Traveling through Washington Dulles Airport Any advice?

Found the flight the DH and I will be taking to USA for Thanksgiving. The flight is United to Washington DC (Dulles) where we will connect to Ohio. Now the flight I want will give us 1hr and 10mins to get to our connecting flight. IF all goes to schedule. Has anyone experienced immigration/customs/security at this airport and are we likely to make that connection? This is my only concern. So any advice and/or experience would be helpful.

That should be okay, I would think. I haven't connected through Dulles as it's my parents' home airport, but going through customs (for the US citizens line, at least) was pretty straightforward. I think I was on the curb waiting to get picked up within 25-30 minutes of landing (including getting my bags).

I have connected through Dulles twice both with very small connection times of little over an hour. I was fine both times BUT I did pay the $34 or something to upgrade to premium economy to be at the front of the plane so I could get off quick and get through immigration (I am a UKC so had to use the slow lane) as I was worried that I would make it. Dulles is huge aswell with several terminals so it might be a long transfer time to get to your next flight.

As i was so paranoid i looked into what happens if you miss you connection and I *think* as long as there is more than an hour between flights and they are booked as 1 flight (i.e. you didnt book the flight and connection seperately) they should be able to re-book you on a later flight. But as I say it didnt happen to me.

Good luck!

Thank you both for your comments. It has eased my mind on it and will get that flight as I like the afternoon arrival at my final destination. I am a USC and the hubs is UKC so hoping he can come through immigration with me. Do not have to worry about terminal change as the United flights I will be using use concourse c (landing from heathrow) and d (boarding for Ohio). So just have to walk to concourse d not another terminal if I understood the map correctly.

Yeah, he should be able to go through with you so hopefully that will save some time! Yes, you can walk between C and D gates. If you have to switch between C/D and A/B that can take some time

I'm from Ohio and have connected a couple of times in IAD. The first time was a nightmare and took forever because they were in the middle of a re-design of the immigration and customs area. Once they fixed up that, my next few times were pretty good.

It's not a huge airport so it's pretty quick to get through. You'll probably have to do a terminal transfer, though. Not to jinx you, but each time I've connected on my way to Ohio, my Ohio flight was delayed so I ended up sitting in the airport even longer than anticipated. 

On the plus side, they have a Wendy's! 

I've connected through IAD on United Airlines and it was very easy. Customs was in the midfield terminal C/D, had to claim our bags and after immigration we dropped our bags off at a special counter before walking through a door into terminal C. Not having to go through security again saved at least 30 minutes or more. I always try and book through IAD rather than Uniteds hub at Chicago (ORD) which forces you out into the terminal only to have to go through security to get back into the terminal.

Things do change, but I last flew through IAD November last year.

A lot depends on the day you fly. In the USA, the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest air travel day or the year. I've experienced some very long waiting times at IAD, both as an incoming passenger and waiting for an arriving passenger. If the airline booked you, it's supposed to be a 'legal connection', but you never know.

If you have a wait, forget the fast food chains and head straight for Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Best burgers you will get, and the prices are the same as they charge on the 'outside'....and the small order of fries easily serves 2-3 people.

Thanks everyone. I feel much better about the times now and do hope that you are correct Zed45 about not having to go through security again. That is one thing I do not like about connecting via Chicago.

Vadio won't be flying day before Thanksgiving nor the week of so that is not a problem.

As for the food idea thanks but I try and avoid fast food at all costs. So hopefully I won't be hungry if that is all that is available.

Lots of food available at Dulles, but most is either dubious quality or overpriced.

Five Guys is not fast food - burgers are hand made, from fresh meat, and cooked to order with your choice of toppings. Fries are cut from real potatoes, not frozen and 'formed' from mash or whatever.

No, I don't own stock in the company, but I like the product! they are a burger place, and don't try to cater to the universe with a bit of this and that, most done badly. I applaud their commitment to quality, simplicity, and not ripping off travelers! If you ARE hungry, give they a try.....as long as you are a meat eater of course.