Washington, D.C. has three major airports, and each one is effectively run by a different airline. That matters for award travelers: the airport you pick decides which miles are easiest to use, which lounges you can get into, and how you get downtown. Here’s how Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI) compare for points travelers, as of October 2026.
The quick comparison
| Reagan National (DCA) | Dulles (IAD) | Baltimore/Washington (BWI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggest airline | American | United (hub) | Southwest |
| Rail to D.C. | Metro Blue and Yellow lines | Metro Silver Line | Free shuttle to BWI Rail Station, then MARC or Amtrak to Union Station |
| Best miles to use | AAdvantage, British Airways or Iberia Avios | United MileagePlus and Star Alliance partner miles | Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Lounge highlights | Centurion Lounge, Capital One Landing, Admirals Clubs | United Polaris Lounge, Capital One Lounge, several foreign-airline lounges | The Club BWI (Priority Pass), Minute Suites |
| Best for | Short and medium domestic trips, closest to downtown | Long-haul international and United connections | Southwest flyers and travelers headed to Baltimore |
Reagan National (DCA): closest to the city
American is the dominant carrier here. In December 2025 the airline said it operates more than 255 peak daily flights from DCA to more than 90 destinations. The catch is the federal perimeter rule: most nonstops are limited to 1,250 statute miles, with Congress-approved exemptions. The airport authority lists cities such as Austin, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan and Seattle as having nonstop service through those exemptions.
Getting downtown: Metro’s Blue and Yellow lines stop at the airport, and WMATA says the station is reached by covered walkways.
Lounges: DCA has a strong lineup for its size. The Amex Centurion Lounge opened in July 2024 in Terminal 2 past the South Security Checkpoint. Capital One Landing, near Concourse D, is free for Venture X cardholders and $90 a visit for most others, according to CNBC Select. American has Admirals Clubs in Concourses C, D and E, but it said the Concourse D club would close for a renovation starting in early 2026, so expect the C and E clubs to be busier. Delta and United each have a club, and Upgraded Points reports that DCA had no Priority Pass locations as of January 2026.
Dulles (IAD): the long-haul gateway
Dulles is United’s D.C. hub and the region’s main international airport. United keeps adding routes; for example, it announced year-round service from Dulles to Cartagena, Colombia, starting December 17, four times a week and subject to government approval. If you hold Chase Ultimate Rewards, Dulles is often where your points work hardest, because Chase transfers to United MileagePlus and to Air Canada Aeroplan, which books United and other Star Alliance flights.
Getting downtown: The Silver Line ends at the airport. WMATA says the walk from the station to the main terminal is about 600 feet, or 7 to 8 minutes. Plan on a long ride, since Dulles is far from downtown.
Lounges: The airport’s lounge page lists the United Polaris Lounge near Gate C18 and United Clubs near Gates C7, C17 and D8; a Capital One Lounge on the ticketing level just past TSA PreCheck; and lounges for Air France, British Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. The Lufthansa lounge was listed as temporarily closed for renovations. Access rules are set by each operator, so check before you go.
Baltimore/Washington (BWI): Southwest’s stronghold
Southwest carried about 70% of BWI’s passengers in 2023, according to the airport’s most recent published figures. If you collect Rapid Rewards points or have a Companion Pass, BWI often has more nonstops and lower fares than the other two airports. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Southwest too. One change for 2026: Spirit Airlines, which used to fly from BWI, shut down on May 2, 2026.
Getting downtown: A free shuttle runs from the terminal to BWI Rail Station. From there, BWI says Amtrak takes about 30 minutes to Union Station and MARC about 35. BWI lists shorter shuttle hours for MARC connections on weekends, especially Sundays, so check the schedule before a weekend arrival.
Lounges: The options are thin. Upgraded Points lists The Club BWI in Concourse D near Gate D10, which takes Priority Pass and several premium cards; Minute Suites near Gate C3; a oneworld lounge on the international pier with limited hours; and a USO lounge outside security.
Practical tips
- Search all three airports. Most airline sites and award tools let you search the “WAS” city code, which covers all three airports. Award space and taxes can differ a lot between them.
- Price the ground trip. A cheaper BWI award can lose its edge once you add train tickets or a long rideshare, especially for a family.
- Match your miles to the airline. For American flights from DCA, Citi Strata Premier and Strata Elite points transfer 1:1 to AAdvantage, and Chase and Amex both transfer to British Airways and Iberia, which can book American flights. For United at IAD, Chase transfers to United and Aeroplan.
- Check lounge status the day you fly. Renovations, like the DCA Concourse D Admirals Club and the IAD Lufthansa lounge, change what’s open.
