Do you call it Reagan Airport or National Airport? (Arlington: live, club)

[Caladium]

At a recent board meeting for the Metropolitan Washington Airports the chairman announced he had "heard talk on Capitol Hill" about removing Reagan’s name from the airport and returning it to National Airport.

Apparently the reason has to do with problems arising from using two different names. Despite the fact that the name was changed to Reagan quite a few years ago a large number of people insist on continuing to call it National Airport.

When asked by reporters, the MWAA spokeswoman was quick to say "It was just a discussion, we’re not aware of anything specific. He just said he heard talk about it." So this may just be gossip.

But it has me wondering... what do you call the airport? I have to admit I still call it National. Nothing against Reagan, I'm just not a fan of renaming things. I doubt I'll ever call the Sears Tower the Willis Tower, either.

[athousandlogins]

I call it Reagan when I talk to my husband, because we moved here after it was renamed and that's all we've ever known of it.

But when I talk to people who have lived here longer, I call it National so that I don't sound like a noob.

When I talk to people out of town, like relatives who are thinking about flying in, I call it Reagan National so that all the bases are covered and they're not confused.

[Caladium]

I could never get behind the idea of "M&T Bank Stadium" in Baltimore, either.

And remember when it was changed to PSINet Stadium. That was the Worst. Name. Ever! I don't even know what the official name is anymore, I've always called it Camden Yards and everyone knows what I'm talking about.

[okletmein]

its best just to reference it as DCA

[VRE332]

Reagan National

[ChristineVA]

My mind wants to say National, but I've forced myself to say Reagan, so it is becoming easier to have Reagan roll of my tongue.

[New Town Neighbor]

It's "No, the other one."

As in:

"Hey, we're flying to <insert destination here>!"

"Are you flying out of Dulles?"

"No, the other one."

[Stephen 81]

National. And I try to subtly correct people who refer to it as Reagan, especially if they are liberals.

It was named Reagan over Arlington and DC's objections, and before Reagan was even dead (he said something about not having things named after him til 25 years after his death or something). In my mind, it'd be like the Democrats forcing something in Salt Lake City or Anchorage to be named after Obama.

DCA is certainly a neutral, safe name for the airport though.

[JD984]

As an oldtimer, it will always be "National" to me.

No disrespect to the former president, but calling the airport "Reagan National" would feel like going into a diner and ordering the "Stackhouse Triple Decker Club Sandwich" when just asking for a "Club" will do.

[cdmurphy]

National. Calling it "Reagan" is an insult to air traffic controllers.