Travel rant: Doesn't anybody do straight flights anymore?

[TZ]

So I started doing some research on how much, and who I could fly to get to Rochester, Minnesota from DC (going to Mayo clinic) and although I think the fares were reasonable, I could not find ONE flight with NO layovers. Come on! Minnesota isn't THAT far! There are some that are TWO layovers (Cincinnati, Mineapolis, or even Cincinnati, Chicago). That would make total travel times of like 8 or 9 hours!
You've got to be freaking kidding me! I'm flying out cause I'm sick, and I get stressed by airtravel anyway, and doing layovers and worrying about connecting flights isn't going to help. And the last time I did a trip (Aruba from BWI) I had two layovers on the way back and it was a freaking nightmare. I suppose if I want to pay a fortune, I could find one that went straight.
Anybody have any good reasonable carriers that aren't going to reroute me a million times from DC to Rochester?:banghead:

[Parche]

1. hey

The only carriers that go into Rochester MN , are Northwest, American pulled out a while ago
i dont know if delta does, but if they do, i can work my magic and get space at a lower fare!!!!

:hi:

[LeftyMom]

2. Could you get a direct flight into Minneapolis and rent a car?

Might be easier. Northwest hubs out of there, so the flights are usually pretty cheap, and it's a nice airport, if insanely big.

[TZ]

4. Do you know how far Rochester is from Minneapolis?

That might be a good option. I just don't want too far a drive..

[democracyindanger]

6. i am google master

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=7600+Helgerson+Dr.+SW+Rochester,+MN+55902

on edit: Dammit, that didn't work. The address on the map is the mayo clinic. the estimated driving time is 1 1/2 hours.

[Parche]

9. Hey

Minneapolis does not have enough competition to have lower fares, the airports around there that do are MDW/MKE/MSN..

:hi:

[krispos42]

10. Take the plane to the train...

Amtrak goes from St. Paul to Rochester. IIRC it leaves at about 7:30 in the morning.

And Sun Country flies from DC to MSP. I recommend them: they're a lot cheaper than NorthWest, they give you food, they're pretty fast with your luggage, and they're usually on time if the airport lets them be.

Welcome to Minnesota!

<on edit>

I looked at fares. Here's a sample for you:



$205.50 round trip sound good?

[KitchenWitch]

12. It is about an hour and a half drive.

Very rural drive.

Used to drive it a couple of weekends every summer when we lived there.

[pink-o]

11. Beware the term "Direct Flight"

I work for the airlines in SFO, and passengers always use the word "direct" when they mean "non-stop". Those are two different concepts in the travel industry: A direct flight is a trip that has the same flight number from origin to destination--but makes stops in the middle, so it's just like doing connections!!! Example: You by a ticket on Delta flight number XXX from Phoenix to New York. Your ticket says Delta XXX Departs Phoenix Arrives JFK. What it doesn't say is that the flight stops in Atlanta and has a 1 hour layover. And most passengers crossing a few time zones don't put it together.

Personally, I think it's deceptive and annoying, but I've heard travel industry workers get all passive-aggressive and tell a pissed off passenger that their flight is "direct", when they KNOW the passenger wants a non-stop.

Anyway, pass that titbit on to all your traveling friends! Always ask for a non-stop flight first.

Oh, and BTW, I don't work for Delta. They're just my hypothetical; all airlines do this!

[Darth_Kitten]

3. Zoom airlines did........

for me, from Winnipeg to London........

[Haole Girl]

5. As Parche said, NW would be your best carrier for that route

..if you need non-stop. Also, when you shop around, remember to look at alternate airports (Baltimore, Dulles, or Reagan National). Seems like maybe you wouldn't have to change planes more than once to go from ROC-BWI...but I'm not looking at it right now.

And, if you want lower fares and can get the time off, try to fly mid week. I know it's sometimes difficult to fly only during the middle of the week, but it's also less hectic.

Good luck... hope you find what you need. :hug:

[skygazer]

7. I had to get a flight with 3 layovers for my friend to come to my wedding

Poor guy - he flew from Vermont (actually Hartford, Connecticut since thats the closest airport) to Monterey, California - took him something like 14 hours. :(

He stayed for all of ONE day and had to fly home again - same thing, three layovers and bad weather delayed him so it was even longer going back. :( :(

You don't find a friend like that every day.

[SPKrazy]

8. There might be

but the fact is that it is cheaper for carriers to use hubs and make people wait because they have shareholders and are trying to save money just like everyone else in this damned world is.

good luck