is dca an international airport?

None of the airports serving the greater Washington D.C. area are actually in Washington D.C. Two airports, Reagan (DCA) and Dulles (IAD), are in Northern Virginia, and Marshall Airport (BWI) is just outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

Between growing up in Arlington, Virginia and visiting my family who still lives there, these three airports have become the most familiar to me. Each airport is slightly different and varies in how close they are to D.C., flight availability, and in-terminal amenities. Without having flown through them, though, it can be hard to know which one you should fly into.

If you’re planning a trip to Washington D.C. or the surrounding area, I’ll break down which airport you should fly into with a comparison of Dulles vs Reagan vs BWI, and give you some tips on what to consider before booking your next flight. As always, we recommend packing a carry-on-sized backpack for easy transit through any airport.

This article will compare all three Washington D.C. airports:

Before you head out, you need to pack a bag. But what luggage is best for Washington D.C.?

Arguably your first consideration should involve convenience, and there’s nothing that makes air travel more convenient than passing up the baggage claim by avoiding a checked bag altogether. That means bringing a carry-on-sized travel backpack.

What’s more, Washington D.C. tends to have somewhat unpredictable weather, so you’ll want a bag that can take whatever nature throws at it. That means you need a backpack that is water-resistant and highly durable.

From my experience, no other bag delivers on these requirements as perfectly as the Tortuga Travel Backpack. Specifically designed to maximize the usability of airline carry on allowances, no other backpack delivers such outstanding carry on capacity and organization. At the same time, the Travel Backpack is ready for the weather thanks to its water-resistant sailcloth shell that will not only keep out the rain but will hold up through many years of travel.

And if you’re looking for a daypack to bring along for your around-town exploration, check out the Outbreaker Laptop Backpack.

Of D.C.’s three airports, Reagan National Airport (DCA) is my personal go-to for three reasons.

DCA is:

Reagan is closer to Washington D.C. than Dulles or BWI, by a lot. While not in D.C. proper, it’s just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. This makes it easy to get to by a short and reasonably-priced taxi or Uber ride or via the Metro, which stops right at the airport. The Metro runs until 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1:00 a.m. on weekends, so even late-night arrivals can take advantage of the convenience of the trains.

DCA’s proximity to downtown also means it’s more closely watched by the U.S. government. While you generally won’t see or feel a difference as a layperson, security for both passengers and airlines is stricter than it is at the region’s other airports. But this is a good thing. Their strict security policies combined with the (mostly) business travel crowd using DCA means getting through security is efficient and the airport itself is well serviced.

The biggest downsides for DCA are that it only has domestic flights (plus a couple to Canada) and tends to be more expensive than IAD or BWI. If you want to fly to an international destination via DCA, you’ll have to transfer, likely in Atlanta, New York, or Los Angeles.

With 95 nonstop flights operating out DCA, the airport services a lot of destinations, most of which are clustered on the east coast and in the midwest. Quite a few of the direct flights fly into smaller airports like Chattanooga, Tennessee. You’ll find the widest selection of routes served by American Airlines, although United, Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, Southwest, and Frontier also operate out of DCA.

Trying to get from NYC to DC? Take the bus or Amtrak instead. Between airport security and transportation to/from, the bus or train are almost as fast but will drop you right in the heart of the city.

For the most flight options and highest overall quality, Dulles International is, by far, the best airport in the area. But there’s a catch: it’s actually not that close to D.C.

Roughly 26 miles outside of the District proper, and beyond even the furthest reaching metro stops of Northern Virginia, Dulles is closer to the rolling farmlands of Leesburg, Virginia than it is to the nation’s capital. Depending on where in the District you want to go, you need from thirty minutes to one hour to drive there. A taxi ride can cost as much as $60 one way.

Public transportation isn’t the best either, though it’s improving. In 2009, the Metro began construction on a Silver Line to extend metro rail access from the Northern Virginia suburbs out to the airport. The extension is completed and will begin carrying passengers as early as 2022. Until then, you can take a $5 shuttle from the current end-of-the-line in Reston. From D.C., this trip can take almost one and a half hours but is significantly cheaper than a taxi.

