Kind of an odd situation -- I need to fly DCA-NYC tomorrow (to catch a 6:30pm JFK-SFO) and couldn't buy my ticket until today because of uncertain scheduling tomorrow in DC.

There is a 1:10 p.m. DCA-JFK that is a little too tight but I can make it if I have to. There is a 2:59 p.m. (AA5444) that is showing cancelled (PSA CR7). Apparently in its place is AA9387, also at 2:59 p.m., on a Republic E175. ExpertFlyer shows plenty of availability on AA9387 but it does not appear to be for sale on AA.com or the regular channels.

I called AA and the agent was unable to see AA9387 until I gave her the flight number. I asked if I could buy a ticket and she wasn't sure. I then did an EF search and saw "T" availability so I asked if she could book me an award seat -- and she said yes! So I went ahead and ticketed that for 7500 miles (-750 Citi CC rebate). I received the email confirmation with ticket # and have since cleared the upgrade into the only remaining first class seat. So, all is good.

But is there anything I should be worried about? Isn't it strange that AA wouldn't sell seats on this flight that appears to have Y7+ availability when the 1:10 p.m. flight is down to Y2 (and was Y0 earlier)? Why won't the seat map come up on EF? (I can only see the FC seat map on the AA app, and I didn't have the chance to look at it when I was still in coach.) My concerns are that the flight doesn't really exist, or will somehow disappear, and then I'll miss my 6:30 p.m. JFK-SFO. I am hopeful that these are irrational concerns and that someone will set me straight. Thanks in advance.

Ice storms are going to cause delays tomorrow morning, so it will be interesting to see what additional cancellations we will have.

Yeah, will probably just head to airport after 11am meeting ends and see which LGA/JFK flight I can make (or hop Amtrak if it looks bad enough, but didn't want to deal with going midtown-to-JFK)

OPM has issued a liberal telework policy for DC area employees. Could not be a grand day for a flying in or out of the DC area. Good luck.

Any way you can take the train, might be late to book, but more reliable in this kind of weather.

Thanks. Everything ended up fine, flight was ~30 minutes late but nbd. Currently on JFK-SFO with a delightful J crew.

Nobody seemed any the wiser that the (Republic) DCA-JFK flight number started with a 9. Nothing was said. I always thought flight numbers like 9xxx were used only to reposition planes or when an aircraft flies to pick up stranded pax whose first plane has gone mech, and so forth. I guess this was just a glorified equipment swap. Eh, whatever.

Kind of a interesting to see the 9xxx used on a normally scheduled operating flight nonetheless!

I don't why this is, but I've seen this happen across airlines whenever the operating carrier changes after a cancellation. It's basically the same as picking up stranded passengers—Republic is just doing so for PSA.