Author Topic: International Connection in DCA  (Read 5715 times)

Offline Yordai Dooma

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International Connection in DCA
« on: May 11, 2010, 10:10:34 PM »
If i am flying into DCA from Canada on Air Canada and connecting with a UA flight to ORD...I am going to have to go through customs in DCA as that is where i am entering. Would 1 hour and 24 minutes be too short to get my bags, go through customs and get to my connecting flight?

Does anyone know DCA and whether AC and UA are different terminals? Will i have to go through security again?

Offline me

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2010, 10:13:45 PM »
As far as I know DCA isnt such a big airport (ive only been to dulles)

Are you flying from YYZ or YUL? If yes, you will go through customs before you board the plane to DCA...

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2010, 06:31:28 AM »
As far as I know DCA isnt such a big airport (ive only been to dulles)

Are you flying from YYZ or YUL? If yes, you will go through customs before you board the plane to DCA...

Flying from YOW. Would i go through customs there as well?

Is flying from Canada different than flying from Switzerland or Germany?
Wont i have to get my bags in DCA, go through the whole game, and then recheck them again?

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2010, 10:25:31 PM »
I never flew out of YOW but its probably like YYZ and YUL where they have US customs before you board and they land as a domestic flight in the US. It works really well!

(So no it wouldnt be like coming international)

Offline steve2

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2010, 10:38:27 PM »
 Depending on the time of ones flight alot of the DUB (Dublin) to US flights also get preclearance even into EWR

 I didnt know DCA even had a Customs & Imm

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2010, 01:38:14 AM »
I looked into it some more...it seems all CAN-USA flights are cleared through customs before boarding the plane.

In that case, would 1 hour 24 minutes be enough time in DCA transferring from an AC flight to a UA flight? Anyone know how the terminals and security are set up there?

Offline eliteflyer

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2010, 02:25:59 AM »
There is no customs and immigration at DCA. You will clear customs at YOW

Offline damaxer91

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2010, 02:29:46 AM »
[KVS Availability Tool 5.4.0/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: DCA]

                                         ** EXCEPTIONS EXIST **
                                                      DD  DI  ID  II  
STANDARD:         DCA                        045 060 060 060  
INTER-AIRPORT:   DCA  TO  IAD           180 180 180 180  
                         IAD  TO  DCA           180 180 180 180  
**END OF DISPLAY**                                              



Offline Yordai Dooma

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2010, 10:33:10 AM »
[KVS Availability Tool 5.4.0/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: DCA]

                                         ** EXCEPTIONS EXIST **
                                                      DD  DI  ID  II   
STANDARD:         DCA                        045 060 060 060 
INTER-AIRPORT:   DCA  TO  IAD           180 180 180 180 
                         IAD  TO  DCA           180 180 180 180 
**END OF DISPLAY**                                             




Interesting. Where did you get that from? and how does it work?

Offline moish

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2010, 11:28:36 AM »
better yet, what does it mean?

Offline steve2

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #10 on: May 12, 2010, 11:38:47 AM »
 KVS is a paid service that shows alot of stuff started up by a FlyerTalker go to FT and search around I think the 1st moth is a free trail period

Offline damaxer91

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2010, 11:50:47 AM »
KVS is a paid service that shows alot of stuff started up by a FlyerTalker go to FT and search around I think the 1st moth is a free trail period

KVS is the single greatest invention since Kosher Hot Dogs at Yankee Stadium :)

Though it may be hard to use for those who are not in the "industry"

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2010, 07:44:33 PM »
The free trial is not fully (enough) functional.

To Moish, you are right, not very clear. The numbers are minutes I suppose.

As IAD is the main airport and not very big, and made a couple of 1:40 mins transfers (coming for intl) I believe it cannot be a problem in DCA.

Offline Dan

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #13 on: May 19, 2010, 08:02:22 PM »
[KVS Availability Tool 5.4.0/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: DCA]

                                         ** EXCEPTIONS EXIST **
                                                      DD  DI  ID  II   
STANDARD:         DCA                        045 060 060 060 
INTER-AIRPORT:   DCA  TO  IAD           180 180 180 180 
                         IAD  TO  DCA           180 180 180 180 
**END OF DISPLAY**                                             




better yet, what does it mean?

D=Domestic
I=International.

So 45 minutes is the minimum connect time for a domestic/domestic connection, 60 minutes for any flight with an international leg, and 3 hours for a DCA/IAD connection.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline moish

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2010, 04:13:31 PM »
aha. is this accurate? 45 mins seems a bit long

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: International Connection in DCA
« Reply #15 on: May 20, 2010, 06:11:46 PM »
aha. is this accurate? 45 mins seems a bit long

there is the official time, meaning, if you booked a flight under that and it goes wrong, there is no one to cry to...

If someone would have bothered to chap the gadlus of my LX trips, you would see loads of 25 mins stops (not connections, as the flights weren't connecting ones in the 'lomdes' of tix)