TSA wait times
EN, Change language
IAD

Washington Dulles International Airport

Dulles, Virginia 6 terminals Updated Oct. 15, 2026

IAD Airport Guide: Terminals, Concourses and AeroTrain

Washington Dulles (IAD) has one Main Terminal for check-in and security, plus gates in Concourses A, B, C and D and the Z Gates. Concourses A, B and C are on the AeroTrain; Concourse D is reached through Concourse C or by mobile lounge. United runs Concourses C and D. Concourse E, a new 14-gate United concourse, is expected to open in October 2026. The airport is open 24 hours a day.

Key facts

Terminals 6 Main Terminal, Concourse A, Concourse B, Concourse C, Concourse D, Z Gates
Airlines 45 In the official directory
To Downtown Washington, DC 32 mi By road
Last checked 10/15/2026 Checked by our team

What do you need?

ParkingOfficial lots, cheaper off-site options and where to wait for pickups. HotelsHotels at and near the airport, shuttles and sleeping in the terminal. To the cityTrains, buses, taxis, rideshare and private transfers. LoungesWhich lounge is in your terminal and how to get in without status. SecurityWait times by terminal, fast lanes and what to have ready. FoodBest bites terminal by terminal, before or after security. Lost and foundWho to contact: your airline, the terminal or the airport. Car rentalWhere the rental counters are and how to reach them. WifiHow to connect, charging spots and an eSIM if you land abroad.

Terminals at a glance

  • Main Terminal
    Open

    Main airlines: Check-in, ticketing, TSA security, baggage claim, U.S. Customs and ground transportation for every airline. Dulles lists each airline with a departure zone: United is in Zone 4. Zone 1: Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air China, Air Premia, Allegiant, Breeze, British Airways, Delta, EgyptAir, Ethiopian, Etihad, ITA Airways, Porter, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, Sun Country, Volaris and WestJet. Zone 2: Air France, American, Brussels Airlines, Contour, Copa, Emirates, EVA Air, KLM, Korean Air, Qatar, Royal Air Maroc and Virgin Atlantic. Zone 3: Air Canada, Alaska, ANA, Austrian, Avianca, Frontier, Iberia, Icelandair, Lufthansa, SAS, Southern Airways Express, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal and Turkish. Dulles does not say on that list what each zone means, so follow the signs and confirm your airline's check-in area on your booking.

    Everyone starts here. Check in, clear TSA, then ride the AeroTrain or a mobile lounge to your gate.

    Official Main Terminal map
  • Concourse A
    Open

    Main airlines: Concourses A and B are connected and have 31 gates with loading bridges for international and domestic airlines, according to the airport operator. Dulles' flight board on October 15, 2026 showed departures from A gates for Air France, Copa, Emirates, Etihad, Icelandair, KLM, Korean Air, Porter, Qatar, SAS, Virgin Atlantic and Volaris, plus Aeromexico, Air Canada and United. Airline lounges listed by Dulles near A gates: Air France (next to Gate A19), Etihad (adjacent to Gate A14) and Virgin Atlantic (next to Gate A32). Gates change, so confirm yours with your airline.

    Mostly international airlines, plus some United flights. AeroTrain station shared with Concourse B.

    Official Concourse A map
  • Concourse B
    Open

    Main airlines: Connected to Concourse A. Dulles' flight board on October 15, 2026 showed departures from B gates for American, Delta, Frontier, Alaska, Allegiant, Breeze, British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish, Contour and Sun Country, among others, plus some Air Canada and international flights. This comes from a single day's flight board, not a fixed list, so confirm your gate with your airline.

    Many non-United airlines, including American and Delta, appeared here on the airport's flight board. Connected to the Main Terminal by AeroTrain and an underground walkway.

    Official Concourse B map
  • Concourse C
    Open

    Main airlines: Concourses C and D are operated entirely by United Airlines, with 50 gates with loading bridges between them, according to the airport operator. The United Club and Polaris Lounge are in this area.

    A United concourse. Reached by AeroTrain from the Main Terminal.

    Official Concourse C map
  • Concourse D
    Open

    Main airlines: United Airlines, as part of the C and D concourses. Concourse D has no AeroTrain station: you reach it on foot through Concourse C or by mobile lounge.

    A United concourse with no AeroTrain station. Walk through Concourse C or take a mobile lounge.

    Official Concourse D map
  • Z Gates
    Open

    Main airlines: Six aircraft gates, four with loading bridges, at the Main Terminal, according to the airport operator. Dulles' flight board on October 15, 2026 showed Air Canada and United departures from Z gates. Confirm your gate with your airline.

