are operated with larger regional jets (ERJ-170).

Thanks! It never occurred to me to check like that! I think I'm going to count on coming into Concourse A and having to get to C/D. If I don't need to, then I'll be pleasantly surprised!

Sayhello