Distance aside, Dulles is a great airport in every other regard. Even though IAD is enormous and the post-security shuttles can be a little confusing for first-timers, getting from the check-in counter to your gate is surprisingly efficient. Clearing both security and customs is pretty quick, especially since IAD has all of the expedited customs programs Global Entry, CLEAR, and Mobile Passport.

Perhaps most importantly, the airport is well serviced with shops, restaurants, and amenities. I’ll even give it bonus points for opening an outpost of my favorite D.C.-area restaurant: The Lebanese Taverna.

When searching for flights to the D.C. area, you’ll find the most options flying to/from IAD—especially with United, since IAD is one of United’s hubs. IAD has the largest number of flight options of the three D.C. airports with nonstop flights to 57 international and 81 domestic destinations. Domestic routes are often a little cheaper out of IAD than DCA.

If you’re going into D.C. try to plan your arrival time outside of rush hour, which is roughly 6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Traffic in the DMV is some of the worst in the nation, and I wouldn’t wish a two-hour drive after a ten-hour flight on anyone.

Flying into Baltimore for a trip to D.C. may seem counterintuitive, but Marshall Airport (BWI) is less than an hour’s drive from Washington D.C. and only about 30 minutes away by train. The real winning aspects of BWI, though, are the cheap flights and budget-friendly amenities.

The best way to get to and from BWI is by train. From Union Station, travelers can take a 20-30 minute Amtrak train for $16+ or a 35-minute MARC train for $7 (one way). These operate between 3:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. The same goes for getting into downtown Baltimore: take a MARC or Amtrak train.

Other transportation options aren’t as fast or affordable. Taxis, Ubers, and shuttles will take about an hour from BWI to downtown D.C. Expect a taxi or Uber to cost between $40-90 and shuttles to costs $37 per person.

Compared to Reagan and Dulles, BWI has a reputation for being basic and neglected. When I flew through in 2014, it felt grungy and like the only food options were fast food.

Happily, BWI has recently embarked on a $100 million expansion project aimed at providing new services and dining options, better security, and more efficient mobility through terminals. The airport has already seen big improvements. From a gym in the D/E terminal to less congested security lines, BWI is catching up to the standards of its Virginian neighbors.

In addition to the new changes, BWI is budget-traveler friendly. With day passes to their lounge for just $17.50, and a no-premium markup for all food and drinks, neither the flights nor the in-terminal treats will break the bank at BWI.

Although technically an international airport, most of BWI’s routes are domestic. Only eight international destinations are serviced by nonstop flights.

But what it lacks in options, BWI makes up for in affordability. Flights from BWI are often cheaper than Reagan or Dulles with budget-friendly Southwest Airlines operating the largest number of flights to and from BWI. Two other budget airlines, Spirit and Iceland’s WOW Air, also have direct flights, while larger airlines like United, American, and Delta run good deals on their fares as well.

You can’t walk from the BWI train stop to the airport like you can at Reagan—it’s offsite. Instead, you’ll catch a quick shuttle bus from the train station. It’s a good idea to budget an extra 10-15 minutes for this.

Now it’s time to book your flight and pack your travel bag.

For domestic flights, Reagan (DCA) is the best airport to fly into when traveling to Washington D.C. Reagan is the closest airport to D.C. proper (even though it’s technically in Virginia), small and easy to navigate, and has easy access to D.C.’s metro system.

Dulles (IAD) tends to be better for most international flights since it services more nonstop routes on international destinations, and an international flight to Reagan may require a layover elsewhere.

While I usually prefer Reagan because it’s the closest and easiest to get to from Washington D.C., I’ll often find significantly cheaper flights out of Dulles. Dulles is also the only option for international flights and—though large—a fairly efficient and nice airport to navigate.

BWI is only worth it if you’re coming from the north side of D.C. or are willing to catch a train from Union Station. Happily, you can find some cheap flights on budget airlines from BWI, and it often wins in terms of affordability.

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DCA is referred to as the short-haul airport of Washington, D.C, due to its 1,250-mile perimeter for destinations. Only flights to domestic destinations and a select few airports in Canada are served from DCA, so the airport does not have any customs or immigration facilities.

