BALTIMORE WASHINGTON AIRPORT review : 5 November 2009 : by S Koenig

Customer Rating : 3/5

BWI has been updated/refurbished, but it seems to have suffered a decline in passenger traffic, as have other airports. The one decent restaurant outside security that I remember is being made into a Subway sandwich restaurant. The two gift shops I found (Hudson News) were small and, curiously, did not sell TSA luggage locks (I seem to recall seeing these locks over at one of the area's other airports, Washington National). Also did not sell luggage (the only place I found that sold luggage was the American Airlines counter, to which I was directed by Delta Airlines; they sold only large bags, none suitable for carry-on). Security line was not long, and moved quickly. In Concourse C, the choice for dining included an overcrowded "pub," a somewhat pricey, small restaurant towards the entrance, and something fas food-related.

Baltimore Washington review by Michael Ellis

31 August 2009   Customer Rating :

I frequently fly through BWI (every other week or so) because unfortunately this is the closest and cheapest aiport from where I live. Although departing from BWI is always a piece of cake and it really is a very nice aiport, arriving here is another story. After several long waits in the baggage claim I began keeping track of the time and found that the BWI airport was adding, on average, 34 minutes to my trip. That's 34 minutes of just waiting in the baggage claim area. The longest wait I experienced was over an hour and that was not just for my bag but the entire flight! I'm not sure if this is simply mismanagement or if there is something else going on but after this last trip (50 min wait in baggage claim) I will avoiding flying through BWI whenever possible. I recommend the same to anyone else.

Baltimore Washington review by James Burke

15 July 2009   Customer Rating :

Flew in on Southwest, and out on AirTran. Despite the size of the airport, you are at your gate within 5 minutes of landing. The Southwest terminal is very easy to get out of. Light rail is a great way to get into Baltimore City, just be prepared to walk about 10 minutes if arriving on Southwest. On departure, there was a short line that moved quickly, with upbeat and friendly TSA officers. AirTran's terminal is basic, but has everything one needs. BWI is a very nice airport

Baltimore Washington review by S Cochrane

5 September 2008   Customer Rating :

The airport is nice and modern and convenient to the metro Baltimore/Washington area. There is a nice observation area in the center of the terminal prior to airside, which is a good place to watch planes and/or relax prior to your flight. Unfortunately if renting a car here, this is the worst airport I've ever used. The consolidated car rental facility itself is very nice and spacious, however the common rental car shuttle you must take from the airport is absolutely pathetic. I've used this on multiple trips over the last several years, and it's been horrible every single time. The whole idea of using a common shuttle should speed things up getting to the rental facility, however there are simply not enough shuttles running. Today, at 2:45pm, I waited at the USAIR baggage claim along with approximately 30 other people for several minutes for the bus to come. I was standing at what I thought was the end of the line, and it turned out to be where the bus stopped. I felt guilty walking on the bus in front of all the people who had been waiting, however I wouldn't have gotten on the already crowded bus otherwise, and furthermore, there was no organized line anyway. I was the first passenger on the bus, and it was already standing room only! There was absolutely no where to put the luggage, and it was cramped beyond belief. This is absolutely unacceptable, and this wasn't an isolated incident. I can't imagine how a handicapped person, elderly person, or anyone with multiple bags could manage this fiasco. There should be several other busses in line waiting at the busy baggage claim area, and when one is full, (meaning everyone gets a seat and has room for their luggage) the one behind it then loads passengers. Considering this services ALL rental car agencies and there aren't other busses to get there, this is pathetic customer service. If you are renting a car, I would not recommend using this airport, especially if I you have any large luggage (try DCA or IAD). If not renting a car, then the airport is great and convenient, however I give this airport a poor rating due to the absymal car rental shuttle service. A business traveler needs quick and efficient service, and this airport does not provide it to rental car customers. (It formerly had the rental cars on property, but moved them years ago to install higer-revenue parking garages).

Baltimore Washington review by A Johnson

22 May 2008   Customer Rating :

Flew into BWI recently on Southwest. Airport is easily accessible from Baltimore city (20 min by car, 30-40 min by light rail). Southwest has consolidated its two concourses with a centralized check-in desks and security lanes. Airport has been recently renovated, so facilities tend to be bright and spacious. Security lanes were well-staffed and efficient. Usual mix of shops and restaurants airside. Only drawback is that there can be long walks between the gates at the end of concourses and check-in desks and/or baggage claim.

