Holiday Travel Survival Tips for Reagan and Dulles Airports

Traveling during the holidays may not be fun—but it's worth it to get to see loved ones during one of the most special times of the year.

Because the time between Thanksgiving Week and New Year's Week is the busiest travel time of the year for the D.C. Metro area—more than 1 million passengers are expected to pass through Dulles and Reagan airports over the next four to five weeks—the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) offered the following tips to try to limit the insanity for travelers through the area this year.

Holiday Parking Deals at Dulles

Passengers who park in the Dulles garages for four or more consecutive days between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2 can receive one of the four days free. Customers should print the coupon found at flydullesinternational.com and present it to the cashier when leaving the garage in order to take advantage of the deal. 

In addition to a free day of parking, travelers who park in the garage will be able to quickly reach the terminal through passenger walkways or ride a shuttle to the terminal with ease, while their car is protected from the elements, MWAA said.

Get Instant Updates on Airport Conditions

Reagan National and Dulles International will be frequently updating their social media channels with information about travel tips and conditions to help passengers move with ease through the airports. Passengers can follow each airport via Twitter @Dulles_Airport and @Reagan_Airport or through theDulles Facebook page and the Reagan Facebook page.

Get Started Early

The Thanksgiving holiday started this past Friday, Nov. 22, and is expected to continue through Monday, Dec. 2. Peak travel times are typically during the early morning, 5:30 to 8 a.m., and late afternoon, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. There could also be a mid-day peak from around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Passengers are advised to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, especially during these peak times.

Additionally, Airport Ambassadors wearing distinctive yellow shirts, Travelers Aid volunteers wearing blue blazers, and Travelers Aid volunteers will be available to give directions, answer questions and offer assistance to passengers.

Try Something New:

Additional Travel Tips from MWAA:

• Confirm the status of your flight with your airline before coming to the airport. Weather around the D.C. area or in other parts of the country can affect flight schedules across the air travel network.

• Print out your boarding pass or select an electronic boarding pass in advance. If your boarding pass states “TSA Pre✓” proceed to the appropriate security checkpoint. This will save valuable time when moving through the airport.

• Bring government-issued photo ID to the airport for all adult passengers.

• Expect full flights and full luggage bins onboard airplanes during the busiest days,  including the Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving. Plan your trip accordingly.

• Pack wisely – no prohibited items in carry-on luggage; and no valuable items in checked luggage. Label your luggage so your name is plainly visible.

• Dulles International travelers can check the wait times at the security checkpoints online and on their mobile devices at the Dulles website, and on large displays at the airport. The wait times are updated every minute and can help passengers make smarter decisions about the best way to get to their gates.

• Reagan National should customers check parking availability online at www.mwaa.com/reagan or at 703-417-PARK (7275). Economy parking tends to fill during holiday periods.

• Convenient dining options are available both pre-security and post-security at Reagan National and Dulles International. Sit down and enjoy a meal before your flight or order something to bring with you on the airplane. Shopping and Dining guides are available at Reaganfoodandshops.com and at Dullesfoodandshops.com.

• For travelers not familiar with the airport, printable one-page information sheets are available in the “Travel Tips” section at Dulles International or Reagan National webpages.