Airport: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Terminals: 2 terminals — gates A1-A9 and gates B10-E59 Airport Address: 2401 Smith Blvd., Arlington, VA 22202 Distance From Downtown Washington: 4 miles (6.5 km) Website: flyreagan.com Phone Number: 703-417-8000 Passengers Served: 23.9 million annually (pre-COVID-19) Destinations: 100+ destinations across the U.S. and Canada Flight Information: Departures and arrivals info can be found here

DCA is laid out in the shape of a J, consisting of 2 terminals and 5 concourses.

At the bottom curve of the J are gates A1-A9, with a semi-circle-shaped terminal building and 1 concourse.

Gates B10-E59 are situated up the long side of the J, with the 4 concourses evenly distributed along the full length (inside the secure area). Both terminals are served by public access roads for curbside pick-up and drop-off and have parking garages situated outside.

Gates A1-A9 are in the smaller of the 2 concourse sections with flights operated by Air Canada, Frontier, and Southwest Airlines. The terminal consists of 1 level, and the far end of the curve is where the ticketing desks and baggage areas are situated. Following the curve around, passengers will find a USO Lounge, conference center, and access to the underground walkway to the parking lot.

The concourse is only accessible for passengers as there is a security checkpoint at the entrance. There are 9 gates numbered A1 to A9 located in the rotunda and a small selection of shops and restaurants just after security.

Hot Tip: Dreading the security lines? Explore our guide on how to breeze through TSA security stress-free.

National Hall is split over 3 levels — level 1 is baggage claim and has access to some ground transportation services outside, level 2 is the departures level where you access security and walk onto the individual concourses, and level 3 is ticketing.

A large parking garage is outside of the terminal with access via a pedestrian bridge on level 2, which also provides access to the Metro station.

Security checkpoints are located at either end of National Hall, directly off of the pedestrian bridges that connect the terminal to the parking garages and Metro station. Passengers no longer need to re-clear security again if they choose to move around and utilize facilities at another concourse. Once you proceed through security, you have access to the 4 piers stemming off of National Hall.

On level 2 outside of the entrances to the individual concourses, there is a huge selection of shops and restaurants that passengers can make use of before clearing security for their flight.

Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines operate from gates B10-B22 at the south end of National Hall. Once passengers have cleared central security in National Hall, and you walk into the concourse, gates B10, B11, B12, and B14 are to the right, along a passage with moving walkways, a United Club, a cafe, and a bar.

Straight ahead as you head into the concourse are gates B15 to B22, a Delta Sky Club, and a small selection of shops and eateries.

The concourse for gates C23-C34 is situated off the center of the terminal, with flights operated by American Airlines and JetBlue.

An Admirals Club is located just after entering the pier, and the concourse has a good range of shops and restaurants.

American Airlines no longer runs a shuttle service between this concourse and gates D35-D45 for passengers looking to connect. For connecting flights, you now need to walk from one pier to the next pier, but this shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.

Gates D35-D59 are located at the north end of the airport with only American Airlines operating from the 25 gates numbered D35 to D45 and E46 to E59.

Gates E46-E59 are exclusively for regional flights, so you’ll only find flights with CRJ-700, CRJ-900, and ERJ-175 aircraft departing from here.

An Admirals Club is located on level 3 of the pier where gates D35-D45 are, and there’s a good selection of shops and restaurants on level 2.

Passengers can move between the terminals outside of the secure area by riding the terminal shuttle bus. Buses pick-up and drop-off on level 3 outside of National Hall and outside of the terminal building for where gates A1-A9 are.

Gates A1-A9 and B10-E59 are connected via a walkway near the conference rooms in the old terminal to near the security checkpoint on the south end of National Hall. The walkway is outside of the secure area, so if you are connecting from Gates A1-A9 and have a flight in the area of Gates B10-E59, you will need to re-clear security.

DCA has 3 security checkpoints — 1 for gates A1-A9 and 2 for gates B10-E59 in the National Hall.

The gates A1-A9 checkpoint opens at 4:30 a.m. and the gates B10-E59 checkpoints open at 4 a.m. All close at the last scheduled departure.

In the future, instead of these being situated at the entrance of each concourse, they will be re-positioned to the entrance of the National Hall so that ticketed passengers would be able to make use of the facilities without having to worry about leaving sufficient time to clear security.

TSA PreCheck lanes are available at all 3 security checkpoints for eligible participants.