Baltimore Washington review by Ian Lancaster

12 February 2008   Customer Rating :

I flew to BWI from LHR to take the train to Washington DC, being fed up with the long immigration lines at Dulles. BWI is a modern airport which benefits from not being a main international point of entry. I was outside waiting for the shuttle to the train station about 35 minutes after getting off the plane - unheard of at IAD. But that's where the good news stops... too long to wait for the shuttle bus and the airport Amtrak station is a mess - confusing, not good information and a slow, slow elevator to get over to the southbound track. But DC's Union Station is a great place to arrive!

Baltimore Washington review by E Tong

23 October 2007   Customer Rating :

Great airport with easy access to Baltimore. Interstate 195 spurs off I-95 and takes you straight to the terminal. Everything here is bright, modern, and flashy looking, including the parking garages which are linked to the main terminal with shuttle buses that come very regularly. I flew Southwest out of BWI twice and its been great experiences, a lot less crowded than other airports I've been in. There's a small aviation museum in the terminal and also an observation deck near the control tower which is good for waiting for flights. The food selection is very good and I would definitely recommend Philip's Seafood which has a location near the Southwest gates, this serves authentic Baltimore crabcakes/seafood. My only real complaint about this airport is that it's actually too modern and flashy, giving people false impressions of the area. Once they pass through the airport and drive into Baltimore, there's in for a pretty unpleasant surprise. Besides the Aquarium, no architecture in Baltimore can compare with BWI. I won't even get into why the Dominos sugar sign set on top of an abandoned factory could be considered a major landmark.

Baltimore Washington review by Gerald Klingler

31 July 2007   Customer Rating :

We flew in and out of BWI this summer using the international terminal - how easy and quick. Very nice facility. Even we travelled with kids - checking in and the wait untill the flight was no problem. People were very friendly and helpful. BWI is a true alternative to IAD.

Baltimore Washington review by Robyne Chamberlain

10 December 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

I really like this airport. It is a good size and things move quickly. My experience of the staff tat BWI is that they have always been friendly and helpful. It feels manageable.

Baltimore Washington review by Simon Briggs

9 November 2006

I flew out of BWI recently to go to ORD. I like BWI because it is a managable airport. The new Southwest terminal is great. This time I flew on AA to ORD. The airport is undergoing a major refurbishment and so there are not many options when it comes to food at the moment, but new restaurants should open soon. BWI is one of the most modern, convenient airports in the US. It does not look tired and dated like most airports I have visited. I would recommend this airport is you live in the DC/Baltimore area.

Baltimore Washington review by Geoffrey Atkinson

18 May 2006

BWI and Dulles are roughly equal in the number of passengers served they differ by under 2% and I am not sure which is busier. BWI is great to fly out of. Traffic in the BAlt/Wash area is pretty bad in general, so it can be a chore getting to it from NoVa. However from my place in Baltimore I can get to Philly faster than I can get to Dulles in even moderate traffic - but I am 10 minutes from BWI so that pretty much sums up my airport choice! Easy departures is BWI's strong point. The terminal is pretty well laid out, and very accesible Light Rail and train to Baltimore, train to Washington. Baggage claim at BWI is a nightmare - perhaps the slowest in the US. However Dulles has those crappy trams between terminals this alone makes BWI superior - even if it takes you 30 minutes extra to get to BWI v Dulles you can make up the time right there. Of the three airports it is hard to say which is best as I said before traffic can be horrendous skewing the equation. One thing is for sure if Baltimore is your destination Dulles is out.

Baltimore Washington review by Robert Clark

18 May 2006

I find BWI to be a great alternative to IAD. I've flown in here internationally a number of times, and consider it the best starting point for US travels. The airport has gone through a number of renovations, and there was still construction going on near the International terminal last time I was there in Jan 06. The airport is very well-kept and the bathrooms are immaculate. One thing that could be improved at BWI would be to extend the hours of some of the kiosks past security. I had a late night flight to Germany and nothing was open - it made for a very long night doing nothing.

