V-Flyer

Hi All

Never connected from one US domestic to another (doing BOS-DCA-TPA) and just got a couple of questions I hope you can help with!

Will boarding passes for both legs be issued at Boston?
Do you have to clear security again at the connection airport?
How long is a realistic connection time, 35 minutes seems tight but if it's just a skip from one gate to another it should be ok?

Cheers!
James

Boarding passes: You are usually given one boarding pass with both flights on it, but this assumes both flights are on the same airline, or if not, both airlines have an agreement. If you are only given a boarding pass for your first flight, you will have to exit to land side and go to the check in desks, check in for your second flight, and then go through security again.

Security: You won't have to go through it a second time unless you need to get a second boarding pass. If possible, I would recommend printing both your boarding passes at home before you leave.

Connections: 35 minutes is very tight. I generally allow 1 hour at a minimum, just in case my first flight is delayed.

Hope this helps!

clarkeysntfc wrote:Hi All

Never connected from one US domestic to another (doing BOS-DCA-TPA) and just got a couple of questions I hope you can help with!

Will boarding passes for both legs be issued at Boston?
Do you have to clear security again at the connection airport?
How long is a realistic connection time, 35 minutes seems tight but if it's just a skip from one gate to another it should be ok?

Cheers!
James

I haven't connected at DCA, but my experience of connecting with the US is that you should get both boarding passes in Boston, I haven't had to clear security again (though this could be airport specific) 35 mins - that seems very tight to me. Even if you land on time, by the time you have taxied to your gate, the airbridge or steps connected - if you're last off your plane etc etc, let alone potentially change terminals? I'd be looking for a longer change time than that.

My last internal flight with a connection was at CLT and I had 1hr 5mins - and didn't really get much time to spare. And I was within the same terminal.

Hopefully someone else who has knowledge of DCA can give you a better picture.

Good luck!

What airline are you flying on? That could determine the answer. If it is the same airline then I couldn't answer about a connection in DCA other than it is possible you move from on gate in the same area to another.

However I will say that last week I flew out of DCA on CO and my friend did the same on USAirways. Although once checked in and down to the departures area we were able to spend time together, US had its own security check-in as did Continental

If the connection is with the same airline 35 minutes is realistic as you may only be moving to the next gate

Thatnks folks. It'd be with US Airways all the way, or United all the way depending on route we choose. US is DCA, UA is IAD connection.

Having been in DCA just last week I can tell you if you connect on US all you will have to do is go from one gate to the next as all the US flights are in the same area. You should be provided with both boarding cards in BOS.

I am sure it will be something of the same in IAD that you will remain airside to connect.

DCA is a nice airport with stunning views of Washington on one side including the White House, the Capitol and the National Mall and the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery on the other.

First the good stuff, if you're on one itinerary you'll get all the BPs when you check in - and if you're on one itinerary and US or UA have let you book with the short connection, they'll 'reprotect' you onto the next available flight if something goes wrong.

Secondly, DCA is small and very easy to navigate as HL says, if you're first flight is on time, you'll have no trouble making your second flight. And if that's on time I'll eat my lunch (two on time flights being somewhat of a rarity in the US!). But it's also perfectly possible (as in the bad case below) that your aircraft is the same taking you on to the next destination too!).

The bads news is that in the US aeroplanes run quite complex routes, your aircraft might be doing BOS-DCA-CLT-PIT-BOS for example on multiple flights and a problem in one place has a knock on everywhere.

As to security - almost always you will not have to go through again, most US airlines use a single terminal at major airports so if you're on the same, you'll likely stay airside.