Best way to pick someone up at Reagan airport (house, construction) - City-Data Forum

alibaba1579 · 05-11-2010, 07:21 AM

We're leaving for our house hunting trip Thursday (yipeee!), and are flying into BWI. My parents (aka the babysitters) are arriving later that night into DCA. They're flying United, and checking a bag. What's the easiest way to pick them up? I've only flowen through Reagan once, and don't remember it at all.

claremarie · 05-11-2010, 07:40 AM

The easiest way is to track their flight, then plan to arrive in the cellphone waiting area about the time the plane lands. (You can track it online, or have them call you when they are about to take off). They can call you when they have retrieved their bag, and you can meet them at the arrivals area (the lower level) for their airline. The cellphone area lot is pretty small, but it's well-marked. If it's full, just keep on circling the airport roads until either a spot opens up in the cellphone lot or your parents call you.

juniperbleu · 05-11-2010, 07:40 AM

If you have a car, then wait in the cell phone parking lot. If you don't, then either meet them by the Metro or go to baggage claim and take a cab. United is in Terminal B/C, which is right by the Metro station (bag claim is in Terminal C, I think)

http://www.metwashairports.com/gallery/dca_terminal_map.jpg (broken link)

alibaba1579 · 05-11-2010, 11:15 AM

We'll have a car. So wait in the parking lot until they have their bags, and then we can drive by and pick them up? Or do they need to walk out to us?

juniperbleu · 05-11-2010, 11:35 AM

^^ Wait for them to call and then drive around to pick them up

South Jersey Styx · 05-11-2010, 03:10 PM

Don't park otherwise you'll pay for parking. Just try to time it right like everyone says and keep driving in a circle (the roads loop) until you see them waiting for you outside.

juniperbleu · 05-11-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

Don't park otherwise you'll pay for parking. Just try to time it right like everyone says and keep driving in a circle (the roads loop) until you see them waiting for you outside.

There is a free cell phone lot. But yes, any of the other parking lots will charge you.

ACWhite · 05-11-2010, 08:01 PM

If you'd prefer to pay for parking and be in the airport to meet them and help them get their bags, then be sure to check which terminal (A, B, or C) their flight will be arriving into. There are different parking garages for each of these. Watch the signs carefully that direct you to A, B, or C garage, and be sure to go to the hourly, rather than the daily, garage.

Allow a little extra time if you are going to do this, because sometimes the construction may interfere with where you are trying to go, or now that vacation season is approaching, the parking garage may be close to full and it may take you awhile to find a spot.