Usually - the caveat being just because it has been done a certain way in previous years, does not mean it cannot change:
- The Wednesday class schedule starts very early, so all 5 class periods get shoved into the morning for a normal class day. Usually flights out of BWI are doable around 2:30 pm. That’s allowing for pre-Thanksgiving security lines. Even the TSA pre-check line can be huge at BWI. I fly out of there regularly for business, and more and more people have the pre-check.
- There is a time they have to be back by on Sunday AND a time their plane has to land by, to allow for delays. If they are late, and their plane landed within the required window, all is well. If they took a risk and booked to arrive too close to reporting in time, and they are late, they are caught in a misconduct offense. I have seen variances in required report time from 6 pm to 10 pm over the years. They have to get a good head count of 4000+ mids, and no one likes to be up until 3 AM trying to get it right, because a roomie signed in for someone who cut it too close and is now delayed. Do not book until your Plebe knows what the leave parameters are; it is his or her responsibility to know and manage these things. I realize the fares only get more expensive as time goes on. Talk with experienced parents in your parents club for insights. Or, book conservatively. As much as your Plebe likes being away from the Yard, he or she knows semester exams and the chaos of Army-Navy week are looming, and schoolwork awaits.
- Plebes figure out how to get to and from BWI - sponsor rides, shared Ubers, kindly upperclass, etc. Let them handle it.
As soon as possible during their mid years, educate and launch your mid into managing their own travel bookings, fare searches, etc. This is a military skill, and there is no better time to learn, even if you are still paying for it. Establishing membership in airline rewards programs where they can start accumulating miles or points will be helpful later on.
“Military fares” may not always be cheaper, but the terms of the fare usually include no fee for changes, recognizing the inherently dynamic elements of military life. Of course, this is never an issue for Southwest, and during this pandemic, airlines have been waiving change fees.
Resist those cheaper fares into and out of Dulles. Navigating the DC Beltway between Annapolis and Dulles over holiday travel windows required an extra generous window of travel time. You just never know how long it’s going to take for that transit.
Washington National Ronald Reagan DC can also be a challenge to get to, transit time wise. One way of doing it is getting to the Metro Station at New Carrollton, and taking the Metro to the DC airport stop.
AMTRAK has a station at BWI, a mile or two from the air terminal with free shuttles to and from. The Northeast Regional trains run throughout the day and are a relatively easy way to get to Philadelphia, Wilmington, Newark, NYC, and points in between. The AD military fares are decent.