Cheap flights from Washington (DCA)

Slot-controlled airport on the Potomac, 5 km from downtown DC

Reagan National sits on the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, just 5 km southwest of downtown Washington. The airport is heavily slot-controlled with a 1,250-mile perimeter rule that exempts a handful of long-haul flights to the West Coast. American Airlines operates the largest hub here, followed by Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, United and Alaska Airlines on transcontinental services to LAX, SFO and SEA.

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Airlines flying from Washington (DCA)

Major carriers: American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, United. Low-cost carriers: Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier.

Popular destinations from Washington (DCA)

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest month to fly from Reagan National?
Mid-January through February and the first half of September consistently produce the lowest DCA fares once Congress is out of session and tourism dips. Flightmussy's 12-month fare heatmap pinpoints the cheapest week and helps avoid the rare slot-driven price spikes on routes like DCA-LGA.
Which airlines fly out of DCA?
American Airlines runs the largest hub, joined by Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, United, Alaska and Frontier. Slot constraints limit the airline mix relative to Dulles. Flightmussy compares all carriers side-by-side, including LCC fares Google Flights downranks, in one no-signup search.
How far is DCA from downtown Washington?
Reagan National sits on the Potomac just 5 km southwest of the National Mall. The Metro Blue and Yellow lines stop at the terminal and reach downtown in about 15-20 minutes. Taxis and rideshares cover the same trip in 10-15 minutes outside rush hour.
Are there nonstop flights from DCA to the West Coast?
Yes, despite the 1,250-mile perimeter rule, Congress has granted slot exemptions for nonstops to LAX, SFO, SEA, PDX, LAS, SLC, PHX and DEN. American, Alaska, Delta and United fly these. Flightmussy lists all of them in one view with the 12-month heatmap to time the booking.

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