Why we love flying into DCA
We personally love flying into DCA. On many approaches the plane follows the Potomac River, and from a window seat you can often pick out the Washington Monument, the Capitol and other landmarks before you touch down. Which side of the plane gets the view depends on the runway in use, but it’s hard not to feel a little patriotic on that final stretch.
Museums close by: DCA also makes the museums easy to reach. Metro’s Blue Line runs from the airport to Smithsonian station on the National Mall without a transfer, and the Yellow Line stops at L’Enfant Plaza, a short walk from the Mall. A few of our favorites:
- The Smithsonian museums on the Mall, including the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, plus the Hirshhorn and the National Museum of the American Indian. The Smithsonian says admission is free, but Air and Space and African American History and Culture require free timed-entry passes.
- Museum of the Bible, steps from Federal Center SW station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines). Unlike the Smithsonian, it charges admission: as of October 2026, the museum lists adult tickets at $28.50 on weekdays and $37.50 Friday through Sunday, with free general admission on Tuesdays through May 18, 2027.
Lounges on the way home: Departing DCA is where the lounges pay off for us. As covered above, the Centurion Lounge is in Terminal 2 past the South Security Checkpoint, Capital One Landing is near Concourse D, and American’s Admirals Clubs in Concourses C and E are likely to be busier while the Concourse D club is renovated. Delta and United each have a club. Upgraded Points reported no Priority Pass lounges at DCA as of January 2026, so plan around Amex, Capital One or airline-club access.
Traveling for work: If you’re on per diem, Washington is a good assignment. GSA bases the rate on where your work is, not which airport you fly into. For fiscal year 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027), the District of Columbia per diem area’s maximum lodging rate is $287 a night in October and September, $203 from November through February, $295 from March through June and $192 in July and August, before taxes, plus $92 a day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE). That compares with the $113 standard lodging rate and, in Baltimore City, $166 for lodging and $86 for M&IE. The D.C. rate isn’t limited to the District itself: the same area covers Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church in Virginia, plus Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.
That higher lodging cap puts more downtown hotels within reach on a work trip. Two we like near the landmarks are the JW Marriott Washington, DC at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, which Marriott describes as steps from the White House and the National Mall, and The Westin DC Downtown at 999 9th Street NW, less than a mile north of the Mall. A room at or under the per diem rate isn’t guaranteed, especially in the spring peak, and government rates aren’t offered at every hotel. Follow your employer’s or agency’s travel policy, and note that GSA pays 75% of the M&IE rate on the first and last days of travel.
Flying United from Dulles or Southwest from BWI? Chase Sapphire cards earn Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to United, Southwest, British Airways and Iberia, plus hotel partners like Hyatt for your D.C. stay. You can compare current offers and apply with our Chase referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
For a domestic trip from the Midwest, we’d pick DCA when the award price is close. It’s on Metro, close to downtown, and its Centurion Lounge and Capital One Landing are strong for a midsize airport. Choose Dulles when you’re flying internationally or using United miles, but budget extra time to get into the city. BWI makes the most sense for Southwest flyers. The downsides: DCA’s perimeter rule limits nonstops, one DCA Admirals Club is closed for renovation, Dulles is a long ride from downtown, and BWI has few lounges. BWI’s own traffic figures are from 2023, so treat the market-share number as a guide, not a current count.
Sources
- American Airlines Newsroom: Admirals Club renovation at DCA
- Reagan National: Slot and perimeter rules
- WMATA: Airports and train stations
- ARLnow: Centurion Lounge now open at DCA
- CNBC Select: Capital One Landing at DCA
- Upgraded Points: DCA airport lounges
- Washington Dulles: Airport lounges
- United: New nonstop flights from Houston and Washington, D.C. to Cartagena
- BWI Marshall: Getting to Washington, DC
- BWI Marshall: Facts and figures
- Upgraded Points: BWI airport lounges
- NPR: Spirit Airlines ceases operations
- Chase: How to transfer Ultimate Rewards points
- AwardWallet: Citi ThankYou transfer partners
- AwardWallet: Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners
- Smithsonian: Museums and Zoo (admission and timed-entry passes)
- National Air and Space Museum: Visit the museum in DC
- Museum of the Bible: Plan your visit
- GSA: FY 2027 per diem rates for District of Columbia
- GSA: FY 2027 per diem rates for Maryland
- Federal Register: GSA FY 2027 CONUS per diem notice
- Marriott: JW Marriott Washington, DC
- Marriott: The Westin DC Downtown
Prices, points rates, schedules and entry rules change often; confirm details with the airline, hotel or organizer before you book. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