Baltimore Washington review by Michael Mulholland

10 February 2006

Could I just endorse what is said about the attractions for international passengers over IAD. We were travelling with 2 young children. The staff were helpful and friendly, the facilities adequate and the place felt anything but crowded. Compared with IAD, it was heaven and even the downmarket MARC train got us into Union Station quickly and economically.

Baltimore Washington review by Nick Sheridan

8 December 2005

If you are driving to BWI and will leave your car, use one of the private lots. They drive you right to your car, and help you with your bags, in contrast to the BWI run longterm lots. With an internet coupon, Airport Fast Park is only $6 a day - a much better deal than the state lots. just make sure you get off the BW Parkway at West Nursery Road rather than the BWI exit. The website has clear directions.

Baltimore Washington review by A Stein

9 October 2005

A much better alternative than IAD for international arrivals. It couldn't have been more than 10 minutes from the time the plane doors opened until the time I was on the bus to the Amtrak station. OK, I missed the Amtrak train by 1 minute, and had to take a decidedly downmarket MARC train afterwards, but I still think I'd have been in the immigration queue at IAD instead of being at Union Station.

Baltimore Washington review by Gregg Hillier

1 April 2005

Flew in and out of BWI on a recent quick weekend trip to the DC area and glad to see that BWI is undergoing renovation. Waiting for the hotel and car rental shuttles in the torn up terminal entrance is at your own risk - the scaffolding looks as if it could collapse at any second. The terminal consists of dingy, dated Concourses with broken down chairs in the waiting area - if you can find a chair at all. Staff neither friendly or rude. The check-in line on a recent Sunday morning was unreal - thank goodness for the self-check in. Security lines moved quickly and runway congestion minimal. I look forward to the new and improved BWI soon.

Baltimore Washington review by D Olorunda

13 March 2005

For those living in, or commuting to DC or Northern VA, just completely avoid BWI if possible. Especially now that IAD not only more international flights, but also has JetBlue flying to California for $99 each way. Of course, Reagan National Airport is has easiest access with the subway stopping right at the terminal. Trust me, traffic to BWI from/to DC will make you want to cancel your trip, turn around and go home.

Baltimore Washington review by Annette Lamoreaux

21 October 2004

I have being flying out and out of BWI on Southwest for almost 15 years - first from Houston Hobby and now Hartford. It has always been a pleasant and cost/time effective route into DC. True, after 9/11 the security became horrendous, but even that didn't deter me. But no more. The new car rental facility is the reason. One of the advantages of BWI was the ease of picking up a rental car directly across the street - which more than offset the extra driving time into DC. I usually count on an hour and 15 min. from walking out the door of the terminal to checking into a DC hotel. Those days are gone. First, the "shuttle" is at the opposite end of the terminal from the Southwest arrivals gate - a good 10 min. walk. The bus operated by the airport serves all rental car companies, which means it is a) crowded and b)full of families carrying giant suitcases and screaming children. When I arrived, the bus driver made everyone wait until the bus was completely empty before allowing anyone to begin loading; this even though the disembarking passengers were leaving out the rear door. The offsite rental car center is a good 8-10 minute drive - its so far it may, in fact, be at Dulles. As a Hertz Gold customer, I am accustomed to being dropped off at the car or nearby. But my car was parked at the very end of the Hertz section in the garage - a walk which was unpleasantly long in low heels with one small roller bag and in 70 degree weather. I can only imagine how ugly it gets in inclemate weather. Nowhere was Hertz customer service to be seen. So any problems with the rental requires walking back to the main terminal. (There is a phone, but if they've given you the wrong car or anything which requires reprinting the rental agreement can't be done in the garage.) BTW, its not about the walking per se - but if I'm going for a jog, I don't do it in a suit, stockings and heels pulling a suitcase when I'm supposed to be at an appointment. Its about the extra time - about 35-40 minutes. All in all - a disaster. Having calculated my travel time based on previous trips, I was late for an appointment on my day of arrival and missed the plane for the return flight, the last that day. Southwest and other carriers bill BWI as a low cost and convenient alternative to IAD and DCA, but no longer. The extra cost of the fare (almost double on some flights) into DCA is now well worth it. Especially if you count the cost of hotel after I missed my plane. And even the aggravation of the sometimes unreliable Metro pales in comparison to the new horrors at BWI. Sorry, Southwest. Its just not worth it anymore.

