Originally Posted by
Lurker1999
I think your best bet will be to plan ahead on what other flights are available out of DCA (vs. trying to take a flight to EWR from one of the other DC area airports, all of which have the last flight out earlier than your scheduled departure).
In the event your flight is cancelled I would immediately head for the nearest customer service desk or the Presidents Club if you can get in (membership, Priority Pass, AmEx, day pass, etc; unfortunately they're also listed as closing at 7pm) and get on the line with domestic reservations/Elite desk on your cell phone to get rebooked.
In addition to the later CO DCA-EWR flight there are a few later leaving flights:
DL1966 7:30p (to LGA)
UA2786 (technically US) 8:00p (to LGA)
UA2788 (also US) 9:00p (to LGA)
I just had a thought.
There is a 9:00 flight that still has about 15 seats open. If I get to the airport and check in early, can I put my name on standby for that flight, even though I plan on taking the 7:30 flight? If I can do the former, who would get priority in the event of a cancelation: passengers on standby or passengers who are rebooked from earlier flights?