DCA has a TSA PreCheck Enrollment Center located in National Hall near baggage claim 6, open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DCA does not participate in Global Entry as the airport only has a limited number of international flights and immigration and customs are conducted at the point of origin.

Mobile Passport is also not accepted at DCA due to the limited number of international flights.

There are dedicated CLEAR security program kiosks at all 3 security checkpoints at DCA. These are available from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m with enrollment also possible at all security checkpoints.

A Hertz Fast Lane powered by CLEAR is also available at the Hertz rental car center and is open 24/7, although enrollment is not possible here.

5 lounges are currently available for passengers at DCA, with the 2 Admirals Clubs and United Club offering paid day pass access.

*Hours are subject to change without notice. Lounge access may be restricted at times due to capacity. **Day pass for any passenger. Lounges marked as N/A only allow entry for eligible passengers in their premium cabins, frequent flyer programs, or participating credit card programs.

Hot Tip: Gain access to lounges without paying the day pass fee with these credit cards with airport lounge access.

There are no airline lounges that accept Priority Pass at DCA, but members may use their membership to receive money off their bills at:

If you’re considering membership, read our guide on Priority Pass memberships and the best credit cards for Priority Pass.

It’s unusual for an airport to have so many choices outside of the secure area, but DCA has a good selection of restaurants, cafes, and fast food in National Hall.

Free Wi-Fi is provided for passengers in the terminal and concourse areas. To connect, select “FlyReagan” and input your email address and zip code when prompted. For any assistance, passengers may email .

Charging Stations: Free charging points are available throughout the airport, in restaurants, at the departure gates, and baggage claim areas.

Hot Tip: Not all airports offer free Wi-Fi. If you don’t want to worry about being disconnected, think about investing in a mobile hotspot to keep you connected.

DCA’s lost and found office is located in the old terminal outside the secure area and is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Passengers may contact the office by completing this form or phoning 703-417-0110.

If an item is left on an aircraft, then passengers must contact the applicable airline.

If an item is lost at a security checkpoint, then passengers must contact TSA lost and found.

Information desks are staffed by Travelers Aid volunteers and are open:

These information desks can be found at:

Blue courtesy telephones are also located throughout the airport connecting directly to the information desks.

Unfortunately, DCA doesn’t have a children’s play area, which is why it hasn’t made the top 10 most kid-friendly airports in the U.S.

DCA has 3 nursing rooms located at:

DCA has 6 pet relief areas located at:

DCA has 1 duty-free shop located in the A concourse (gates A1-A9) inside the secure area.

Smoking is only permitted outside of the terminals, at least 10 feet from the doorways where ashtrays are provided.

ATMs are located throughout the airport and foreign currency services are available in the National Hall near the entrance to the regional pier.

Baggage storage is not provided by the airport but is available through an external company BagHop. You’ll find BagHop on the baggage level of National Hall between doors 5 and 6.

Customer Service: 703-417-8000

Parking: 703-417-7275

Lost and Found: 703-417-0110

Greyhound buses don’t serve the airport directly, but passengers can access services from the Greyhound terminal behind Union Station. To reach Union Station, passengers can ride the Metro yellow line directly from the airport.

Charter buses are only permitted to operate from outside National Hall on the upper level, and off-airport shuttles (such as hotel shuttles) may stop at both terminals. At National Hall, this is in the same location as charter buses, and for the area by gates A1-A9, this is from the middle curb.

The Metrorail system serves destinations across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, including a stop at DCA. The airport station is on an elevated level, connected to National Hall via walkways from the terminal building.

The yellow and blue lines stop at DCA, serving downtown Washington, D.C., and many other destinations across the city.

Taxis are available 24/7 from the airport, and a DCA customer service representative will assist passengers. Taxis at gates A1-A9 park up at the closest curb to the terminal, and at National Hall, they can be found outside of baggage claim door number 5. Fares to downtown are around $20, excluding tip.

Lyft, Uber, and Via operate from DCA and may pick up passengers at these designated areas:

Head down 14th Street NW/US-1 S and merge onto I-395 S towards Richmond. Take exit 10B for George Washington Memorial Parkway S towards Reagan National Airport/Mt. Vernon and continue straight on George Washington Memorial Parkway until you reach the airport’s West Entrance Road.

