Airports Archives - Fishing4Deals

Dulles Plane Pull, Fun Run, & Family Festival

September 10, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

On Saturday, September 19, 2015, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) will sponsor an “open house” for visitors.

This is an all day affair, including:

5k/10k runway run
plane pulling competition truck pulling contest for kids
moon bounces
antique car show
vintage airplane display

Admission and parking are free! Free Silver Line Express buses will operate from Metrorail’s Wiehle-Reston East station beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Proceeds from fund-raising activities such as the plane pull will benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

Run the Runway at Dulles International Airport

5/10K Run at Dulles International Airport — 5/10K Runway Run at IAD

Dulles Day kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with a 5k or 10k runway run for registered participants.

The Dulles airport runway will be closed off to provide runners with a flat, fast course alongside the landing strip.

The 10k will run the entire length of the runway!

Runners must be able to complete the course by 9:00 am, when the runway will be reopened for aircraft traffic. Advance registration is required. Up to 2,500 runners can be accommodated.

Plane Pull for Charity at IAD

The signature event is the Plane Pull, an event in which teams compete to pull a full-size jet aircraft in the shortest time.

More than 70 teams are competing this year.

Two aircraft will be pulled — a FedEx plane and an United Airlines plane. You can join a team here.

Kids Truck Pull at Dulles International Airport September 19, 2015

Kids' Truck Pull at IAD — Kids’ Truck Pull at IAD

This year, kids can get in on the fun with a truck pull.

Teams of eight will compete to see who can pull a big red junk truck 12 feet the fastest.

You can register at the festival starting at 11:30 am. There is a $10 donation to participate. Participants will receive a Truck Pull tee shirt.

Dulles Day Family Fun Festival 2015

At 10:30 a.m., the gates to the airfield open for the free family festival.

Additional family fun activities at Dulles Day include:

Airfield tours aboard the mobile lounges for $1 per person
Kids’ play area with bounce houses, truck pull and dunk-a-cop tank
Equipment displays by Airports Authority Police, Fire and Rescue and Maintenance
Ride in an Airports Authority fire truck for a $5 donation to Special Olympics
Police K-9 demonstrations on the half hour
Food and beverages available for purchase
Aircraft on display
Classic car show

Aircraft on Display at Dulles Day

Look for more than 40 aircraft on display, including:

U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jet
U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt (close air-support aircraft)
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey (tiltrotor helicopter-plane)
U.S. Navy HT-28 (Bell Jet Ranger helicopter trainer)
U.S. Coast Guard Rescue “Dolphin” Helicopter
DC-3 “Miss Virginia”
DC-3 “Tabitha May”
Nakajima Japanese bomber “Kate”
PBY Catalina (WWII Patrol Bomber)
Bell 429 Helicopter
Hughes 500D Helicopter
TBM Avenger (WWII torpedo bomber)
DHC-1 Chipmunk (WWII primary trainer)
L-5 Sentinel (WWII “Flying Jeep”)
L-39 Albatross (Czech built high-performance jet trainer)
T-6 Texan (WWII advanced trainer)
T-28 Trojan (WWII advanced trainer)
Yak-3 (WWII Soviet fighter aircraft)
Stearman PT-17 Biplane
Kodiak, high wing float & cargo aircraft
Piper J-3 Cub (WWII utility aircraft)

17th Annual Dulles Day Classic Car and Motorcycle Show

Check out the cars, trucks and motorcycles on display at the Dulles Day car show. You can help vote on the winners in the following catagories:

CAR SHOW CLASSES

“Best of the Brass and Antique” (through 1925, Car or Truck)
“Best of the Classic Era” (1926-1948, Car or Truck)
“Best of the Chrome and Fins” (1949-1963, Car or Truck)
“Best of the Muscle Era” (1964-1971, Car or Truck)
“Best of the OPEC Era” (1972-1983, Car or Truck)
“Best Import” (Tuner)
“Best Custom” (Hot Rod Car or Truck)
“Best American Sports Car”
“Best Imported Sports Car”
“Best In Show” (Car or Truck)
“People’s Choice” (Car or Truck)

MOTOCYCLE CLASSES

“Top American Motorcycle”
“Top Import Motorcycle”
“Best Custom Motorcycle”
“Best in Show” (Motorcycle)
“People’s Choice” (Motorcycle)

Want to enter your vehicle? Here’s the registration form.

