A local's love-hate relationship with Dulles
Written: Mar 08 '05 (Updated Mar 10 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Visually appealing, cheap fares, outstanding selection of flight destinations
Cons: Inconvenient location, terminals are poorly setup, always crowded
The Bottom Line: Despite the frustration of the airport itself, it's good to know the Dulles is here when we need it and can easily connect us to important things
|
|
|
| mrhonda's Full Review: Washington Dulles International Airport |
Yes, you can probably guess by now if you've read my title that I have a love-hate relationship with Dulles Airport. There are times when I am so relieved that this airport serves our area and other times when I just wish I never had even gone there in the first place. I live in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area and let's face it, our three local airports (Dulles, Regan National, and BWI) all have their querks. But out of those three, I must say that Dulles is actually visually appealing. Regan National is nice but hopeless to get in and out of as far as traffic is concerned, BWI is well-kept and attractive, but Dulles is just plain cool looking!
As you approach Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) from the Dulles greenway, you come upon this long impressive and very unique looking structure with big glass windows and an even more unique butterfly roof. This ofcourse is the main terminal that makes Dulles famous and is often shown in movies, TV ads, and on the local news stations. Everytime I get off the greenway and drive towards the main terminal, I am just as impressed as I was the first-time I ever laid eyes on this place. Infact, even if you don't fly out of here, I think that everybody should have a chance to go out and have a look at Dulles because it's quite remarkable. But behind all the futuristic design and the awesome sight of planes whisking to and from it, is a whole other world that makes me stop and questions if it's even practical or functional?
Washington Dulles International Airport is located 26 miles west of Washington, DC between the cities of Leesburg, Sterling, and Chantilly in Virginia. It takes up land in both Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Virginia. Infact, not many know this, but the county line goes right through the main terminal. It's funny to think that I parked in Loudoun County, checked in and went through security in Fairfax County, and then boarded my flight in Louden County! This airport unfortunately really only has one access road. The Dulles Toll Road as it's called between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and the Airport, and the Dulles Greenway from the airport west to Leesburg. Either way you decided to approach the airport, you're going to have a pay a toll. You might even want to allow extra time to get through crowded Toll plazas on the Toll Road or the Greenway.
First of all when you park at Dulles, you have a choice of Hourly parking, Daily Parking, or Long-term Economy Parking. Hourly parking is best if you are picking up or dropping off somebody, and is the closest to the main terminal. I have always been picked up or dropped off here, or have picked up and dropped off others so I really can't speak much of the Daily or Long-term because I've never used them. But the Daily parking is covered and located in garages surrounding the Hourly parking lot, and the long-term economy lots are located out closer to the Greenway and I'm told provide a free shuttle to the main terminal.
To access the terminal from the Hourly lot, one must go to an elevator station. They are located at the end of several of the rows. From here, you must take the elevator down, walk through the underground tunnels with moving walkways to the ground level of the terminal, and then take another elevator or the escaladers back up into either baggage claim or the departure level. I have to admit I thought all this was neat the first time I did it but it gets old after a while, especially if you're in a hurry. The only pro to all this is that it cuts down on the foot traffic in the curbside loading and unloading areas in front of the terminal.
On the departure level of the terminal are rows and rows of ticket counters and long lines. I have never seen a short line at these ticket counters for check-in, so make sure you arrive extra early and are prepared to wait in line. Once you check in, behind the ticket counters, is the security checkpoint. Again ,allow extra time for long lines. Once you are through security then you proceed to the shuttles that take you to the different concourses. This is what I hate the most. When they built and designed this airport, why not connect the concourses to the main terminal like at BWI? It would have made better sense. But instead, the concourses are out in the middle of the taxiways. I honestly forget what they are properly called but to get to the concourses, you have to board these funny looking shuttles that ride high in the air and have big wheels. I have yet to talk to anybody who actually likes these things. If you are going to the G concourse, then you take a regular bus. And, yet again, allow extra time because sometimes you have to wait for one of these shuttles to come along.
Once out on the councourses, then Dulles gets pretty basic and much like other airports with long terminal buildings that have waiting areas by each gate and fast-food facilities such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks. I have yet to see a sit down restaurant at Dulles but, I'm not usually at the airport long enough for a sit-down meal anyway. The G concourse is where the express flights fly in and out of and is located closer to the ground because of the smaller planes that load and unload here. It's pretty basic with a news and snack shop, restrooms, and waiting areas, and that's about it.
If you are arriving at Dulles on a flight from someplace else, the trip to the baggage claim can be a maze sometimes. Pay close attention to the signs and do not hesitate to stop and ask for directions. Coming in from the G concourse to the main terminal, I had to board the shuttle, go up an escalator, down a hall, down another escalator, down another hall, up another escalator, through a set of doors, down another escalator, and I was finally at the baggage claim! I've said it before and I'll say it again, why didn't they just connect the concourses to the main terminal building so that tired and weary passengers after a long flight didn't have to go through all this?
Once you finally arrive in the baggage claim area, there are also counters for rental cars, hotel reservations, and transportation to Washington. There are also machines where you can choose to pay for your parking which will save you from having to wait in line to pay at the end of the lots.
Well, you've heard me complain lots about Dulles Airport, but I have some good things to say about. I am often able to find some good deals on airfares out of Dulles that normally would cost an arm and a leg at the other two airports and might even involve a connection. Because Dulles serves our nation's capital, they do their very best to offer cheap and direct flights to many U.S. cities and international destinations. One of my favorites, and a good example, is United Express from Dulles to Myrtle Beach International Airport (IAD) which I have gotten before for as low as $50 one way. I have close loved-ones that live in Myrtle Beach, and there aren't very many cities or airports that you can get a direct flight to someplace like Myrtle Beach, or a flight this cheap. I've also gotten Orlando on Delta for as low as $70 one way. Out of our 3 airports, Dulles definately offers the best selection of direct destinations at the best rates.
I guess the bottom line is, though I get frustrated with this airport, and sometimes downright MAD, I am sure glad that it is here, and that it offers what it has to offer. Despite the anger and frustration I and many people go through at times, Dulles connects our beautiful and dignified nation's capital of Washington, DC to some of my favorite places. There is nothing like having an easy and local connection to loved-ones and family who are separated from us by miles. So, prepare yourself for some of the frustration I've mentioned, but don't hesitate to use Dulles Airport if you live in this area or if you are visiting Washington, because it's the important things in life that count. Important things like an easy and fast connection by airplane ride to beautiful places and the people we love.
AIRLINES SERVING DULLES:
Aeroflot
Air Canada
Air France
Air Tran
Alaska Airlines
Altalia
ANA
American Airlines
America West Airlines
Austrian Airlines
BMI
British Airways
BWIA International Airways
Continental Airlines
Continental Express
Delta Airlines
Delta Connection
Independence Air
JetBlue
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
LAB
Lufthansa
Northwest Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
SAS
Grupo Taca
TED
United Airlines
United Express
U.S. Airways
U.S. Airways Express
Virgin
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mrhonda
|
|
Member: Dan
Location: Maryland, USA
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
I'm a bargain hunting travel buff who enjoys beaches and cities.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.