Washington, Washing-ton. Six-foot-twenty...
June 4, 2008 5:07 PM Subscribe
Flying to D.C. from Minneapolis at the end of the month. Haven't booked flight. Don't fly often. Need advice.
I'm attending a wedding in the Washington, D.C. area over the weekend of June 28-29. I plan on flying out on Friday and coming back Monday. Obviously, it would have been in my interest financially and with regard to seat choice to book the flight sooner, but I just started a new job and wanted to make sure I could secure those days off.
My main question is when I should book the flight. I've heard that sometimes deals can be had at the last minute, but that seems risky. However, prices seem to be pretty high right now, and, of course, I don't want to spend more than I have to.
Any other tips or secrets about getting cheap airfare are welcome, but Google can point me toward plenty of threads like that. Thanks!
Other details:
- Flying out of MSP
- Can arrive at any of DCA, IAD, or BWI
I'm attending a wedding in the Washington, D.C. area over the weekend of June 28-29. I plan on flying out on Friday and coming back Monday. Obviously, it would have been in my interest financially and with regard to seat choice to book the flight sooner, but I just started a new job and wanted to make sure I could secure those days off.
My main question is when I should book the flight. I've heard that sometimes deals can be had at the last minute, but that seems risky. However, prices seem to be pretty high right now, and, of course, I don't want to spend more than I have to.
Any other tips or secrets about getting cheap airfare are welcome, but Google can point me toward plenty of threads like that. Thanks!
Other details:
- Flying out of MSP
- Can arrive at any of DCA, IAD, or BWI
In my experience, BWI used to be the cheapest airport to fly in or out of. But then you're halfway between Washington and Baltimore and have to get around.
I wouldn't wait. The airlines have gotten much, much better at efficiently filling airplanes.
posted by Naberius at 5:20 PM on June 4, 2008
I wouldn't wait. The airlines have gotten much, much better at efficiently filling airplanes.
posted by Naberius at 5:20 PM on June 4, 2008
Pick a service like Expedia, Orbitz, or one of the other popular ones and compare flights. If there are any regional carriers you think might be somehow cheaper, check their websites, but it's likely their flights are already listed at the same price at one of these travel sites. Book as soon as possible. If you have to rent a car, then an airport further away might be worth it. If you can rely on local transportation, then get as close as possible to your destination since it'll likely be cheaper. If you're booking a room, consider an airline/room combo that might be cheaper.
I didn't really book my own air travel or anything of the sort until in my 20s and it's really, really easy. There are tricks, but the majority of them rely on a fluidity in travel and time arrangements that it sounds like you don't have.
posted by mikeh at 5:33 PM on June 4, 2008
I didn't really book my own air travel or anything of the sort until in my 20s and it's really, really easy. There are tricks, but the majority of them rely on a fluidity in travel and time arrangements that it sounds like you don't have.
posted by mikeh at 5:33 PM on June 4, 2008
I'd book now because it's only going to get more expensive. Fly into DCA if you're going to be in DC or the inner VA suburbs. If in the MD suburbs, fly into BWI. If in the outer VA suburbs, fly into IAD. If the wedding is in DC, you don't need a car from IAD or DCA (Flyer bus and metro, respectively can get you into town at a reasonable price). Flying into BWI will require a car.
If it matters, the TSA rentacops are much more professional at DCA than at the other two airports. Only at DCA do I not get yelled at while standing in line.
posted by pandanom at 5:35 PM on June 4, 2008
If it matters, the TSA rentacops are much more professional at DCA than at the other two airports. Only at DCA do I not get yelled at while standing in line.
posted by pandanom at 5:35 PM on June 4, 2008
I've found some good fares with Kayak that aren't listed on Expedia; of course, try all of the usual air ticket sites.
posted by pravit at 5:39 PM on June 4, 2008
posted by pravit at 5:39 PM on June 4, 2008
You don't need a car if you fly into BWI. You can take the B30 from BWI to Greenbelt on the green line, although DCA is definitely a lot more convenient.
http://www.wmata.com/timetables/md/b30.pdf
posted by ootsocsid at 5:44 PM on June 4, 2008
http://www.wmata.com/timetables/md/b30.pdf
posted by ootsocsid at 5:44 PM on June 4, 2008
Book something on travelocity, expedia or orbitz and pay for insurance. If I recall correctly, it is only about $15-20. If you happen to find something cheaper at the last minute (sometimes american airlines and others advertise great sales starting tuesday or wednesday for flights departing on friday), cancel your original reservations and book the cheaper ones. This might not be practical if you have limited credit available on your credit card or are using a check card, because it could take a week or so to get the refund.