Take MD-295 S and keep left to stay on Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Continue on MD-201 and then on to MD-295. Take the right 2 lanes to exit 1B-C towards I-695/Route 395/Downtown and keep right on I-695. Merge onto I-395 S and then take exit 10B for George Washington Memorial Parkway S towards Reagan National Airport/Mt. Vernon and continue straight until you reach the airport’s West Entrance Road.

DCA has 4 parking areas around the airport, with over 8,800 spaces available.

The A, B, and C parking garages are located outside of their respective terminals and are connected by walkways. The A garage is connected to the terminal via an underground pedestrian tunnel, and the B and C garages are connected to the terminal via bridge walkways.

The terminal shuttle bus stops outside of each parking lot, as well as each terminal.

The 3 parking lots have the same parking fees:

Hot Tip: Electric charging points are located on the ground level of garages B and C for passengers looking to charge up while they’re away.

DCA has an uncovered economy parking lot located a short distance from the terminals, with shuttle buses transporting passengers.

Daily parking is charged at $17, with no hourly parking available.

Visitors picking up passengers may pull over on the furthest curb at the terminal serving gates A1-A9 or the second curb at National Hall.

While the terminal roadway construction takes place, the cell phone waiting lot has been temporarily closed.

Hot Tip: Visitors can park free for up to 1 hour in the terminal parking lots while the cell phone lot remains closed.

With daily parking at DCA costing $17 to $22, off-site parking lots can save passengers over 50%.

Parking for DCA starts at $9 per day when booked with airportparkingreservations.com, and these external parking lots usually include courtesy shuttles to and from the airport.

Parking for passengers with disabilities is available at all official airport parking lots. In the terminal garages, these spaces are located closest to the pedestrian walkways and elevators, and in the economy parking lot, spaces are closest to the shuttle bus stops.

The on-airport shuttle buses are equipped with chairlifts or ramps for wheelchair access.

General Inquiries: 703-417-7275

The rental car center is on airport property located on the first floor of terminal garage A.

The following companies are located in the rental car center:

Hot Tip: Avoid paying for expensive insurance by checking out these credit cards with rental car insurance.

There’s no accommodation on airport property, but the closest hotels are only a short distance away. As DCA is situated close to downtown Washington, D.C., visitors can explore all the city has to offer while staying near the airport.

The Hyatt Regency Crystal City is great for Hyatt loyalists and those looking to stay close to the airport alike. The hotel has a free airport shuttle that also connects to the local Metro station. Guests can take advantage of the seasonal outdoor pool with a sun deck and whirlpool, a 24-hour fitness center, and 3 on-site restaurants. The hotel is a Category 2 Hyatt hotel and redemptions start at 6,500 World of Hyatt points per night.

The Westin Crystal City is an excellent choice for those who need to stay near the airport. The hotel offers a free shuttle between the hotel, the airport, and the Crystal City Metro station. Those staying at this hotel are also close to a variety of shops and restaurants, including those found at the Crystal City Shops underground mall and the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City shopping complex. Award nights cost 30,000 to 40,000 points per night.

Less than a mile from Reagan National Airport, the Crowne Plaza Crystal City offers a free shuttle to and from the airport, as well as an outdoor pool and fitness center. Guests can enjoy breakfast and lunch at the Veranda Cafe and dinners at the Potomac Bar & Grille. Award nights at the hotel start at 23,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Hot Tip:If you’re looking to top off your points to stay at any of these options, see our guides on the best ways to earn more World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, or IHG One Rewards points.

Recent developments have seen a new 14-gate commuter concourse (gates E46-E59) open at the north of the airport that has replaced the cramped gate 35X. The new gate area offers an Admirals Club lounge and fantastic views of the city and its famous landmarks.

With most of the airport’s services now being after security, this will allow passengers to move between terminal piers much more easily, without having to re-clear security. The redesigned airport is completely different than it was before, but it makes Reagan a place where passengers can truly connect and have a world-class experience.

Although technically an international airport, it has no immigration and customs facilities.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) is a real gem among the domestic U.S. airports. Its prime location just minutes from downtown DC have made it convenient for business travelers and leisure travelers alike. During the pandemic, the airport made two major customer-facing capital improvements that made a good facility even better. Now that the pandemic is over, for domestic travel, one might think that this airport, like others, would be humming along.

