Gray's Academy

Dulles airport was built in the outer suburbs of Virginia in the middle of nowhere a few decades ago. This was supposed to be the airport for all those diplomats and dignitaries visiting our nation’s capital. As it turns out, if you are visiting D.C. you want to use National – which is now called Reagan. I used to be a local here, Reagan will always be National airport in my mind.

If you think you can make an international flight from Dulles with the usual two hour window you could easily miss your flight. There are these ridiculous people movers. There are no decent lounges. I am here at 9:30 at night and the airport is shutting down.

With water stains on the ceilings and dirty carpet, it could be reimagined as a retro airport – right out of the 1970’s. In June, I was taken aback when I realized my flight back to Norfolk from JFK was the following morning. I had no place to stay so I ended up at the new TWA airport at JFK. It was like stepping into a Time Machine and ending up in the late 1960’s when TWA ruled the skies. It was amazing!

Dulles is nothing like that. To it’s credit though, it is a true international airport so I will give it a passing grade of average. But, average is nothing I aspire to. Next stop, Norfolk, Virginia. I hope I feel happy to be home.