airlines.. to dulles (Cleveland, Akron, Washington: buy, price, buses)

[airics]

anybody know if an airline flies nonstop to dulles via cleveland or akron.. or actually even to baltimore nonstop?

[NEmommy]

Try Continental from CLE, I'm pretty sure they fly direct to Baltimore. As far as Akron, maybe Airtran?

[airics]

$424 each way.. insane.. baltimore is $90

[NEmommy]

Originally Posted by airics

$424 each way.. insane.. baltimore is $90

$90 each way, is that out of Akron? It can be around 160 out of CLE depending on when you're flying.

[Ctown2VA]

I have great success finding cheap airfare using Kayak.com

You will find the cheapest flights on the internet to where ever your destination may be. Good luck!

Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets, Cheap Airfare & Discount Travel Deals - Kayak.com

[CHIP72]

United, which has a hub at Washington Dulles, would also fly non-stop between Cleveland and Washington.

I concur with using kayak.com. Use that site to get an idea about rates, and if the lowest fares are on a single airline, buy the tickets from the airline's own site to avoid some extra charges.

[BelieveInCleve]

Cleveland Hopkins goes everywhere, basically. I took a plane from Hopkins to Dulles a few years ago, it wasnt expensive and we got there fast. As far as the carrier, I dont remember which one it was though.

[CHIP72]

It should be noted that depending on your price sensitivity, there may be distinct advantages location-wise to flying into one of the three greater DC area airports compared to the other two. Washington Dulles is located in northern Virginia probably something like 20-25 miles from the District. There are no rail connections between this airport and the city, and only limited Metrobus connections. If you are going to somewhere in northern Virginia outside and especially west of the DC Beltway (I-495), Dulles will be the closest and most convenient airport. Washington National is located along the Potomac River across from the District; it is about 5 miles from the center of DC. Two of the DC Metrorail lines (Blue and Yellow) stop there, as I think do some transit buses for the agencies in Arlington County and/or Alexandria city. If you are going to the District itself or places inside the Beltway in either Virginia or Maryland, DC National is the most convenient airport location-wise. Baltimore-Washington International is located between Baltimore and Washington much closer to Baltimore; it is probably 25-30 miles from the airport to DC. The most heavily used Maryland commuter rail line (the MARC Penn Line) and Amtrak have a stop at the station, though you need to take a shuttle bus between the train station and the terminal. I think all or almost all MARC Penn Line trains (which currently run only on weekdays) stop at the airport, while SOME Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains stop there. Like Dulles, there is also a Metrobus express route that links DC itself with BWI. BWI is the most convenient airport for people in Maryland outside the Beltway, especially those north or east of Washington.

[pmkeating]

Southwest flies nonstop to baltimore. They won't show up in some search engines.

[hokiejane]

I fly Southwest from Baltimore back to Cleveland a few times a year. There are around 4 - 5 non-stop trips daily back and forth. I usually pay about $130 round-trip booking in advance.

Depending on where exactly it is you're trying to get in the DC area, BWI may be your most convenient airport anyway. Dulles is in the boonies of Northern Virginia and Reagan National is a pain to drive to. (Great if you're taking the subway, though.)

Tips for flying Southwest:

1. Book your trip at their website online for cheapest fares. (Note: You can't book Southwest flights through websites like Expedia and Travelocity.)

Southwest Airlines Air Booking

2. Check-in online 24 hours in advance online to print your boarding pass. If you lose it, you can always get another printed at the airport.

3. Southwest has a major hub in Baltimore, and you can almost always expect a line to check bags and get through security. Make sure you allow time. In Cleveland, I don't think I've ever waited in line checking bags because they have such a small operation there.

4. If you're going to do a lot of back and forths, be sure to join their Rapid Rewards program. I fly Southwest so much I usually get a free round-trip every other year or so, and I also use their Visa card to get them.