    Six gates at the Main Terminal, four with loading bridges.

    Official Z Gates map
  • Concourse E
    Under construction

    Main airlines: Under construction, with an opening expected in October 2026. Local news outlet FFXnow reported on September 18, 2026 that the airport operator told its board on September 16 that the opening of the new 14-gate concourse serving United Airlines had slipped from late September into October. Dulles says the concourse will connect directly to the AeroTrain, has jet bridges at each gate, a 40,000 square foot airline club and 46,000 square feet of concessions. Dulles' own Next page says Concourse E will be renamed Concourse C and gives no opening date. Check flydulles.com before you rely on it.

    A new 14-gate United concourse with direct AeroTrain access. Expected to open in October 2026; no exact date published.

    Official Concourse E map

IAD terminals and concourses

Dulles has one Main Terminal for check-in, security and baggage claim, plus gates in separate buildings:

  • Main Terminal: ticketing, TSA, baggage claim, U.S. Customs and six Z Gates (four with loading bridges). Z Gates are at the Main Terminal.
  • Concourses A and B: connected, 31 gates with loading bridges. Mostly international airlines are in A. American, Delta, Alaska, British Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish, among others, appeared at B gates on the airport's October 15, 2026 flight board.
  • Concourses C and D: all United, 50 gates with loading bridges.
  • Concourse E: not open yet. A new 14-gate concourse for United, expected to open in October 2026.

Dulles lists 45 airlines in its official airline directory. The airport does not publish a fixed airline by concourse list, so the lines above come from the airport operator's overview and one day of its flight board. Gates change, so confirm yours with your airline or on your boarding pass. United runs Concourses C and D; on the airport's October 15, 2026 flight board some United flights also used A and Z gates. IAD is a United hub, so many connections here are United to United. The airline directory gives United its own departure zone (Zone 4).

What's changing at IAD right now

  • Concourse E: a new 14-gate concourse for United is under construction and will connect directly to the AeroTrain. The airport operator told its board on September 16, 2026 that the opening moved to October 2026 (FFXnow, September 18, 2026). Dulles gives no exact date, so check flydulles.com. It will include a 40,000 square foot airline club and 46,000 square feet of concessions, and Dulles' own page says it will be renamed Concourse C. Construction of the final section is expected to begin in summer 2027.
  • Bigger plan: the airport operator's transformation plan includes a Main Terminal expansion (construction could begin in spring 2027), an AeroTrain extension (early 2028) and a new Concourse G. It would allow the eventual retirement of the mobile lounges, with no date given. Expect construction around the terminal.

Arriving, departing and getting to the curb

Dulles is open 24 hours a day, every day. It recommends arriving 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. GPS address: 1 Saarinen Circle, Dulles, VA 20166.

Three TSA checkpoints are on the Departures (Ticketing) level: East, West and TSA PreCheck between them. The airport's two pages give different hours. Its FAQ says East 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., West 3:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and PreCheck 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Its security page says East 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., West 4:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and PreCheck 24 hours. Screening is available around the clock, using the PreCheck lanes when the others are closed. Check TSA or your airline for today's hours.

For flight times and gate changes, use your airline or flydulles.com.

Getting between the terminal and your gate

  • AeroTrain: automated trains run between the Main Terminal and Concourses A, B and C. The airport says the ride between stations takes under two minutes and the Main Terminal station is just beyond the TSA checkpoints. It has run since 2010. The airport publishes no operating hours or frequency.
  • Concourse D: no AeroTrain station. Walk through Concourse C or take a mobile lounge.
  • Mobile lounges and plane mates: the airport has 49 that supplement the AeroTrain, and they carry passengers between the terminal and aircraft or concourses.
  • Concourse B also has an underground pedestrian walkway to the Main Terminal.
  • Z Gates: at the Main Terminal.

Metrorail Silver Line: the station connects to the Main Terminal through an indoor tunnel with moving sidewalks. It also links to Parking Garage 1. Check Metrorail for fares and hours. Travelers Aid volunteers staff information desks if you need help with a connection.

International arrivals and connections

Most international arrivals do not ride the AeroTrain because they must clear U.S. Customs first. The airport says passengers reach Customs and Border Protection within 10 to 15 minutes of deplaning, and most finish in under an hour, longer at peak times. Customs is on the Arrivals level near Baggage Claim 14, with a Travelers Aid desk near the exit of the International Arrivals Hall. Greeters wait outside the International Arrivals Building, near Baggage Claim 15.

