A Pleasant Experience at BWI

Like most busy people who live close to DC, I hated going to BWI airport for years. As a matter of fact, I can't remember the last time I flew out of there. If my memory serves me right, it must have been in 2000. Since then, I fought out hard any time it showed up on my screen as an option. I found ways of ignoring it, and bypassing it (and flying out of Reagan National Airport (DCA) in most cases). However, last week, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't find a reasonable fare, even with connections, to go to Atlanta (another pet peeve of mine is Air Tran, so it was not an option, even with non-stop flights, and it was only about $50 less expensive than other Atlanta flights from DCA). Eventually, I had to admit defeat, and book a connecting flight from BWI with a :-( on my face. Frankly, I was hoping that some kind of divine intervention would happen - rain, snow, the person I'm meeting cannot make it, the planes go on strike, the car doesn't start... Unfortunately, none of those happened, so, 40 minutes after leaving my home, I was at the Express for Less Parking lot which I found on the BWI airport website (http://www.bwiairport.com/) The good news is, this lot is practically next to the airport, however, it is faster than the airport parking because you don't have to look for a parking spot for too long, and most importantly, you don't have to drag your luggage. A bus/van show up at your vehicle as soon as you park, takes your bags, and drops you at the airport in less than 5 minutes. As you board, the driver gives you a small paper with the parking space number on it - what a nice thought! Once I was at the airport, with my carry on bag and boarding pass in hand, I was in the security lane in less than 3 minutes, and went through the lane in less than another 5. I don't know about you, but in the past 5 years, I do not remember any time I went from the entrance of the airport to behind security in less than 20-30 minutes. This, at mid-day (my flight was at 11:40) was such a delight, I could vaguely remember that about an hour ago, due to an accident on the beltway, I had given up the idea that I would catch my flight. Now, I had so much time that, I could even get breakfast! (Before going through security, I also noticed that most self check-in machines were available with minimal lines - when was the last time you saw that???)

The story wasn't that different on the way back. First, our flight was early, and the gate was available (I'm not sure who shoud take credit for this, but no matter who, it was a pleasant experience to be able to walk out rather than sit on the tarmack and wait for our gate) Once I left the gate, the only thing that stopped me was a lady from Air Tran who was giving away flowers because of approaching mother's day. Even though I told her I was neither a customer nor a mother, she insisted that I take the flowers, and of course I did, can you imagine anything more pleasant than getting flowers upon arrival at the airport? Once out the gate area, 2 more minutes to get out of security, straight out the door in 30 more seconds, and was waving at the Express Lane bus in less than a minute. I was so pleasantly surprised at the experience that I didn't even notice that I had walked out the Departure doors instead of the Arrival area (lower level). Yet, the Express Parking driver was friendly enough to pick me up and remind me to use the lower level next time. This is the time when that little paper they give you while they pick you up becomes handy. Instead of telling the driver the number, you give him the little paper, and you are back at your car in less than 5 minutes. To me this is one of the most efficient ways of getting in and out of the airport. I could hardly believe that I was out of the parking lot at 1:20pm when I had a flight that arrived at 1:05 pm (scheduled for 1:15, another kudos for USAir, and one more reason to smile for me). As I drove back towards I-95, I looked at the flowers that lied on my passenger seat and smiled - glad that I had given a chance to this airport. As one of my life mottos says - everything happens for a reason, and this time it was for me to see BWI. If the flight times are convenient, and you are getting a better fare I suggest you also give it a shot, and you may be pleasantly surprised!

Note: Please take into consideration rush hour, events in the area, holidays etc. to make sure you are not going to sit on 495 or I-95 to get to BWI. During such times flying out of Dulles or Reagan might make more sense thanks to the metro, or Dulles Access Road. Of course, if you are close to MARC train or Greenbelt metro station, you may also consider other transportation options to BWI.