I Believe I Can Fly (To DC)
May. 7th, 2009 09:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
azuriteIt'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?
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?
