V-Flyer

After a bit of a gap year, sorry folks been using BA, I have used a few miles for a trip to Washington in June.
Looking forward to reacquainting myself with the Heathrow Clubhouse, but have no experience of what to expect at the other end!
I have previously arrived on internal flights at Washington National Airport which is very convenient and now feels familiar. The wealth of knowledge of you v-flyer folks never ceases to amaze me so if you could figuratively hold my had and get me from the plane to city and back again it would be a great help. In particular info on ground transportation, Lounge facilities, best way to get to the front of the queue at immigration would be helpful.
Don't want to let the side down by appearing to be a right numpty!

When you get on the 'moon buggy' that takes you to immigration try and stay near the door you board through and not go to what you think is the front and you'll be in a better place for the immigration queue.

Ground transport is basically taxi / uber or one of the various shuttle bus serves. They are building a metro extension out to IAD - silver line - but it won't be ready for about 5 years!

inbound IAD is a bit of a faff as you need to board the 'sky lounge' (think bus on stilts) to be transported to immigration, entry/exit are from the same end so stay as close as you can to where you board it

i've not had to queue at immigration, but if another international flight beats you in i think it could take a while

baggage seems quick to the belt, but the customs check to exit the baggage hall is only 2 or 3 lanes, so the queue builds up fast if you're not among the first

one you exit customs you'll be in the small/bustling arrivals area , this is where the driver will be showing a sign with your name on if you use the VS limo service, taxis are available outside just a short walk, i've not tried other ground transport

outbound, check-in is very close to drop off, after that you head down to security where there can be long-ish queues, there's a fast track you can use if you're in UC or have the correct FF status, but you'll probably still be queuing

then a little train takes you to the terminal

there's a bijou VS/VX clubhouse close to the departure gate, nothing like LHR or even LGW, but it's comfy enough, the food is good and staff lovely, it's shared with some other airlines

if you get any duty free (which you can do online to save time: http://www.dutyfreeamericas.com/ ), you need to collect it from the desk near the gate - i nearly forgot, too much bubbly in the CH!

When you get off the plane you'll going into the terminal and then board a People Mover. Make sure you stay close to the boarding door otherwise you end up at the back of the line. We were through immigration in about 5 minutes so you shouldn't have too many concerns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs-J2wmxeD8

On the way back, the fast security is just for showing your passport and then you all meet up for the X Ray machines. We've never found it that busy but do allow about 20 minutes to get through the X Ray part. The clubhouse is okay but nothing overly special. The clubhouse is directly opposite the VS gate. IAD is one of few airports in the US which allows smoking post security if that's of any use to you.

From / to the airport we just got an Uber and it takes around 45 minutes into central DC. We flew home on the day their metro was shutdown for emergency repair so it took closer to an hour.

Sorry for repeating - too slow typing this evening!

Thank you for the information, I knew you all could be relied on.
Will feel much more comfortable on arrival!

It is excellent advice about remaining near the door of the people movers - but be aware, all of the regular IAD travellers know this tip, I have seen some quite unpleasant confrontations as people getting on try to move the people by the door further down and they don't want to go!

Fast walking is often a better solution than falling out with folk at the door of the people mover


Nick

Thanks for the advice Nick but I gave up "fast walking" in my fifties!

One of the cheapest (and often quickest) ways to get into the city from IAD is by using the Wahington Flyer Silver Line coach which now takes you to Wiehle-Reston East Metro station then you just catch the Silver Line metro into the city.

Details here

The coach takes about 15mins and is $5.00 each way. The coaches even have free WiFi.

I always uses them to get from IAD to the city.