Flights to Washington Information
There are two kinds of vacations – great vacations, and great affordable vacations. When it comes to Washington, DC, the affordable can be attained only by two things. One – book cheap flights to Washington, and two – when in the city, spend to your heart’s desire to make memories that will last for a lifetime.
Named after the first president of the United States of America George Washington, the city is known as Washington, Washington, DC, or simply DC across the country, and is the capital of the USA. An important city with regards to world politics, DC is a top-rated tourist destination, attracting over 20 million visitors every year.
If you’ve seen the news lately, in June 2020, citizens of Washington voted in large numbers for representation – there have been increasing demands to make Washington a state. Even today, the US is said to have 50 states and the District of Columbia, with Washington fitting no particular category.
Wait, if it’s too big to be a city, and it’s not a state, then what is it?
The short answer is, Washington is a city in the District of Columbia but falls in no state, hence they say Washington, DC.
On July 16, 1790, the residents of Washington ceased to have voting rights, because the District of Columbia was a federal district. This meant that it was the seat of the US federal government, and was exclusively under the direct jurisdiction of the US Congress.
This held for years till 1961 when the twenty-third amendment allowed DC citizens their voting rights. But DC wasn’t granted a ‘state’ status and continues to have limited voting and representation rights (DC can never have representatives in the US Senate).
The city of Washington, now known commonly as Washington, DC, was founded in 1791 to serve as the capital. Fast forward to today and the city has grown exponentially in terms of political and financial importance in the United States.
As of 2019, the city’s population stood at 705,749, making it the 20th most populous city in the country.
Housing the Senate as well as the house of representatives, the president as well as the Supreme Court, the city is the center point of the country’s political and legal decisions. It is also an important world diplomacy center – 177 foreign embassies are located in the city.
The city is also the chosen HQ for many famous business groups and non-profit organizations like the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the American Red Cross, and the National Geographic Society, to name a few.
A city of great culture, heritage, and history is a must-visit for those that love traveling. What are you waiting for? Book your plane tickets to Washington now.
Washington Airports
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Located at the borders of Washington, DC, in Arlington, Virginia, the airport carries the IATA identifier code DCA and is also known as the Reagan National Airport, Washington National, Reagan Airport, or National Airport. The airport is nearest to the capital city – just 5 miles (8 km) from Downtown Washington.
- Dulles International Airport
The Dulles, as locals call it, is again located in Virginia, but is quite far away from Downtown Washington – 26 miles (42 km). You could choose to arrive at this airport if you want cheaper plane tickets to Washington DC, but using Silver Lining Buses to travel as well as the hectic, long-travel after an even longer flight might not be a great option.
Consider IAD (IATA code) only if your hotel is offering free pick-up and drop services to and from the airport.
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport
This airport primarily serves Baltimore, Maryland – situated just 9 miles away from Downtown Baltimore. You might get cheap flights to Washington from BWI (IATA code), but ultimately the travel would be even more hectic – the airport is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Downtown Washington.
However, if you’re trying to save some bucks and book a hotel in Baltimore, the travel to Washington might be hectic for sightseeing but in such a case, BWI would be a better option to book your airline tickets to Washington.
Washington Attractions
One of the first items on your bucket list has to be the White House – the official residence of the President of the United States.
The White House is also a major visitation site for its ceremonies, functions, and a museum. Public tours are available to experience the inside of the White House, although the tour is restricted to a limited area for security and confidentiality purposes.
The city has more to offer than political landmarks, though. Washington, DC has many art galleries and art auction galleries that attract art lovers from around the globe. The museums of the city offer a rich insight into the troubled history, the architecture, and the political scenario of the city dating back to the 18th century.
Some attractions you must not miss are the Smithsonian American History Museum, the National Zoo, the International Spy Museum, the National Museum of Health and Medicine, the Jefferson Memorial, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives.
One of the other noteworthy attractions is the National Mall – a park that stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. The park has a lot of modern buildings and a museum you can visit. Also, it is a common ground for protests, so if you follow American news you may have seen certain locations on news channels.
Nightlife enthusiasts board a bus to Georgetown – the one-stop for all the late-night dive bars, nightclubs, and clubs. Indulge in an evening of rib-tickling humor at one of the comedy clubs – Washington is one of the rare cities where comedy clubs still exist and are sure to lighten your mood and leave you with fond memories.
Some Flight Pre-Booking Tips for Washington
- Choose a direct flight if you have kids or infants traveling with you and the trip is long-distance. Also, research the number of layovers from your source to your destination, as well as the duration of these layovers, so you can pick a flight that’s cheap and fast, both at the same time.
- Book your flights to WAS at least three to four weeks before your departure, because the closer your date of travel, the higher will be the prices of flights.
- At the same time, avoid landing late at night or during evening hours so that your day is not wasted. The ideal time your flights to Washington should land is between noon and late-afternoon.
- Keep in mind the arrival time. If you arrive very early in the morning, confirm with your hotel whether you can check-in or not. If not, ask them if they have a decent waiting room facility. If you don’t plan, you’ll be stranded and might end up wasting your time in Las Vegas.
- Explore prices at all three airports if you wish to save on your plane tickets to Washington DC. The thrill and fun of Washington, DC is in its attractions, so don’t give in to the lure of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport if you’re tourists, unless you’re getting a decent deal.
Best Time to Book Flights to Washington
The peak season that begins around March lasts up to late-August. If the budget is not your concern, then the months of March and April are suitable as you get to experience the Cherry Blossom Festival that lasts for over three weeks.
Due to the political importance of the city, the times when the Congress is in session, as well as the period from mid-January to June, are occupied by lobbying and demonstrations. While airfare to Washington DC would be cheap, you’ll have to book well in advance to find good deals on flight tickets as well as hotels.
If you’re not a fan of the peak season, the offseason might work well for you, too. The downside of the offseason is that some monuments may be closed for maintenance, and shopping stocks would not be new. If this doesn’t bother you, you can visit between Thanksgiving and January, too, when the general atmosphere will be quiet and peaceful.
If you go by days, statistically, booking Flights to Washington DC on a Thursday afternoon can get you the cheapest possible deal nine out of 10 times.