Connecting from an international flight: collect all your bags, because re-entry to the Customs area is not allowed. Then re-check your luggage and go through TSA screening again. Dulles says it has two separate facilities for processing international arrivals who connect to domestic flights, and which one you use varies by airline, so ask yours. Travelers whose flight was pre-cleared at the origin airport come out through doors between Baggage Claims 4 and 12, like domestic arrivals.

Faster options: Global Entry members use kiosks (the airport page lists a $120 enrollment fee), and Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck. For questions, CBP at Dulles is 703-661-2800.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi covers the airport. Turn on Wi-Fi and join #IAD Free WiFi. For technical questions, email techWORKS@mwaa.com.

Lost and found

Dulles Airport Central Lost and Found covers the terminal, concourses, AeroTrain and shuttle buses. It is behind Baggage Claim 2. Call 703-572-8479, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or use the online form at flydulles.com/form/lost-and-found. It is closed weekends.

  • On a plane: contact your airline.
  • At a TSA checkpoint: use tsa.gov/form/lost-and-found. TSA lists Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., closed weekends and federal holidays.
  • In a Washington Flyer taxi: 703-572-8294.

Luggage storage and other services

  • Luggage storage: Dulles does not provide a designated storage area because of TSA rules. Ask your airline whether it will take checked bags earlier than usual.
  • Nursing rooms: eight across the airport. Interfaith chapels, wellness spas, charging stations and pet relief areas are also listed.
  • Pet relief: two areas beyond security.
  • Kids: the FunWay play area is near Gate B70.
  • Escorts: gate passes are only issued at the airline's discretion.
  • Lounges: airline lounges are listed on flydulles.com. The Capital One Lounge is just beyond TSA PreCheck on the Ticketing level.
  • Currency exchange: International Currency Exchange has counters on the Ticketing level (two), the Baggage Claim level, and in Concourses A, C and D. Hours differ by counter and are shown on each listing at flydulles.com.
  • Wheelchairs: ask your airline in advance; it arranges assistance in the terminal or any concourse. Travelers Aid volunteers staff information desks. Sunflower lanyards for invisible disabilities are free at the USO Lounge, across from Baggage Claim 12, or the information desks by Baggage Claims 6 and 11, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
  • Maps: terminal map PDF and an interactive map at maps.flydulles.com.

Exchange rates today

1 USD = 0.893 EUR · 0.748 GBP · 1.400 CAD · 18.782 MXN · 156.800 JPY · 6.670 CNY

ECB reference rates via Frankfurter (2026-10-23), for information only. Exchange desks apply their own rates.

Questions travelers ask

How many terminals does Dulles have?

One Main Terminal, plus the Z Gates and the midfield Concourses A, B, C and D. Concourse E, a new 14-gate United concourse, is expected to open in October 2026.

Which concourse is my airline in at IAD?

United runs Concourses C and D; on the airport's October 15, 2026 flight board some United flights also used A and Z gates. Many other airlines, including American and Delta, appeared at Concourse B gates that day, and many international airlines at Concourse A. Dulles does not publish a fixed list, so confirm your gate with your airline.

How do I get from the terminal to my gate at Dulles?

Ride the AeroTrain to Concourses A, B or C, or take a mobile lounge. Concourse D has no AeroTrain station, so walk through Concourse C or take a mobile lounge. Z Gates are at the Main Terminal.

Does Dulles have free Wi-Fi?

Yes. Join #IAD Free WiFi.

Can I store luggage at Dulles?

No. Dulles says it has no designated luggage storage because of TSA rules. Ask your airline whether it will accept your checked bags earlier than normal.

Where is lost and found at Dulles?

Behind Baggage Claim 2. Call 703-572-8479 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or use the online form at flydulles.com/form/lost-and-found. For items left at a TSA checkpoint, use tsa.gov/form/lost-and-found.

How early should I get to Dulles?

The airport recommends 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight.

Is Concourse E open at Dulles?

Not yet. The airport operator told its board on September 16, 2026 that the opening was moved to October 2026 (FFXnow, September 18, 2026). Dulles' own page gives no exact date. Check flydulles.com.

Is Dulles open 24 hours?

Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Security screening is also available around the clock, through the PreCheck lanes when the other checkpoints are closed.

What do I do if I connect from an international flight at Dulles?

Collect your bags at Customs, since re-entry is not allowed, then re-check them and clear TSA screening again. Dulles uses two separate facilities for international connections, depending on the airline, so ask yours which one applies to you.

Can I exchange currency at Dulles?

Yes. International Currency Exchange has counters on the Ticketing level, the Baggage Claim level and in Concourses A, C and D. Hours differ by counter.

Sources and last check

Checked by our team on Oct. 15, 2026 against these official sources: