If I want to fly from Minneapolis to Chicago for anything approaching a reasonable price, I have to connect through Atlanta. Because Chicago's not, like, a major hub or anything. And I'm pretty sure that if I fly from DC to Minneapolis, I have to connect in ... Chicago. Maybe they just can't imagine anyone would want spend more than a two hour layover in the Windy City.
Amtrak it is, then.
Yes, now we see why the airline industry is failing- because they can't find their collective rear end with both hands.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteNorthwest usually has reasonable prices traveling to the cities ... they might be booked right now. Plane fares also tend to be far lower in cities served by Southwest airlines ... and Southwest does not fly to the twin cities.
On Amtrak however, when are you traveling to DC? We might be on the same train ... I booked Amtrak to the east coast to visit my parents over the holidays because it was somewhat cheaper (and likely more fun for my kids) than flying by a substantial sum when you're getting 4 tickets relatively small price differences start to add up. We're leaving the 21st and returning on the 26th via the Capitol Limited.
I think I got a direct flight from Chicago to Minneapolis for about 100 bucks. I did act about a month in advance, though.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had your travel agent -- I'm booking about a month in advance, but the direct flights from Northwest are 4x the cost of these crazy one-stops.
ReplyDeleteI'm not actually traveling to DC on amtrak, Mark. My travel plans are Chicago --> DC by air, DC --> Minneapolis by air (to visit the girlfriend), Minneapolis --> Chicago by train. I think the train is called "Empire Builder", which makes me feel macho just riding it.
David,
ReplyDeleteKayak.com shows the roundtrip to MSP/ORD at about $300.
I was on the Empire Builder a few years back, uhm, in 1976 my family had a 14 day rail pass to tour the country. We took the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago with a few days spent in Glacier National park. That was a nice train back then.
Maybe it's trying to tell you to stay in Minnesota longer?
ReplyDeleteHave you tried booking through Student Universe?
ReplyDelete