But the pandemic hurt DCA more than other airports. It is a great location for business going to DC, but with most government offices still working remotely there isn’t as much business. It is a great location for busloads of school children from around the country to come visit their nation’s capital, but those trips haven’t happened since early 2020. While other airports have returned to 2019 levels of volumes, DCA remains trapped in a pandemic-impacted traffic slump. American Airlines, the largest airline at DCA, had to change how they use the airport given these realities.

The greater Washington, DC area is served by three airports - DCA, Dulles Airport west of the city (IAD), and Baltimore’s Marshall airport (BWI) north of the city. Together, these airports serve a wide range of global airlines and many destinations. DCA is unique among them in that is serves only domestic traffic, and its position so close to the city and size of facilities limits it to single-aisle, medium sized aircraft and no international flights. There are a few locations, like Toronto and Montreal, that pre-clear U.S. arrivals on boarding so those flights can operate to DCA.

In 2019, DCA served 23 million passengers. This was a larger than typical proportion of business travelers visiting DC-area government, contractor, and NGO offices. On the leisure side, DCA was a popular destination for schools that would fly middle or high schoolers in for field trips. In 2022, a year that saw a good rebound in air traffic nationally, DCA served only 16 million passengers, a drop of 30% compared to 2019. When you look at all the biggest airports in the U.S., traffic compared to 2019 was 16% off 2019. DCA is still seeing double the traffic loss of the rest of the country, as the business levels have not returned and there isn’t enough leisure traffic either.

Airlines use the term “O&D” to mean origin and destination. It means the airports where a passenger first boards and ultimately disembarks for good. This would mean a single flight in the case of a nonstop trip, or multiple flights with one or more connections. Before the pandemic, DCA was principally an O&D airport. This means that most people flying there were going to the DC region. O&D flights tend to drive higher yields, or price paid per mile. It also means that since few people are connecting, planes can move in and out more quickly and this makes an O&D airport often more efficient. These are two reasons that DCA has been an airport that most airlines want to serve, along with the traditionally high business traffic share.

Connecting airports, like Dallas’ DFW and Atlanta’s ATL process a large number of connections. This is an effective way to serve many customers with smaller capital investment in airplanes, since a single flight into the hub can be carrying passengers with many different O&Ds. The downside of this is that a lot of real estate is needed so that many aircraft can be on the ground at the same time. It also requires many employees that have to rush while people are connecting but have much less to do once the planes depart, at least until the next wave arrives.

Three airports in the U.S. are regulated with slot controls. This means that the right to land or depart from the airport is governed by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and these slots have been granted to specific airlines. The three airports with this regulatory constraint are DCA, New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) and New York’s Kennedy Airport (JFK). Over the past decades, the slots allocated to these airports have grown and at these times the Department of Transportation (DOT) has run processes to ostensibly award the slots in ways to promote the most consumer benefit. Once an airline is granted a slot, they have successfully sold and traded these with other airlines, and they have become an intangible asset on some balance sheets.

Owning a slot, or a lot of them, at one of these airports is a valuable thing since the slots limit competition in the name of total capacity control. The slot is not just the right to land or depart, though. It’s more like an obligation, since not using a slot sufficiently gives the DOT the right to take back the slot and reallocate it.

In 2011, Delta Airlines and USAirways entered into a major slot transaction that effectively gave Delta the lion’s share of slots at LGA and USAirways a majority at DCA. When USAirways and American Airlines merged in 2013, AA became the major carrier at DCA and benefited from that position until the pandemic. But even when traffic volumes plummeted and haven’t yet recovered at DCA, AA has been forced to use their slots or risk losing them for good. For a period of time just after the pandemic, the DOT paused the “use it or lose it” rule for slots allowing all airlines to cut back when there was little demand. But with that rule back in place, AA is facing the need to use their slots even while traffic to DCA is 30% off of 2019 levels. They have responded logically by turning DCA into more of a connecting facility, to fill the seats from the missing O&D traffic.

