Travelers Advised to Plan Ahead and Stay Connected via Social Media

Traveling to visit family and friends over the summer can be exhilarating. However, as the Fourth of July holiday approaches, Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport expect a high volume of passenger traffic during the days leading up to and following the national holiday. With additional passengers adding to congestion, travelers are advised to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Both airports have peak travel times, typically during the early morning (5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.), late afternoon (3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and mid-day peak (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has compiled additional tips and special offers to help passengers have an enhanced travel experience at Washington’s airports.

Enjoy New Eateries and Shops: Reagan National and Washington Dulles International are opening a variety of new restaurants and shops this summer. These world-class concessions introduce new choices, healthier and tastier dining options from popular restaurants, and better local, regional and national brands for last minute shopping.   

A full list of new openings is available here at flyReagan.com/newfoodandshops and flyDulles.com/newfoodandshops

Guarantee a Parking Spot in Advance at Reagan: At Reagan National, ePark allows travelers to guarantee in advance that a parking spot will be available when they get to the airport – from 24 hours to six months before their trip. Customers can take the guesswork out of parking by securing their parking reservation with a credit card at flyReagan.com/epark. At the airport even if signs say the lot is full, ePark customers are guaranteed a spot in their chosen parking lot. Reservations can be changed or canceled online up to 24 hours before arrival time, free of charge.

For more information on ePark and other parking options visit flyreagan.com/parking

Register for Parking Program at Dulles: Washington Dulles International is offering a great parking special for passengers this summer. Passengers can sign up for FlexPark, which offers unlimited parking for one monthly payment. Depending on the level of service selected, FlexPark allows users to park in general or reserved parking spaces in convenient locations.    For more information on FlexPark and other parking options visit flyDulles.com/parking

Take Advantage of the Silver Line Express: With completion of the first phase of the Silver Line Metro, passengers have more convenient access to Dulles International than ever. From the Wiehle Avenue station travelers can ride the Silver Line Express bus directly to the Dulles Terminal for a low flat rate of $5 – meaning now you can get to Dulles from anywhere on the Metrorail system for less than $11. The bus has free wifi, and spacious storage for luggage. Learn more at flyDulles.com/silverlineexpress

Follow for Airport Updates on Twitter and Facebook: For up-to-date information about conditions, passengers can follow each airport via Twitter, @Dulles_Airport and @Reagan_Airport, or through Facebook, /FlyDulles and /ReaganAirport.

Additional Travel Tips:

• Confirm the status of your flight with your airline before coming to the airport. Weather here or in other parts of the country can affect flight schedules across the air travel network.
• Print 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.
• TSA Pre-Check Enrollment Centers are available at both airports.  Applicants can begin and/or complete the enrollment process at either of the in-airport centers. 
• Bring government-issued photo ID to the airport for all adult passengers.
• 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.
• Passengers are reminded that fireworks are prohibited at all times and should be left at home.
• 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 customers should check parking availability online at flyreagan.com/parking. Economy lots tend to fill quickly during holiday periods.
• 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.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was established in 1987 by the governments of Virginia and the District of Columbia to manage and operate Washington’s Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports, which together serve more than 40 million passengers a year. The Airports Authority also operates and maintains the Dulles Airport Access Road and the Dulles Toll Road and manages construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of the Washington region’s Metrorail system into Loudoun County, Va. No taxpayer money is used to operate the toll road, which is funded by toll revenues, or the airports, which are funded through aircraft landing fees, rents and revenues from concessions. The Silver Line construction is funded by a combination of toll-road revenues, airport contributions and federal, state and local government appropriations. The Airports Authority is led by a 17-member board of directors appointed by the governors of Virginia, Maryland, the mayor of Washington, D.C., and the president of the United States.