In general, the instructions below will give you an idea of where to meet the veterans in the terminal. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO GREET A FLIGHT, SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SENT IN AN EMAIL 36-24 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT ARRIVES. Occasionally, we have flights that necessitate that we greet the veterans or see them off at different locations in the airport.

REMEMBER — nothing works unless you go to our signup page and register for each flight (arrival and/or departure) with which you intend to volunteer! Gate passes (when available) and parking chaser tickets only materialize when you register/signup in advance.

Arrival of the Veterans

On the day of the flight, plan on arriving in the terminal at least 30 minutes before the scheduled arrival time for the flight. This will allow time to time to check in with the ground crew and for drivers to get their parking chaser ticket (free parking). Occasionally, flights do arrive ahead of their scheduled time.

Walking in from Garage #1 to the terminal will take several minutes. When you get to the split in the walkway bear to the right. After going up the escalator, you will be at Door #2. Continue to your left and go up the ramp to the escalators/stairs on the Arrival Level. Go upstairs to the Departure Level. The West Security Checkpoint Entrance will be in front of you. To its left is the electronics store and the Emirates Airline counter. Our gathering point is across from the Emirates counter. You should see our banner, a check-in table, some folks in the bright yellow shirts, and hopefully lots of greeters.

Departure of the Veterans

Coming to greet the Veterans after their day in Washington D.C. can be as rewarding, if not MORE rewarding, than greeting them when they arrive. Most times, our volunteers get to spend more time with the veterans talking with them about their day, their service, their families, or how much they loved their Honor Flight experience.

Please make sure you sign up for a departure greeting so you can get the instructions about when to return to greet the veterans at the airport and where to gather.

Plan to be at the airport 30 minutes before the scheduled time that the buses are due back. We’ve had many cases when the buses return way before their scheduled time. When coming in from Garage #1, you can go either to the right or left when you are at the split in the tunnel. You will come into the Arrivals Level at either Door #2 or Door #6. Greeters meet at the Oversize Luggage / Baggage Claim #8 area on the Arrivals Level (lower level) of the main terminal opposite Door #4.

When the buses arrive, we form a receiving line that stretches from Door #5 to the special TSA check-in area set up near the Baggage Claim #8. Our job is to make sure that the veterans get safely from their buses to the restrooms, and onward to the TSA check-in area without wandering off the wrong way.