Exclusive: First Look at Paris Orly OpenSkies Lounge

July 21, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

Pets are welcome in the new lounge at ORL — Pets are welcome in the new OpenSkies/British Airways lounge at Paris Orly

On our way home from Paris, we stopped in the spanking new British Airways/OpenSkies lounge at Orly Airport (ORL).

The new lounge, known as 212 Orly West, opened on July 4, 2015.

It is located airside in Hall 3 in the Orly West terminal.

After clearing security, the lounge is on the lower level.

The lounge is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with catering adapted to flight times.

The following passengers are eligible to visit the lounge:

OpenSkies Biz Bed customers traveling to New York
British Airways Club Europe customers traveling to London Heathrow
British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver Members
oneworld Emerald and Sapphire card holders

Lounge Rats Will Enjoy the British Airways/OpenSkies Lounge at Orly West

The menu of food and drink offerings at the OpenSkies/British Airways Lounge at Orly Airport in Paris

I am not much of a lounge afficiaonado so I don’t have much basis for comparison.

But I can share some pictures of the food and beverage offerings and the accommodations.

There were a variety of snack items available including raw veggies, fresh fruit, yogurt, nuts, and potato chips, as well as a number of uniquely French foods.

There were freshly baked rolls, and three types of croissants to choose from, and small sandwiches.

Beverage choices included French wine and champagne, the usual juices and sodas, and espresso.

All in all, one could make a nice lunch from the spread at the lounge, but the food was nothing to write home about.

There was a nice selection of pastries available for dessert.

French pastries at the new OpenSkies lounge at Orly airport

I would bet that the lounge caterer also provides the in-flight meals on OpenSkies, as several of the food offerings were the same.

Fruit tartare at 212 British Airways Lounge — Fruit tartare at 212 Orly West lounge

The pasta salad with salmon was delicious!

212 Orly West British Airways Lounge — French wine, cheese and salmon pasta salad

You can pour yourself a drink or a glass of champagne at the self-service bar.

You can pour yourself a drink at the self-service bar — The liquor selection at the new lounge at ORY

212 Orly West Lounge Has Modern Furnishings

The seating at the 212 Orly West lounge is comfortable.

There are electric outlets at each seat to charge your phone and laptop.

The windows are reminiscent of airplane windows

212 Orly West is a quiet lounge, so there are no announcements of flight boardings.

A Crested Chinese Powder Puff enjoying the amenities — A Crested Chinese Powder Puff enjoying the lounge amenities

As you would expect, there are free newspapers and magazines.

Modern furniture at the new lounge at Orly West

There’s a television in the reception area.

212 Orly West OpenSkies Lounge — Is that a money belt she’s wearing, or . . .

After relaxing for a while, it is time to board the plane.

We could see our airplane from the lounge — View of our airplane from the lounge

Destination DCA: Behind the Scenes Tour

June 16, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

Happy 74th Birthday, DCA!Happy 74th Birthday, DCA! — Happy 74th Birthday, DCA!

To celebrate the 74th anniversary of Reagan National Airport (DCA), the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is holding a behind the scenes tour of operations at the airport.

Destination DCA will give 25 lucky participants insight into the past, present and future of Reagan National Airport.

MWAA will randomly select 25 guests for lunch and a guided tour of the airfield at DCA.

The event will take place on June 23, 2015 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To enter for a chance to attend, go to http://www.mwaa.com/reagan/8025.htm.

Entries open open Tuesday, June 16, 2015 and close on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 12:00 noon (Eastern Time).

This event sounds like great fun!

Aviation Fans: View Aer Lingus Airbus Inaugural Flight into Dulles

April 28, 2015April 23, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

Aer Lingus Inaugural Airbus Flight into IAD — Discover Dulles: Watch this A330 land on May 1, 2015

The Aer Lingus Airbus A330 is making its inaugural flight from flight from Dublin, Ireland into Dulles International Airport (IAD) on May 1, 2015.

45 lucky people will be invited to view the landing and get a behind the scenes tour of the Ramp Control Towers and Operations at IAD.

I attended one of these “Discover Dulles” events last summer and it was a blast!

Click here to enter the contest for a chance to be a part of this historical event.

Continue reading —>

How to Secure a Parking Spot at DCA

February 27, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

Check Parking Availability for DCA Online

Don’t leave things to chance. If you are flying out of Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) you can check the live parking status online before you leave your home or office.

Parking at DCA can be tight, especially on holidays.

There are only about 2,800 spaces in the economy lot, and limited offsite parking.

