I Believe I Can Fly (To DC)

[azurite]

It's funny, when the possibility of someone else paying for a trip across the country arises, I'm MORE picky about my flights than less. I guess what it boils down to is: it's not just cost. Usually I pick the flight that suits my budget AND is at a reasonable hour. I also tend to lean toward particular airlines (I LUV SWA), but unfortunately, in this case, SWA isn't a very good option.

Here's the skinny:
* Need to fly into Washington D.C. on August 11th (and out on August 17th, preferably in the daytime). This could mean: Reagan Intl. Airport (DCA), Dulles Airport (IAD), or Baltimore (BWI). Reagan is best, since it's closest to the hotel where I'll be staying, but I'll be getting reimbursed for travel, so I could fly into BWI and get reimbursed for the shuttle out to the hotel.

* Southwest doesn't fly to Reagan, but it DOES fly to the other two (BWI and IAD). However, none of their flights are nonstop, and I'm not exactly a big fan of layovers (within reason: I think a 3-hour layover is pushing it). If I want non-stop, I HAVE to fly with Alaska Airlines at a specific time, out of LAX and to DCA, and pay around $259 round-trip, with taxes. Not bad, right? (I have no idea; I've never flown cross-country before and been the one paying for the ticket, or researching the ticket prices.)

* But I can get one of those "secret deals" though Priceline ($261) or Hotwire ($219). I'm not sure I like the idea of relinquishing all knowledge/control of the flight just to save a few bucks though: even if it's guaranteed that I'll arrive before 12:30 a.m., who's to say I won't be flying nonstop, or I won't be flying with an airline I despise (United), or on an airline that charges ridiculous fees for bags or even LOSES bags on a regular basis?

What would you do?

Comments

[rivingmass.livejournal.com]

I might be able to help you out- I fly all the time and have a pretty good system I use.

Which is your higher priority, a non-stop flight or lowest price?

[edit]
Also, out of the hundreds of flights and connections I've been on (all economy with the cheapest carrier I can find), I've only had one single issue with baggage. And that was when I got to the airport so late my bag didn't make it to the plane before takeoff. Entirely my fault. I got it the next day, though, so there was really no problem in the end.

[azurite]

Nonstop flight is the highest priority, since travel expenses will be reimbursed to me.

With me and baggage, only once has my baggage gone on the wrong flight (as in, nowhere near where I was, not just an earlier/later flight) and had to have been "delivered" to me. One other time, my flight got rescheduled at the last minute and I hate to wait an hour and a half for my bag to even get to the airport! Some airlines apparently have that kind of thing happen more often, or LOSE bags altogether!

[rivingmass.livejournal.com]

Oh shoot- if you're being reimbursed, that changes the whole ballgame.
In which case, may I recommend that you fly directly to Reagan National? If you're staying downtown, it's really the way to go. There are always taxis outside, and the Metro runs busses and even has a stop at the airport.

There's really only one route into and out of Dulles from DC, and if you want to leave in the afternoon, you'll face considerable traffic headed in that direction. There is no rail connection to Dulles, but you can take the bus.

BWI is a little easier to get to than Dulles because you can take the parkway or I-95, but both roads will be clogged in the afternoon. There is a commuter train running between BWI and Union Station in DC that you can take. It's not a bad deal, especially if you're not concerned about transportation expenses.

That said, I found only two carriers with with direct flights from LAX to DCA: Alaskan Air (like you already found) and Northwest Air (flying for Delta). I'll probably check on BWI later on to see if there's anything out there, but I still say to stay away from Dulles. That airport sucks.

Alaskan: AS6 & AS5
NWA (Delta): 8997 & 8996

[dablackrose.livejournal.com]

hey i'm trying to get ahold of you... :P but i don't know which is your email... Its the azurite one right?

I'll just ask you here:

I was wondering if i could get you to beta/review/holding court some of my other stories that also need SUPER PICKY critiques.

Interested? :)