Baltimore Washington review by Simon Bernstein

8 September 2004

There have been many changes at BWI, most for the better. There is major league construction so, delays (traffic) during busy periods can be daunting. However, with a little knowledge and preparation, flying in and out of BWI can be a positive experience. As several posters have stated, traffic to the airport especially from the Washington D.C. area can be horrendous. However, if you are coming from the DC area, tune into 1500 or 630 AM. where there are traffic reports every 10 minutes. You can then adjust your route and not lose valuable time. From Baltimore, lower PA and Delaware, traffic is not as bad . And, one Baltimore's largest stations foregoes traffic reports if the Orioles happen to be playing. Satelite parking is an exercise in time management. Many of our passengers have missed their flights due to parking issues. I recommend allowing at least 30 to 60 minutes. Bus service can be sporadic at times and, I've noticed these busses look like they were out of the 1970's. This area has hot and humid summers and many a time I've noticed open windows on these busses. Last December, the airport opened a sprawling ultra-modern rental car facility. But, this adds time and gridlock for rental car customers. Signage is adequate but, many folks get totally lost and do some amazingly outlandish stunts on the road. Food and beverage facilities have started their long journey toward much needed improvement. Recently, the airport authority (run by State of Md.) changed food vendors. The eateries are much cleaner and better run however, most of these outlets close way too early! Especially in our concourse which is D pier. It is not to wonderful to be delayed here at night when all these eateries are closed up tight. Gradually, additional food and beverage outlets will be opening at BWI including a Hooters. Security lines can get long however, TSA and the airport have done a much better job in crowd flow and management. Even on Thursday afternoons at 5:00 pm. (peak rush) lines move swiftly. With the construction, areas are cramped. Newer areas are open and airy if a bit stark. The new A concourse which will be Southwest's domain looks to be something when it is completed sometime in 2005. Pier D could use a much needed facelift. Gray carpet and white walls give the area a stark atmosphere which was all the rage when Saturday Night Fever was first run in the cinema houses. One pet peeve; BWI is expanding and wants to attract more international flights however, something as basic as operator/switchboard service terminates nightly at 11:00 pm. Our last flights (Air Tran) get in as late as 1:00 am. A vital link of important communication is severed because of no live telephone service throughout the airport after 11:00pm! All in all, BWI offers a wide variety of flights and with Southwest and us (Air Tran) as carriers one and two respectively, bargain airfares abound! With a little planning and time management you can have a positive flying experience.

Baltimore Washington review by B Leventhal

5 August 2004

I have flown out of BWI a number of times including flights on American, Southwest, and British Air. All these flights were actually quite pleasant if one can overlook the cramped seating. Unfortunately, what I cannot excuse though is the rude, inept, and confused in which BWI security, customs, and baggage handling deal with the flying public. At times airport personnel appear gruff, obnoxious, and unwilling or unable to conduct business with anyone who goes through that airport in a polite and helpful manner. For example, the British Airline steward on my return flight from London announced that American travelers did not have to complete a landing card. I followed that advice but unfortunately, found myself being shouted down upon my arrival at BWI during my passage through security and customs. I was shocked at such behavior which was unnecessary as all my other papers were in order. My next trip to London is in September with Virgin Atlantic, only that trip will be out of Dulles, not BWI.

Baltimore Washington review by Wendy Stark

18 June 2004

A couple of the best things about traveling to and from BWI are the new transportation and parking systems. There is a new "cell phone lot" where you can park (free!) and when your guest arrives they call you and you pick them up at the terminal. This eliminates the circling around that occurs at most airports and helps with traffic flow at the terminal. The long term parking is fairly convenient if you drive yourself to the airport - and it is only $8.00 a day. I only waited about seven minutes for a bus to take me from parking to the terminal. It took about the same amount of time to catch a bus back to the lot when I returned. Not bad at all!

Baltimore Washington review by Justin Davenport

25 May 2004

This month I got to fly into BWI for the first time. I like its decor and it's got a decent variety of shops and things to do. However, it took a while before our bags were offloaded, and there wasn't any signage that made clear where you were supposed to check in to get your rental car. As it turns out, BWI has an off-airport rental car facility where you check in and get your car - you don't check in with the rental car company at the airport itself. I'm not a big fan of this concept, and the bus ride took longer than it should have. BWI really should consider a light rail link to the car facility if it can get the money for that.