Even better, you can reserve a parking space in advance via ePark. You can make your reservation online at FlyReagan.com from 24 hours to six months in advance of your trip.

Better yet, leave your car at home at take the Metro!

Guarantee Your Parking Space Advance at DCA

Reserve A Parking Space in Advance at DCA

ePark customers are guaranteed a spot in their chosen parking lot, even if the signs say the lot is full. You can open the entry and exit gate with the credit card linked to your online reservation.

There is no fee to make a reservation online!

Reservations can be changed or canceled online up to 24 hours before arrival time, free of charge.

How To Make a Parking Reservation at DCA

There are six simple steps to making a successful online parking reservation:

Select your date and time
Choose the parking garage or lot
Complete your personal information
Provide your credit card payment details
Print out your confirmation email
Bring the credit card you used in order to enter and exit the parking facility!

A 24/7 customer service center at 703-417-PARK (7275) handles all inquiries for parking customers, including ePark.

Easy, peasy, and good to know if you are traveling at a peak time!

Discount Parking @BWI is Back!

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

Groupon is offering quite the deal on offsite parking near Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport: just $4.50 per day if you buy a Groupon for three consecutive days. The vendor is Econopark.

Just search for “airport parking” from the Groupon home page.

Econopark is open 24 hours a day and offer continuous shuttle service to the airport.

I have used them and can attest to their good service. It is just as convenient as the on-site parking if not more so.

Three Options for Discount Parking at BWI

You can choose from one of three options offered on Groupon:

$14 for three consecutive days of airport parking at BWI with free shuttle service ($20.55 value)
$22 for five consecutive days of airport parking at BWI with free shuttle service ($34.25 value)
$30 for seven consecutive days of airport parking at BWI with free shuttle service ($47.95 value)

Econopark shuttles pick customers up at their vehicle and transport them to and from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

They will help you with your luggage and they offer free bottles of water — a nice touch.

The parking area is fully fenced and secure. You can reserve online at Econopark Express.com.

The Fine Print for Groupon BWI Parking Deal

Be sure to read the fine print to make sure this Groupon deal will work for you. There are blackout dates and other restrictions.

Groupon expires May 15th, 2015. Limit 1 per person. Valid only for option purchased. Limit 1 per vehicle. Must use entire promotional value in 1 visit. No credit for unused days. Must pay current non-coupon Internet-advertised rate for extra days. Cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions, coupons, or Frequent Parker cards. Not valid for valet service or cruise terminal parking. Reservation required. Must be presented at exit. Subjected to availability. Not valid Easter weekend (April 3-6), Memorial Day week (May 21-26), or Labor Day week (Sept 3-8). One day is considered to be 24 hours.

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks if you choose to use them!

Stuck at BWI? Go Take a Bike!

August 24, 2015January 14, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

Rent a Bike at BWI — Time to kill at BWI? Take a bike ride.

Did you know that you can rent a bike at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport for just $5 a day?

If you find yourself at the airport with time on your hands, you can take a bike ride on the BWI Bike Trail.

The 12.5 mile bike trail encircles the airport passing through pine forests and Andover Park, where the Thomas A. Dixon Observation Area offers a great vantage point for plane spotters.

Rent a Bike at BWI for $5 a Day

Zagster rents bikes outside the airport’s International Terminal, near the BWI Marshall Airport Light Rail stop.

You can reserve one of ten self service bikes for a daily rate of $5 for up to 12 hours. This has got to be the deal of the century!

Bikes come with seven gears, front and rear lights, a bell, and a front basket. Riders can make reservations with Zagster via an app available from the App Store or on Google Play.

The BWI Bike Trail

BWI Trail — Thomas A. Dixon Observation Area.
Photo from accounty.org

The BWI Bike Trail begins at the Linthicum light rail station, runs past a historic property on the grounds of the airport, the Benson-Hammond House.

The trail continues along Aviation Boulevard to the Stewart Avenue Bridge.

At the bridge, continue traveling west to the Thomas A. Dixon, Jr. aircraft observation area where there is a playground, bike racks, and restrooms.

Most of the trail is paved, with some boardwalk areas over wetlands.

This trail seems to be a favorite for bikers and plane spotters alike. Now you can enjoy it even if you don’t have a bike. BWI, which was originally named Friendship International Airport, is indeed the friendliest airport around!

Dulles Flyer: $3 per Day Offsite Parking near IAD

August 24, 2015January 10, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

$3 per day parking at IAD — $3 per day parking near IAD

If you need long-term parking at Dulles International Airport (IAD), there’s a deal available for offsite parking that discounts the daily rate by 70 percent — $30 for ten days of parking!

