Washington’s DCA airport shows off final step ahead of major transformation
Editor's Note
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is one of the most paradoxical airports in the country when it comes to convenience. On the one hand, it’s located incredibly close to central Washington, D.C., making commutes and trips to the capital incredibly easy and cutting airport transport time significantly.
On the other hand, navigating the airport when you have a connection can be incredibly aggravating. Several different sets of gates are separated into concourses that protrude off of one shared ground-side hallway, but each has its own security checkpoint. That means that if you’re at Gate 29 but need to get to Gate 35, you either have to queue up for a bus between the piers or leave the secure area and go back through another checkpoint.
But not anymore.
DCA on Tuesday officially reached the end of “Project Journey," a years-long effort to modernize and reconfigure the capital city's hub.
As part of the project, the airport planned to get rid of the notorious Gate 35X, open a new concourse with new gates to replace it, and bring the entirety of National Hall — that shared hallway — inside the security perimeter. That will allow air-side passengers to come and go from different gates and concourse areas as they please, also allowing them to visit the restaurants and shops in the hall without having to worry about making it back to their gate through the checkpoint in time. Those first two steps were completed earlier this year. As of today, new security checkpoints began operation and brought the project to its end.
Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) officials held a commemoration and ribbon-cutting last month for the recently completed new security checkpoints, the final major step towards moving the perimeter and making the airport more accessible.
There’s a clear need for the project, and it’s not just the convenience of transferring at different gates. Adding the new gates and concourse and making them easy to access was vital.
More: Farewell to the misery of Gate 35X, the only thing everyone in Washington could agree on
“It was designed to accommodate 15 million passengers a year,” said Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) at the ribbon-cutting event. “By 2019, it had gone from 15 million to 24 million passengers.”
The frustration and missed potential regarding convenience at the airport was obvious to everyone at the ribbon-cutting, as everyone from the mayor of D.C., the governor of Virginia, members of Congress, and the heads of the FAA and TSA.
“When people come to Washington, they expect the best of the best,” Washington mayor Muriel Bowser said. “I am thrilled that the reimagining of the hall puts the D.C. experience front and center.” Steve Dickson, head of the FAA, said that modernizing U.S. airports was critical — and linked it to the pending bipartisan infrastructure bill.
“The FAA is certainly committed to supporting the modernization of our nation’s airports, and indeed our airport and aviation system, big, small, urban, and rural airports,” Dickson said. “The bipartisan infrastructure bill includes $25 billion for airports and air traffic control, so we’re excited to see that come to fruition." [Ed. note: the infrastructure bill was passed by the House earlier this month.]
The new concourse that replaced Gate 35X, which is already in use, adds 14 gates and will house a new Admirals Club, which is still under construction.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.