I recently visited family in Albany, NY, and my nephew flew in from Dallas. His flight connected in Charlotte on the way to Albany but through DCA on the way back. This routing was his lowest-price option when booking from Dallas to Albany.

During the pandemic, DCA completed a major redesign that was called Project Journey. This had two major features that are interesting to view in light of the continued traffic pressure at the airport. One was to create a new regional jet terminal to replace the singular and much-maligned gate 35X. Regional jets need the same slot right as a larger jet, so more regional jet flying into DCA is one way that carriers, especially AA, can react to the reduced volumes. It also creates long walks to connect, however, especially if connecting from a regional jet to a full-size jet or vice-versa. When the new terminal was created, I don’t think the Project Journey designers were thinking about generating more connections at the airport.

The second big change was to move the security checkpoints to be before all of the gates. Before this, each pier of gates had its own security entrance. It also meant that it was easy for someone to fly in, have lunch with someone local at the airport, then fly out. Now that can’t happen since all of the concessions are inside security, but if connecting you can now do that almost all without having to leave the secure side of the facility. I say “almost all” because the original terminal at DCA, now called Terminal One, still has its own security screen since it is physically located far from the rest of the airport.

Overall, Project Journey greatly improved the customer experience at DCA and on balance makes it easier to use as a connecting facility. This wasn’t its intended purpose, but it works out to be good for this.

When the country was attacked on 9/11/2001, DCA airport was closed for a month and some were suggesting it never reopen, given its proximity to so many important government buildings. It did reopen of course but not until security procedures had changed. Smaller corporate jets that had made up almost 20% of DCA’s operations before 9/11, didn’t return until 2005. DCA has been through the wringer but has come out standing strong, and the current lack of traffic at DCA will at some point return.

It's worth noting that the Washington metro area also has access to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, but some in the region find it harder to get to since driving requires you to gamble with the traffic on I-95 or the often-congested Baltimore-Washington Parkway. BWI Airport does have rail service from D.C.'s Union Station, though it requires a bus transfer once arriving to the BWI station.

This comparison will look only at Dulles and Reagan National.

The White House is in downtown Washington and is one of the most well-known addresses in the country: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. If you're visiting one of D.C.'s other distinct neighborhoods, such as Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle or Adam's Morgan, you won't be more than 15 or 20 minutes away from The White House.

One of the biggest benefits of Reagan National (DCA) is its proximity to the city, only about four miles as compared to 27 miles to Dulles (IAD).

Traffic can be a hindrance getting in and out of Reagan National, especially with some heavy construction projects underway in the area near Terminal B/C. Rush-hour traffic is likely as you merge onto the George Washington Parkway, but if your flight arrives or departs in the middle of the day, it's usually smooth sailing.

With no traffic, it's possible to make it from Reagan National to the White House in 10 to 15 minutes. Reagan National Airport has its own Metro rail stop. With D.C.'s Metro system, you can access most of the tourist sites and government offices downtown via the Blue Line, while Yellow Line service will take you to Chinatown, the Convention Center and neighborhoods such as Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights. You can connect to other lines for access to more of the region.

Dulles is hit or miss when it comes to traffic. Most people driving to the airport will take the Dulles Toll Road, which has light traffic most of the time for the stretch running between Tysons Corner and the airport itself. However, the portion of the Dulles Toll Road that runs between Tysons Corner and Interstate 66 – a main artery into downtown Washington – can be busy during rush hour, especially headed into the city. It's also worth noting that the Toll Road is actually free of charge for drivers going to or from the airport.

Even if the roads are clear, it takes time to drive nearly 30 miles into the city. Budget at least 45 minutes to make the trip from downtown. I grew up in the D.C. area and have heard talk of building Metro access out to Dulles for as long as I've been alive. We inched closer to a Metro connection in 2014 with the opening of the Silver Line, which will one day extend to Dulles. The extension to Dulles is largely built, and could open as soon as the second half of 2020 — though doubts remain about whether that schedule will hold. For now, you need to take the Silver Line express bus to the Wiehle-Reston station before you can hop on a train downtown.

Winner: Reagan National's proximity to downtown D.C. doesn't just produce an easier commute, it also gives you some breathtaking views when landing and taking off from the airport.

