Quick IAD transfer question

the better half is flying out to join me in Chicago tomorrow, flying on the VS21 to IAD and connecting onto a UA flight.

Arrival is at 15.10, departure on the UA flight is at 17.20.

If all is well and she lands on time, is the two hours enough? Is it all within the same terminal (the IAD website isn't very helpful - or at least I can't find it!)

And are there any top tips to help the transfer go smoother? (She's flying UC so should be off the plane quickly)

thanks in advance!

[mitchja]

It took me 2.5hrs to get through immigration at IAD off the VS21 last year ! so anything could happen.

Tell her to stand/sit as near to the doors as possible on those stupid mobile lounges, as you are last off into the immigration hall if you stand/wait all the way inside the mobile lounges because you exit them through the same door you enter them.

The main tip is when boarding the mobile lounge is to stand by the door where you board as this will also be the door that opens into the immigration hall.

Just be prepared though for a huge queue at immigration as VS lands at the same time as everyone else.

thanks for the advice - will pass it on.

Now concerned she won't make the connection.... eek...

[honey lamb]

thanks for the advice - will pass it on.

Now concerned she won't make the connection.... eek...

Also ask on board if there is a delay on the flight for ground crew to expedite you through the airport. When my flight was delayed in leaving LHR I did just that and we were able to by-pass the immigration lines. Mind you that was cancelled out by the bags taking forever to come through ii)

Is she on the same PNR. On the occasion I mentioned above, when I went to the transfer desk I found I had automatically been re-routed to a later flight. I asked if I could still be checked on to my original flight. I was but was told I was still booked on to the later flight. I made it but the bags didn't but were delivered later that evening

For some reason that TR is not in the TR index v(

Thanks HL.

She wasn't booked on the same PNR as we'd had to change where she was flying to (originally Boston, but my work had unexpectedly moved me to Chicago - I rambled on about this change on another thread)

Anyway - she made it - just!

As predicted, despite landing only a couple of minutes late, Immigration was heaving, then once through collected her bags, did bag drop at UA and then joined the slowest line to go through security again. this was despite paying in advance to use the fast lane at security. She literally had to run through the airport to the gate and straight onto the plane.

So, as others have said - two hours isn't ideal to transfer at IAD!

Glad she made it!

It's possible to transfer in 2 hours at IAD, but not comfortably!