Which city is the wedding in? That should be a determining factor in deciding which airport is going to be best. For instance, if you fly into IAD and the wedding is in alexandria, you'll have to factor in the cost of getting to the hotel from the airport, and back again. If the wedding is in herndon, you'd be able to take a free hotel shuttle. Keep that in mind when you are thinking about the full cost of flying into one airport vs another.
posted by necessitas at 6:02 PM on June 4, 2008
Which city is the wedding in? That should be a determining factor in deciding which airport is going to be best. For instance, if you fly into IAD and the wedding is in alexandria, you'll have to factor in the cost of getting to the hotel from the airport, and back again. If the wedding is in herndon, you'd be able to take a free hotel shuttle. Keep that in mind when you are thinking about the full cost of flying into one airport vs another.
posted by necessitas at 6:02 PM on June 4, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the input so far. The wedding is in Rockville, MD, but my girlfriend is willing to pick me up at any of the three airports so long as it's cheaper for me. I will not be renting a car, so those matters don't...matter.
posted by kjackelen05 at 6:55 PM on June 4, 2008
posted by kjackelen05 at 6:55 PM on June 4, 2008
If you're going somewhere inside the city of DC, you definitely want DCA (followed by BWI, then IAD). During the week, you can take the MARC train from BWI to Union Station in DC for $6 (in addition to the aforementioned B30 bus)
posted by meta_eli at 7:19 PM on June 4, 2008
posted by meta_eli at 7:19 PM on June 4, 2008
1.) Kayak.com a flight. Don't last minute and miss the wedding.
2.) Fly into Regan so you can metro to your hotel/accomodations.
3.) If you need a hotel, anywhere that is metro accessible as long as it isn't suburban (Bethesda/Silver Spring/Gaithersburg/College Park) is fine.
posted by stratastar at 9:20 PM on June 4, 2008
2.) Fly into Regan so you can metro to your hotel/accomodations.
3.) If you need a hotel, anywhere that is metro accessible as long as it isn't suburban (Bethesda/Silver Spring/Gaithersburg/College Park) is fine.
posted by stratastar at 9:20 PM on June 4, 2008
If your girlfriend has a car and doesn't mind providing transportation, I'd shoot for BWI. Dealing with IAD has never been a pleasant experience. Hassle in the terminal tends to make up for any benefit due to physical proximity to DC. Then again, if you're being picked up, you may be able to avoid the long-term parking hassles I've dealt with.
posted by Alterscape at 12:54 AM on June 5, 2008
posted by Alterscape at 12:54 AM on June 5, 2008
I'm surprised no one has mentioned that this is Washington DC, and that's the weekend before the FOURTH OF JULY. Last minute deals? Yeah, right. Book it already.
posted by somanyamys at 6:55 AM on June 5, 2008
posted by somanyamys at 6:55 AM on June 5, 2008
Well the newswire today is suggesting that, in the light of Continental's cutting-backs flights are going to only get more expensive so you should book asap. I'll second kayak.com.
posted by ob at 8:13 AM on June 5, 2008
posted by ob at 8:13 AM on June 5, 2008
Response by poster: I'm surprised no one has mentioned that this is Washington DC, and that's the weekend before the FOURTH OF JULY. Last minute deals? Yeah, right. Book it already.
Yes, the weekend before, not weekend of. No one is going to DC to celebrate the Fourth of July a week ahead of time, especially when it falls on a weekend itself.
I booked the flight today. Ended up very pleased with the price. Thanks for the advice, everyone.
posted by kjackelen05 at 5:45 PM on June 5, 2008
Yes, the weekend before, not weekend of. No one is going to DC to celebrate the Fourth of July a week ahead of time, especially when it falls on a weekend itself.
I booked the flight today. Ended up very pleased with the price. Thanks for the advice, everyone.
posted by kjackelen05 at 5:45 PM on June 5, 2008
No one is going to DC to celebrate the Fourth of July a week ahead of time, especially when it falls on a weekend itself.
Although the OP has already found the answer that he needed, I just wanted to clarify one piece of misinformation, since others might refer to this thread for their future DC travel research.
People take week-long (and longer) vacations to DC all the time, particularly during the summer, and particularly around the Fourth of July. That means the week before and the week after the Fourth tend to be extremely crowded here (even if no one is officially celebrating the Fourth). Airlines have no trouble filling seats on either of those weekends, even if the Fourth happens to fall on a weekend itself. It would therefore be unwise for travelers to expect last minute airfare deals to DC during that time of year.
I say this as someone who has lived in the area for several years, and has often assisted friends and family with booking travel to DC during that time of the year. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
posted by somanyamys at 9:00 PM on June 10, 2008
Although the OP has already found the answer that he needed, I just wanted to clarify one piece of misinformation, since others might refer to this thread for their future DC travel research.
People take week-long (and longer) vacations to DC all the time, particularly during the summer, and particularly around the Fourth of July. That means the week before and the week after the Fourth tend to be extremely crowded here (even if no one is officially celebrating the Fourth). Airlines have no trouble filling seats on either of those weekends, even if the Fourth happens to fall on a weekend itself. It would therefore be unwise for travelers to expect last minute airfare deals to DC during that time of year.
I say this as someone who has lived in the area for several years, and has often assisted friends and family with booking travel to DC during that time of the year. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
posted by somanyamys at 9:00 PM on June 10, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you're staying in DC itself, you should consider flying into DCA. This gets you access to the DC metro and may eliminate your need for a cab, rental car or bus.
IAD is actually about 25 miles outside of DC. The Washington Flyer bus can get you into DC from the airport, iirc. Cab fare would be brutal.
BWI is about an hour north of DC. If you fly in there, rent a car.
posted by onhazier at 5:20 PM on June 4, 2008