Perspective: The 80-minute flight from Dulles isn’t cheap, but you get a scenic trip straight to Manhattan.
was to depart from College Park, which is disappointingly landlocked, so passengers would not experience a water takeoff and landing on the same trip. Security issues, however, forced Tailwind to scout for a new airport, which it found in Virginia, but, strike two, not on the Potomac. Washington Dulles does have a little pond, if that’s any consolation.
Passengers are allowed 20 pounds of baggage each. The company charges $250 for extra luggage and may ship the items separately. When booking, you must provide your weight, and while it’s important to be honest, no one is going to come after you with BMI calipers. According to the company, Jet Aviation has an on-demand shuttle that will transport passengers to and from IAD’s main terminal. When I called Tailwind to arrange a ride, I was told to drive or take a cab; I later learned that I should have called Jet Aviation. To eliminate a step, I ordered a Lyft from the Wiehle-Reston Metro station for about $15.The gate closes 10 minutes before takeoff. Ram recommended gliding in no more than 20 minutes beforehand. I arrived a half-hour before the 2:05 p.m.
“Just relax. You didn’t have to be here so early,” said Capt. Adam Schewitz, when he overheard me checking in. “But they do have good free coffee at FSOs.” Indeed, a hot beverage machine has nine options. We could choose our seat. For the best panoramas, I followed Schewitz’s advice and plunked down on the right side of the plane. I had significant leg room and didn’t have to worry about a beverage cart slamming into my shins, since there was no food or drink service or flight attendants .