Are you deciding to connect to Newark or Washington D.C with United? Find out the benefits and disadvantages of connecting through these major United hubs.
For United customers living west of the Northeast United States, international travel usually requires a connection. Two major hubs found in this region serve this exact purpose: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Despite both airports being only 3 hours apart by car on I-95, they are just minutes in flight time apart. That means using one over the other for connecting shouldn’t make much of a difference in total flight times, on paper.
Both airports have extensive United international service but in reality, choosing between them can make the difference of whether you have a smoother connection or a stressful travel day. This guide will help you decide which United hub best suits your connection needs.
Newark Liberty International Airport serves as United’s flagship East Coast hub. The airline’s dominance at the airport is immediately visible. You will observe that many of the departing or arriving planes at the airport involve United or its regional brand, United Express.
United operates flights to 160 destinations worldwide from Newark. There is nonstop service to virtually every major city here in the United States. However for United, the airport’s number one strength is its extensive international network.
United customers are able to fly nonstop to Europe, Latin American, and to selective destinations throughout Asia. Newark is also one of United’s highest revenue generators, which makes it a critical operational hub for the airline.
Washington Dulles mirrors Newark’s role as a major United hub, primarily serving the Mid-Atlantic region which includes the DMV area (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia). Like Newark, Dulles offers nonstop United service to major cities across the United States, supported by a large regional network through United Express.
Dulles also has a large network of service to Europe, Latin American, and Asia. But it separates itself from Newark because it has nonstop flights to unique destinations in Africa, like Accra and Cape Town. This makes Dulles the best choice for passengers heading overseas to experience Africa.
Newark has more unique United destinations than Dulles. If you are traveling to any of the following cities, your choice for connection has been made for you.
Caribbean & Latin America: Aguadilla, Antigua, Bermuda, Bogotá, Bonaire, Curaçao, Dominica, Guatemala City, Lima, Panama City–Tocumen, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, San José del Cabo, San Pedro Sula, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Belize City, Cozumel, Liberia (Costa Rica), Port of Spain, St. Kitts, St. Lucia–Hewanorra, Tulum
Europe: Berlin, Milan–Malpensa, Bari, Bilbao, Dubrovnik, Faro, Funchal (Madeira), Glasgow, Málaga, Marrakesh, Naples (Italy), Nuuk (Greenland), Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Ponta Delgada, Porto (Portugal), Santiago de Compostela, Shannon, Split, Stockholm–Arlanda
Asia & Africa: Delhi, Dubai–International, Johannesburg–O.R. Tambo, Seoul–Incheon, Tokyo–Narita
Domestic U.S.: Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Charlotte, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montrose, Myrtle Beach, Naples (FL), Orange County, Portland (ME), Rochester (NY), Sarasota, Savannah, St. Louis, Syracuse, West Palm Beach
Africa: Accra, Lagos
North America: Albuquerque, Calgary, Columbus–Glenn, Hartford, Indianapolis
Europe: Nice
Newark is a much better choice for a connection purely from a route availability perspective. But, if you’re heading to one of Dulles’s unique United destinations like the ones in Africa; your hand has been made.
United has had to overcome significant operational challenges with Newark in recent years. There have been several factors that have impacted the airline’s reliability from this hub.
These challenges became so severe that United CEO Scott Kirby publicly addressed customer concerns regarding Newark:
“These challenges are not new to Newark. United has been urging the US government for years to use its authority to effectively limit the number of flights to what the airport can realistically handle. Past failure to make those changes had led to the circumstances that United and, most importantly, our customers now face.”
Newark’s challenges are simply not even a thought at Washington Dulles.
From a reliability standpoint, Dulles clearly offers a more hassle-free experience with fewer delays from air traffic control issues and infrastructure constraints.
Based on reliability alone, Dulles clearly outperforms Newark when it comes to offering a more hassle-free experience for things customers cannot control. There are fewer weather delays, air traffic control issues, and infrastructure interruptions.
Newark’s Fragmented Layout
Newark’s terminal layout creates many challenges for connecting passengers. United uses Terminal C at the southern end of the sideways U shaped terminal setup. While connections within Terminal C are manageable on foot, United also operates from Terminal A, where some domestic flights depart.
Transferring between the terminals requires buses or the AirTrain, both of which become very crowded during peak travel time. This can add significant stress and time to your connection, especially if your inbound flight is running late.
Dulles’s Streamlined Design
Washington Dulles has a superior connection experience. United flies from Concourses C and D, which are right next to each other in the airport’s “I”- shaped terminal design. Nearly all connections are walkable. That means you can reach your next gate with a brisk walk in minutes. No external transportation is required.
Premium passengers with access to United’s Polaris lounges, you will likely see that Dulles offers a better experience.
Newark and Washington Dulles serve as critical hubs in United’s network, each having advantages and disadvantages for connections.
Choose Newark if:
Choose Dulles if:
Our recommendation: For most United travelers, Washington Dulles International Airport will yield the better connection experience. It is more reliable, has an easier terminal navigation experience, and recent infrastructure investments mean that it out performs what United has to offer from Newark Airport. Newark does have a larger route network and does have some unique routes that are exclusive to the airport.
But your choice depends on the specific place you are flying to and your tolerance for travel disruptions. Always check with the airport to see the latest flight times and examine all possible connections available.
