FFA Convention Looking for cheaper flights ect.

[mum of two pirates]

So my kids FFA group is going to Louisville Kentucky oct 26-31. there staying at a hotel (which has to be picked by the convention for security reasons.) They need to rent a van that will hold 10 kids and 1 or 2 adults. I'm wondering if you guys know and tricks to get cheaper airline or car rental. Rental looks like $1000 and the cheapest flights were like $450 but that is at 11 hours and 4 stops I think. The flight back southwest has for $188. They also are looking to do another fundraiser. Any ideas would be helpful thanks. Mum

 

[scrapquitler]

From where? If it's going to take 11 hours and 4 stops to fly, would it be easier/cheaper/just as fast to charter a bus? In our area, the charter bus companies have busses that are like half size for small groups like yours. If they charter a bus, then they won't need a rental van....if they rent, they'll need a 15 passenger van and who is going to drive that? A charter they won't have to worry about driving at all, even around Louisville while they are at the convention.

 

[jedijill]

Can they rent a bus from the school? My dad was a FFA advisor and he would just borrow a bus from the school for trips like that. He had a CDL so he could drive it.

Jill in CO

 

[mum of two pirates]

They would be flying out of geg to sdf. So it is way to far too ride a bus. I might look into a van service while there in town just to see the difference. Shes figuring in 1500 that's with gas. The teacher drives the schools big van here. Thanks. I looked at priceline for the big van but its not offered on the name your own price options.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Can they fly into Cincinnati or Indianapolis, and rent a van there?

 

[mum of two pirates]

I thought about that but if it ends up taking them that long to fly there,shes probably not wanting to drive any farther after the flight as we have to drive 2 hours to get to our airport before the fight even starts. Thanks for the idea though.

 

[Distinkt]

I live in Kentucky and fly out of SDF a lot. The cheapest flights I can ever get on Southwest but the arriving flight from GEG is pretty outrageous right now.

I don't know where they are staying. When we were in L'ville for an education convention the FFA convention had accommodations at the Galt House downtown, so there were a lot of places to go without transportation. Would it be possible to just get a transfer to and from SDF with hotel transportation and just forgo the van? That might put a big dent in transportation if you want to sight see. Also, if they are located at the convention center near the airport its so close, literally less than a mile or so from the airport but I you might still need transportation to meals or entertainment so dumping the van might not work.

 

[DaretoDis]

Not sure which Southwest you are looking at, but the flight from GEG to SDF is 5 hours and 30 minutes with one connection. The return has a connection, and is only 6 hours in duration. You might book the return trip at the current price, and look at another airline for the outbound flight.

ETA: Call SWA and see what kind of deal they can give you for group travel. They sometimes can get you a better deal than what you see under traditional booking. Not sure how much of a discount you will be able to get; Those flights out of GEG are way up there.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Personally, I would contact a travel agent that is good with planning for group travel. They really know what they're doing and it doesn't cost you any more $. The hotels & ground transportation companies would be paying his/her commission.
For my son's senior trip to WDW in March there were almost 400 kids plus the Activities Coordinator/Teacher, a school nurse, their own security crew, a vice principal, and around 15 chaperones. They took up 2 entire SWA flights and 1 USAirways flight. Instead of using DME upon arrival, (waiting for 10 buses) they hired a few charter buses to take them all to TTC. From there kids could go to any park. Then on the last morning after checkout, they all went by charter bus to USO and in early evening the same buses took them directly to MCO. Then another set of charter buses took them back to the school from PHL. It all ran smooth as silk except for the huge T-storms that delayed ds's flight home for 3 hrs.
Since the other 2 still left on time, the TA was able to finagle an apology from SWA with a $100 LUV voucher for future travel.
The whole thing was pretty amazing. I realize your group is much smaller but my long-winded point is that TA's know how to make group travel run smoother and keep it simple.
I love to plan travel but I never would have thought to use charter buses in FL. In hindsight it was well worth whatever extra we each paid for it.