Checking a bag? Will you require counter service?

Personally I’d arrive by 7:00 am or 7:30 am at the absolute latest. Tomorrow is the busiest travel day. I prefer to be way too early than be stressed about missing my flight. If you’re driving to the airport or taking a taxi you’ll definitely want some extra time for traffic.

Won’t be checking any bags or require counter service. Just a carry on for me.

So essentially, get there at 7am to be safe?

I’d say 7:30 then. But I’m also someone who is always absurdly early. Security is usually very efficient but the day before thanksgiving is always insane, and every person who has apparently never been to an airport ever will be in line and hold things up. And half of precheck will be people who “didn’t know” they don’t have precheck. If you’re not super at anal about being late then 8 should be fine.

Oh yes, the “wait? What is a boarding pass? You mean I have to check my bag? What’s a terminal!” Crew.

Yeah 7:30 is the move.

Yuppp. And the oh I can’t bring my gun, knives, explosives, pets, children, or 100k oz of liquid on in my carry on? And the people who go to DCA instead of IAD are out in full force.

I'd start heading there now.

Appreciate the honesty. Getting that alarm ready for tomorrow

> If you’re not super at anal...

Okay, I had my immature chuckle for the day.

🤣 what a typo I made

3 hours early and you're not checking a bag? lol amateur hour

If it's Terminal 1, there are only 9 gates and I've never spent more than 10 minutes in the security line. An hour early is plenty of time. Terminal 2? I haven't flown out of there in at least a year but 90 minutes early should be fine. These are recommendations based on the fact that you aren't checking a bag.

Do you have tsa pre?

I have tsa pre and clear and can get through security in 10 minutes. Friends without it, takes 30ish on busy travel days. The new security line process seems faster since they moved it farther back. Safe travels!

Have fun!!!

I didnt have TSA Pre until a year or so ago - and ALWAYS regretted getting there too early. BWI and Dulles is the only place where I'd be worried about delays.

Tomorrow is likely to be one of the busiest days of the year.

I was there today. This afternoon in terminal 1 was nice and easy. Got there 2 hours before takeoff. (Dropped someone off) when I left however the area was sooo backed up. It was bad. Tomorrow might be worse.

My flight boards at 8:30 am and I’m leaving at 6, not checking a bag. I hope that’s enough time. Everyone’s freaking me out in this sub even though I’ve done this 3 years in a row

I’m an airport gambler and generally arrive an hour before boarding. I’ve never had an issue with DCA. Pre-check and no checked page, though. For tomorrow, a busy day, if you’re also PC and without checked luggage 90 min should be more than fine. But obviously defer to be earlier as you feel comfortable of course. Happy thanksgiving and safe travels!

Flown out of DCA for years. I get to the airport an hour before board time with no checked bags usually.

I've only had a couple long(like 30 min to an hour in a line) security wait times, and it was because they were understaffed and had too many planes going out at about 7-8 AM so a huge rush came all at once. Today is probably one of those days.