Flying from a regional USA airport MAY save you lots of $$$$$'s

Murphy_The_Cat

If you're self booking a US holiday for next year, do some research on starting your return trip back from a local regional airport, rather than a major hub.

Long story short, on my final day, I've got a short drive to a local airport, I need to allow MUCH less time for going through security, baggage etc, have a relaxed wait in very nice surroundings and I've saved myself over £130 pp by doing so. Before I pick up the original flight at the hub airport.

So, no horrendous drive to LAX, no aggravation with carhire dropoff/long transfer to airport, no 'cattle treatment' as I go through LAX security, no trek to my terminal, no milling about with thousands of my fellow travellers.

Win, Win, Win.

It may not work for you, but it would be well worth doing some reserach on.

_Andy_

Good tip. LAX is by far my least favorite airport in the US. LAS is also a cesspit but not as bad re the cattle treatment

Murphy_The_Cat

_Andy_ wrote: »

Good tip. LAX is by far my least favorite airport in the US. LAS is also a cesspit but not as bad re the cattle treatment

Santa Barbara Airport Terminal





I think that is the nicest Aiport Terminal I've seen. I'm quite looking forward to flying from there - in my tinchy prop plane

claire16c

Where are you connecting after Santa Barbara?

I agree regional airports are normally nicer & domestic flights can be really cheap (although you need to watch for baggage fees).

Murphy_The_Cat

claire16c wrote: »

Where are you connecting after Santa Barbara?

I agree regional airports are normally nicer & domestic flights can be really cheap (although you need to watch for baggage fees).

It's all on one ticket, so my baggage will be checked straight through. Its United SBA-LAX, LAX - FRA, FRA - MAN.

& it was £130 pp cheaper, taking the extra flight, than flying 'Direct' from LAX ! :beer:

inmypocketnottheirs

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

It's all on one ticket, so my baggage will be checked straight through. Its United SBA-LAX, LAX - FRA, FRA - MAN.

& it was £130 pp cheaper, taking the extra flight, than flying 'Direct' from LAX ! :beer:

Fly me direct anytime!!

Murphy_The_Cat

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Fly me direct anytime!!

Likewise - but you can't fly directly to/from Manchester to/from the US West Coast. So you need at least 1 plane change in either direction.

inmypocketnottheirs

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Likewise - but you can't fly directly to/from Manchester to/from the US West Coast. So you need at least 1 plane change in either direction.

Yes you're totally right!! I have just moved from 20 miles away from MAN airport to Gloucestershire. I fly monthly to the US, all over East and West Coast. Although I have swapped the convenience of access to MAN with a 90 minute drive to LHR, the direct flight availability far outweighs the accessability to the airport.

Murphy_The_Cat

Quick update
The price difference for my holiday flights, if I was to book them today, is now £182 pp, £728 for the four of us, if I travelled from teh major hub, rather than teh regional airport.

jackieblack

Now Murphy - you should know better than to keep checking flight prices after you've booked! :eek:

We've just booked a fly-drive to Florida for Christmas/New Year, saved £220 pp (approx 20%) flying into/out of Tampa vs Orlando (Yes, I know Tampa isn't exactly a regional airport, but still......) for 4 adults, almost £900 saving is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!:D

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

Now Murphy - you should know better than to keep checking flight prices after you've booked! :eek:

We've just booked a fly-drive to Florida for Christmas/New Year, saved £220 pp (approx 20%) flying into/out of Tampa vs Orlando (Yes, I know Tampa isn't exactly a regional airport, but still......) for 4 adults, almost £900 saving is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!:D

Tampa is a really nice place as well. If you're looking for a house rental close to Tampa, please let me know. We stayed in a gorgeous house/area last Summer.

As for keeping looking back, its something that I've always done. If I'm happy with the fare, I book it -- but I look upon the rechecking as part of the research for the following years holiday.

Murph

p.s. are you getting AAAdvantage miles for your BA flight ?