International flights at Dulles

Can anyone tell me what the wait has been like for international flights leaving from and coming into Dulles International Airport? My family and I will be traveling to London this December and will flying out of Dulles. I would like to know what to expect.

International flights at Dulles

It depends on when in December you%26#39;re traveling and the time of day, and the airline you%26#39;re using. However, to be on the safe side, I personally recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before departure. Here%26#39;s why:

Usually during peak season/travel hours, you can expect to spend at least 1 hour in line waiting to check-in (in Economy) . Elite status/Business/First lines have a separate check-in agents and therefore much shorter waiting time, and Elite status travelers now have an express security line. Otherwise, average security wait time can be between good (5 minutes) or very bad (30 minutes). Another thing to remember is that most airlines are now enforcing a 45 minute cut off time for check-in. You may not be able to check-in for that flight if present yourself to the check-in agent counter with less than 45 minutes to departure (and then have to be rebooked (in many cases, be put on standby). Also, if miss the 45-minute cutoff, your luggage may not be put on that flight. Dulles won%26#39;t check you and your flight on separate flights because of a late check-in. If you can check-in for International flights with your airline on-line, (not all airlines permit this though) I HIGHLY recommend it.

If you are using a code share flight, make sure you check-in with the carrier that will *actually* be operating the flight, otherwise you WILL be redirected to the other airline%26#39;s check-in line (to stand in line agin), even if you waited for 1 hour in the wrong line.

You should also give yourself an extra 15 minutes to get from the Daily Parking to the terminal. A little longer if you are using the Economy parking lot.

Also, calculate time for the mobile longes that will take you from the ticketing to the terminals.

I know arrivingt at the airport 3 hours in advance adds to a longer travel day, but it makes things easier and you won%26#39;t be pressed for time, especially with a party of more than two. That way you will give yourself plenty of time for long lines, delays, peak volume traffic (on the highway and at the airport), check-in at agent desk, parking, and just every other thing that could go wrong. You%26#39;ll be much less stressed and less likely to miss a flight, denied check-in/boarding, and/or have your luggage delayed.

Yes, this sounds like worst-case scenario, but I am a frequent flier (at least 30K miles a year) for the past 6 years, and I use Dulles frequently. I speak from experience here (both positive and negatives). I%26#39;ve now got the routine down pat -- but these pitfalls of using Dulles do exist and can hamper/ruin a trip.

Have a good time in London (even though the Dollar is awful against the pound, but great city)

Good luck.

International flights at Dulles

I absolutely agree with allowing three hours at Dulles. The last time I flew international from there (several months ago) I arrived 2.5 hours ahead of time and made it to the gate just as the flight was boarding.

It baffles me why they can%26#39;t get the security lines fixed at Dulles.When you fly out of National, security is extremely efficient.