I have meetings all day in Arlington and then taking a 5:26pm flight (no checked bags) from BWI on Friday afternoon. What time should I excuse myself and be on the road to make my flight?
2007-02-03 05:01:26 · 8 answers · asked by adam_peace_harmony2006 3 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Washington, D.C.
In a perfect world, i.e. no traffic and no one else at the airport, you could make it from Arlington to BWI in say 45 minutes to one hour (depends exactly on where you are). Add time for parking shuttle (or rental car drop off) (10 minutes) and then check in (5), security (5) and walking to the gate (5 minutes)
So we're looking at getting to the gate at the most 85 minutes after you leave Arlington.
Now the bad news.
Friday afternoon is hell in DC. Rush hour starts around noon so it seems, and you'll have to fight your way across DC proper to get to I-295/the BW Parkway (airport parkway) or I-95 up on the Beltway (personally I recommend the BW parkway, unless traffic). I'd add as much as 20-30 minutes, more if there is a wreck.
Also, Friday at BWI is no cup of tea. I've see horrendous lines at SWest check-in (one of BWI's biggest carriers) on a Friday afternoon, and very long lines at security. I've even run into traffic just getting to the rental car return. I'd add another 20-30 minutes here as well.
So I think you'll need to leave at least 2:30 hours early to be sure, say around 3:00. You might skate all the way and be stuck at BWI for a bit, or you might just make your flight.
p.s. Is there anyway possible to use Reagan National Airport instead? You would save HOURS. You could almost leave the office at 4:15 and catch the subway from Arlington to DCA for a 5:26 flight.
2007-02-06 12:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by apleyden 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to arrive at the airport 90 mins. early especially if you're not checking bags (you could arrive 45 minutes early)... but I'm sure you know this. (And most airlines will allow you to check in for your flight and print your boarding pass up to 24 hours before your flight, so if you have access to a printer, then this will save even more time - all you have to do is go through security).
So say you plan on arriving at 4:45... that's on the early side for rush hour, but traffic in greater Washington and towards B'more is always bad. I would say 45 minutes if there's no traffic but I would still count on there being some traffic so probably an hour or so before you want to arrive, with normal traffic.
If you're able to check and see the traffic conditions before you leave that of course will help you plan better.
2007-02-03 06:04:53 · answer #2 · answered by Mike R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the MARC train schedule and find the train that runs between Union Station and BWI. If you drive leave around noon or 1pm. Hopefully the drive is an hour between Arlington and BWI plus parking, security and arriving two hours before departure.
2007-02-04 04:56:16 · answer #3 · answered by allibillwm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in the 2 hour ahead of time rule, plus all of the business travel at that time, rush hour, etc., I would leave Arlington (if it were me), at 2:30. I have lived here over 40 years, and know that on any given day after 2pm, you WILL hit traffic no matter where you are going, but a main artery like 95 north will definately be gettng congested at that time.
2007-02-07 02:33:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are supposed to be at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight. That means no later than 4 pm. If you are driving and parking at the airport (I recommend the PreFlight long term parking facility), allow another 30 minutes to assure parking and transport in the shuttle van to the airport from the parking lot. That means to be at PreFlight lot by 3:30 pm. On a Friday afternoon, you will allow 90 minutes for the drive. That means no later than 2 p.m. to start the drive to the airport. Now, traffic may be heavy and personally, I would leave no later than 1:30 from your meeting.
2007-02-03 05:48:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Traffic To Bwi
2016-12-18 08:22:38 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my goodness! i think it would be faster to drive to national or dulles, get a flight to like.. NYC or Atlanta or something and fly back in to BWI. it'll save you the long, boring time consuming ride up there.
2007-02-06 08:42:06 · answer #7 · answered by Logical Rationalist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
friday afternoon is sturdy for going homestead and gettin some beverages a blunt and chillin with my guy as we talk it really is noce out so we would want to sit down outdoors on the porch and insect out with the passerbys
2016-10-17 05:02:14 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