Baltimore Washington review by B Alston

8 March 2004

Responding to Saad S Cheema comments, yes Dulles has more international traffic, but according to the latest statistics, BWI is the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area in terms of passengers when domestic traffic is included. The reason why Dulles has more international airlines is because it is a hub for United and United has alliances with other international airlines. Regardless of whether tourists are going to Washington or Baltimore, more international airlines should fly out of BWI because: it serves more people, it serves two cities, not to mention it’s only about 45-50 min. from southern Pennsylvania. That means it has a larger passenger base than Dulles. I agree that National beats both Dulles and BWI in terms of shops and restaurants, but the new concourse being built and the new airport concessions agent will help fix that problem at BWI. The architecture at Dulles is beautiful, but highly unpractical and inefficient. Those mobile lounges are just stupid. And unlike BWI and National, Dulles has no direct rail link to Washington. It seems the only people who would find Dulles a better alternative than BWI or National are people who live in Northern Virginia.

Baltimore Washington review by Saad S Cheema

7 March 2004

Replying to Alston's comments, Dulles is the busiest airport in Baltimore-Washington area. Besides, a lot more international tourists come to Washington, rather than Baltimore. The best airport in metropolitan area is definitely Regan National. The architecture of Dulles is awesome, but it lacks lighting and shops. That's the only place where BWI beats IAD. I live in Northern VA, and the only reason why I would ever use BWI is that it's a lot cheaper when you fly through SouthWest. With the arrival of Independence air in Dulles, that's about to change too. I would NOT reccoment BWI to anyone living in DC or Northern VA. Even the people living in DC suburbs of MD are better off using DCA or IAD.

Baltimore Washington review by B Alston

7 January 2004

I have traveled through many airports, and BWI is one of my favorites. Not too big and not too small. Clearing customs doesn’t take a long time as it does in other airports. Since BWI is the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area I don’t understand why more international airlines don’t fly out of there like they do at Dulles. Right now the only ones that do is British Airways, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Air Jamaica, Air Canada, and Ghana Airways.

Baltimore Washington review by D Tockman

1 December 2003

I found BWI a very good airport while living in Baltimore for 10 years. The first comment about the airport being more Baltimore than Washington is absolutely correct. Washington already has 2 airports. Baltimore is a bigger city and its name should be the only one affixed to this airport. In terms of service and ease of use BWI is quite good for a large airport. The staff is helpful for the most part and most of the rude staff works for a particular airline and not the airport. Customs after coming in from London and Iceland was quick and easy.

Baltimore Washington review by M Hartt

20 October 2003

What a miserable airport BWI is. First off, it's absolutely more Baltimore than Washington, and while there are always a fair number of people who use it who are from DC/NoVA, it's a miserable trip up there from Washington by car (295 and 95 are almost always stop and go or a pain in the neck to deal with). Every time I've been at BWI lately, the approach has been a mess, there have been horrible traffic problems getting near the terminal. The lines at many of the airlines are horrible, most especially Southwest, and while they try to move you through quickly, the lines often build up and spill into the regular traffic patterns. The security process at BWI is also a pain, the lines are often very long and the staff seems disorganized, often there is no one (doing a good job of) directing folks to lines. People queue up and things just become a mess. I give BWI credit for trying to do what they can to keep the Southwest lines managed well, so they don't come out all over the main walkway in each terminal. Sometimes they do a better job than others, but usually this isn't a problem, like at some airports. I would never fly out of BWI if it wasn't so damn cheap. If SWA ever moved into National (will never happen), that airports amazing fares would drop tremendously, and BWI would lose a lot of business. Because everyone I know hates going up there.

Baltimore Washington review by R. Phillip

22 August 2003

BWI used to be a nice airport, but recently the security lines have consistently been terrible. Baggage handling is disorganized and slow. The airport management also seems to lack the ability to use logic. There is a stamp vending machine in Pier D after the security checkpoints, but no mailbox or post office. Hoping to send a letter, I bought stamps and looked for a mailbox. An airport employee then told me that the mailbox was removed for security reasons. The stamp vending machine is even on the latest airport map under “postal services.”