Failing to check the correct airport can be catastrophic for travelers. A recent incident involving a woman named Wooster illustrates how even a split-second mistake can lead to panic and stress. Her flight was leaving from Reagan National, but she had entered her information at a kiosk that alerted her to the wrong location.
“Most are simply customers who aren’t paying attention,” said Dennis Hazell, customer service manager at Dulles Airport. “They say, ‘Hey, can you tell me where B-31 is?’ And I’m like, ‘We don’t have a B-31 at this airport.'”
The D.C.-area airports see daily mix-ups, especially among foreign travelers who confuse the Washingtons or mistake destinations with similar spellings. Travelers often don’t realize their mistake until they’re stopped by TSA officers due to incorrect tickets.
A recent viral TikTok video showed two Americans mistakenly flying to Tunis instead of Nice, France. The confusion was caused by a transposed letter in their travel information.
To avoid such mishaps, Hazell advises travelers to double-check their itineraries before departing. “Before you walk out the door, make sure you check your itinerary to understand where you’re going,” he said.
Several recent incidents highlight the importance of attention to detail when booking flights. A writer inadvertently booked a ticket to Charleston instead of Charlotte and had to switch flights and cars to reach her destination on time. A sportswriter was also stuck at an airport for hours after realizing he meant to fly from William P. Hobby Airport, not George Bush Intercontinental.
While the D.C.-area airports see their share of mistakes, travelers elsewhere have reported similar issues in major cities like New York City and Houston. The San Francisco and Oakland airports are even battling over a name change that could lead to confusion between destinations.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2025/09/12/airport-mix-up-tunis-nice