With four long runways, Dulles is D.C.'s hub for international travel and a major hub of United Airlines. United operates more than 240 daily flights out of Dulles, including nonstop flights to 17 international destinations (15 in Europe and two in Asia). United's longest flights out of D.C. include nonstop service to Tokyo (the flight currently operates to Narita but will switch to Haneda in the spring), Beijing and Tel Aviv.

Dulles is served by a number of international airlines, including the following (as of October 2019):

Since the 1960s, Reagan National has been subject to a so-called "perimeter rule" (as TPG's Ben Mutzabaugh reported for USA Today), limiting the distance of flights in and out of the airport. This rule was passed to encourage long-haul traffic to grow out of Dulles instead, and has since been expanded from its original 650-mile limit to 1,250 miles. With that limit, most of the flights in and out of Reagan serve the East Coast and the middle of the country, though Congress has passed multiple exemptions allowing for nonstop service to Los Angeles (on Delta, Alaska and American), Seattle (Alaska), San Francisco (Alaska and United), Phoenix (American), Salt Lake City (Delta) and a few other destinations. In fact, D.C. planespotters keep a close eye out for the small handful of 757s flying each day on some of these transcontinental routes, as they're the largest aircraft "native" to Reagan National Airport.

The largest airlines at National are American Airlines and Southwest, with Delta, United, Alaska and JetBlue operating a smaller number of flights each day. American Airlines operates a hub at DCA, and flies mostly mainline jets from DCA to its other hubs. Overall, more than half of its flights at DCA are operated by regional affiliate American Eagle. United also has a large regional presence at DCA, with more than half of its flights there operated by United Express affiliates.

Although the name is "National" airport not international airport, you'll also find a few daily flights to Canada and the Caribbean, operated by American Airlines, Air Canada and JetBlue. There are no CBP facilities for travelers arriving to National Airport, but flights from airports with “Pre-Clearance” can operate to DCA as long as they are within the “perimeter.”

Winner: Although I have a huge preference for Reagan National, most domestic flights of four hours or more require making the trek out to Dulles. And with Emirates on one end and ANA on the other, Dulles' wingspan covers much more of the globe than National's.

United neglected its Dulles hub for a long time, but the airline appears to be changing course. The airline has opened five of its nine planned Polaris lounges in the U.S., and Washington Dulles is the next airport up on the list. Dulles is the only lounge currently listed as "under construction" on United's Polaris tracker, and TPG's Zach Honig reported in July that the club is expected to to open in 2020.

You'll find lounges at Dulles operated by many of the European airlines flying there, including Lufthansa, Air France KLM, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Turkish Airlines. All of the lounges mentioned above are accessible with a Priority Pass Select membership (except for the Lufthansa lounge) and some, like the Turkish Airways lounge, even allow you to board your plane directly from the lounge for select flights.

For all of this investment in the passenger experience, which includes a $1.4-billion train system connecting the different concourses, many passengers flying through Dulles still have to use the antiquated people movers, often referred to as "moon buggies" by locals. The airport calls them "mobile lounges."

Although Reagan is a smaller airport, it's a perfectly pleasant place to pass the time before your flight. The airport has good dining options both before and after security. I generally find security wait times to be short. It's easy to see how long the lines are so there are no surprises if you stop to get food first. Reagan is home to two Priority Pass restaurants: The American Tap Room in Terminal C and the Bracket Room in Terminal B. Priority Pass members get $28 off their bill at either restaurant, but check which card issued your membership because Amex recently cut restaurants from its Priority Pass benefit.

All three legacy U.S. airlines operate lounges at Reagan. You'll find an American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminals B and C, a Delta SkyClub in Terminal B, and a United Club, also in Terminal B.

Further reading: The best credit cards for airport lounge access in 2019

Still, my favorite part of Reagan National has got to be the views. Whether you take the scenic river approach to Runway 1 or land on Runway 19, with the pilots manually making the last set of steep turns to avoid the Pentagon's restricted airspace, you're sure to get some killer views either way. Be sure to pick a window seat for flights to and from Reagan. If you're like me, you'll even check Flightradar24 before your flight to try to guess which side of the plane will offer better views based on prevailing traffic patterns.

Winner: As you would expect from a major international airport, Dulles has more in the way of creature comforts and easily accessible lounges where you can relax before your flight.