Originally Posted by
gailwynand
- Between summer peak travel season and the sequester you could easily have significant delays at customs. You also have to factor in the annoying moon buggy ride to the international arrivals area and any delays at baggage claim. I would not plan on being out of the airport before 1:30 even with GE. Figure 2pm without GE and it could easily be longer.
The moon buggy is irrelevant. It only takes marginally longer than the walk through many large airports most of the time. The sequester, however, could be a major problem. My last trip through IAD had major sequester delays at both immigration and customs. Sequester delays added more than 30 minutes to my standard deplane to curb time.
I would assume that with arrival at 12:50, even 2pm is a stretch, probably more like 2:30. That is not enough time to make a 4pm flight at DCA unless road conditions are perfect, which they are unlikely to be.