Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Dulles' iconic mobile lounges are getting a major face-lift — and a second life
One of the quirkier aspects of flying out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., is getting set for a major face-lift.
Yes, we're talking about Dulles' so-called "people movers." Over the coming years, the airport's fleet of "mobile lounges" and "plane mates" is getting a multimillion-dollar overhaul. It's work that, like it or not, should solidify the notorious — and, dare we say, iconic — vehicles as part of the airport's airside transportation picture for years to come.
This week, Dulles shared a video on social media of a crane hoisting a plane mate in the air, with the "Star Wars"-esque vehicle precariously dangling in the air.
It was en route to a flatbed truck, which was standing by, out of frame, ready to transport the people mover to Brookville, Pennsylvania, for a two-year renovation.
People mover renovations approved
Last summer, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which oversees Dulles and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), approved a plan to overhaul its fleet of 49 people movers.
What is the people mover at Dulles?
The Dulles fleet technically consists of 19 mobile lounges and 30 plane mates.
Mobile lounges, which move passengers between concourses, are perhaps best known among Dulles travelers. You're likely to ride on one if you're flying out of United's D gates, connecting between Concourse D and the regional A gates, or arriving from an international flight.
The plane mates act as mobile jet bridges, transporting passengers to remotely parked aircraft.
Each vehicle can move more than 100 passengers at a time. Dulles is, today, the only airport in North America that still uses these types of vehicles as a regular part of airport operations.
A half-century old
The vehicles' age is remarkable, dating back to Dulles' earlier years in the 1960s and 1970s. They're so old that the original manufacturers no longer support the equipment.
Now, they're at the end of their useful life, the MWAA said, and they're in need of a "major rehab."
To kick off that process, crews disassembled one plane mate and one mobile lounge at the airport and then transported it by truck to the facility in Brookville, about 250 miles away from the airport in western Pennsylvania.
There, crews will spend the next two years designing and refurbishing the people movers on both the outside and the inside. The planned price tag: up to $16.4 million.
From there, the MWAA would have the option to proceed with a similar overhaul to the 47 other vehicles at a cost that could top $140 million over six years.
Crews transported the first plane mate to Pennsylvania on March 26, with the first mobile lounge transported this week. Both are now safely at the factory, a MWAA spokesperson said.
Does Dulles still use people movers?
The refurbishment of the Dulles people movers is intensive work that figures to improve the people mover experience for both passengers and the workers operating them.
But it also seems to make clear that the people movers themselves aren't going away anytime soon.
That's despite the airport's plans — now in the works — to build a new E Concourse to support United Airlines' hub, replacing the regional A gates, as well as the longer-term vision to do away with the existing C/D Concourse, not to mention the AeroTrain that launched service in 2010.
Indeed, the size and flexibility of the people movers make them a "uniquely useful" tool, the MWAA said in a statement to TPG this week. "As Dulles continues to grow, mobile lounges and plane-mates will continue to be essential for the airport's airside passenger transportation needs."
Translation: Whether you loathe the people mover experience or find it endearing, it appears they'll be around — in some capacity — for years to come.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.