Dulles Park Fly is making the offer through Amazon Local, a discount shopping site.

The Fine Print on $3 Parking near IAD

$30 for up to 10 days parking at IAD — $30 for up to 10 days parking near IAD

Dulles Park Fly is located a few miles from IAD at a Fairfield Inn. They offer a shuttle service to and from the airport twice an hour from 4:30 am to 12 midnight.

Regular rates at the on-site economy parking lot at IAD are $10 per day.

The details:

Limit 1 voucher redemption per individual
Shuttle to airport runs on the hour and half hour from 4:30 a.m. to midnight
Arrive at least 5 minutes in advance of desired shuttle departure time
Entire value must be used by same customer within 10 days of first visit
Promotional value expires 180 days from purchase date
Dulles Park Fly
23000 Indian Creek Dr
Sterling, VA 20166

This could be a a good deal if you have a trip of a week or more coming up.

This offer shows up periodically on Amazon Local, but the last time the ran it it sold out the first day.

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks if you choose to use them!

What’s Coming to Dulles Airport in 2015

August 24, 2015January 4, 2015 by Fishing4Deals

IAD Flyers — Dulles Flyers: Expect Great Things in 2015

2014 was a great year for Dulles Flyers, with the opening of Metro’s Silver Line and the Silver Line Express Bus to the airport from the Reston station.

Construction has already begun on the extension of the Silver Line to Dulles International Airport (IAD) and beyond. Completion is slated for 2019 but I’m not holding my breath.

2014 Service Expansions at Dulles International Airport (IAD)

The most exciting development for Washington, DC area budget travelers was the arrival of Frontier Airlines low cost service to Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Cancun, and these additional cities:

Atlanta, GA
Charlotte, NC
Chicago-O’Hare, IL
Cincinnati, OH
Detroit, MI
Fort Myers, FL
Memphis, TN
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Orlando, FL
St. Augustine/Jacksonville, FL
St. Louis, MO
Tampa, FL

Another welcome service expansion is Southwest’s new daily, nonstop service to Las Vegas and San Diego.

On December 20, 2014, United Airlines initiated seasonal weekly service to San Jose del Cabo in Mexico, and seasonal service to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

We also saw the inauguration of Air China’s nonstop service to Beijing, with four nonstop flights per week, and British Airways upgraded service to London on a new Airbus A380 aircraft.

What’s Coming to Dulles International Airport (IAD) in 2015

In 2015, we will continue to see expanded service from IAD.

Beginning March 11, 2015, you can look forward to daily nonstop service to Seattle on Alaska Air.

On May 1, 2015, Are Lingus will launch nonstop service to Dublin, Ireland four times a week.

Earn Frequent Flyer Miles Without Flying

Southwest, Frontier, and United often offer large bonuses of frequent flyer miles for opening a new credit card account — sometimes enough for two free round-trip tickets.

Forget Uber. Dial 7 Car Service from LaGuardia

December 17, 2014 by Fishing4Deals

I have $20 worth of unused credits sitting in my Uber account, but when I flew into LaGuardia (LGA) last month I found a much better deal on ground transportation to Manhattan with Dial 7 car service.

I am a budget traveler so limousines and black car services are not my thing — but this car service was the cheapest and fastest way to get my family of three and our bags to the hotel.

The driver was punctual, polite and pleasant and the cars were comfortable, convenient and commodious.

The regular fare from LaGuardia to downtown is $34 plus tolls and tax, but I used a discount code for $5 off. Unlike Uber, car services are regulated and required to carry insurance.

How to Book Dial 7 Car Service from New York Airports

You can call Dial 7 at (212) 777-7777, but it is easier and cheaper to book ahead online. The airport specials available with online booking are as follows:

From LaGuardia Airport	$34
From JFK Airport	$48
From Newark Airport	$48

Rates do not include tolls or gratuity.

Special coupon codes are frequently available. Check these sources:

For instance, I recently spotted this deal on Twitter: $5 off LGA rides (Code: DECAIR1); $7 off JFK/EWR rides (DECAIR2).

When you get to the airport and have gathered your bags, you simply call Dial7 and they will direct you to your waiting driver outside.

There are many similar car services in New York — this is just the one I happened to try.

Everything worked seamlessly, on the busiest travel day of the year! It beat standing in the cab line in the rain or taking the airport shuttle bus and stopping at a dozen hotels.

Thoughts?