Flights... is this totally crazy?

[kamik86]

If any of you have seen my other thread you know I am going to have to fly home to western MA to take a test during one day of my vacation

I have been checking flights and I think this is my best bet to get there and back as fast as possible.

First I"ll say most (non-southwest) flights from Orlando to Albany NY (where I have to fly to) are not direct and thus take around 5 hours. I then have an hour drive to work to take the test.

By flying to Bradley airport Hartford CT instead (about and 1.5 hr drive) I got this schedule:


MCO to BDL: 5:15 - 9:22 (not direct but faster)
Drive to work (have 2 hrs to do this)
Take test 11:30-1:00
Drive to Albany (about an hour) to get there around 2
Take a 3:20 - 6:15 southwest direct flight back to MCO.

Does this leave enough time? Will I be able to rent a car at one airport (BDL) and drop it off at the other (ALB)?

It will be a very long day but at this point all of this is my fault and if I can disrupt everyone else as little as possible that is really my goal. So if this will work I'll do it. The only thing I have to make sure is that the proctor is willing to give the test over lunch time.

 

[Lewisc]

You'll be able to rent a car at BDL and drop it off at ALB but you need to price it $$$$ There may be a one way fee, a limited number of free miles and/or some of the discount "codes" may be blocked off.

Unless you get lucky the rental car will cost $$$$.

I don't think you enough time allocated for flight delays, traffic delays or delays in getting your rental car. I wouldn't be surprised if you're not allowed to use a "quick rent" kiosk or be allowed to pick your own car from an aisle. The rental agency is likely to have a specific car that want you to drive to Albany. Maybe a car with NY plates. Maybe a car class that they need in Albany.

You probably need to fly in the night before.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even with such an early flight, I'd be concerned about the flight being late or, at that time of day traffic delaying your arrival at the testing site. Is it possible to fly in late the night before?

 

[kamik86]

hmm I could do

7 - 9:35 on southwest the night before... less hassle less flight time... more missed Disney time.

But then again I could make the flight out earlier and just do the test that morning... hmm that may work... Oh and I would go into and out of Albany which I'm more familair with, and know where it is, and the car rental is all in one place (although it would be 2 days then since i'm staying overnight)

 

[kaytieeldr]

But then you have less stress; only a few more hours away from Walt Disney World; no issues with whether the proctor will give you the test over lunch; no rushing to get to Albany to get the flight back... and you can sleep a little later the morning of the test

 

[kamik86]

Yeah I think I have to go with that. I"ll still end up taking the same flight back though... unfortunately there is nothing earlier that isnt at like 10:00 which I wouldn't be able to do the test and get back in time for...

This does win over previous plan of getting back at like 9:00 on the 7th though as I will get to the MNSSHP with the family that night. I may have to miss Teppan Edo though but I have been there before and will go again so I'll live.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I haven't followed your story, so sorry if this has been discussed.

Can you get your professor to find a prof in Orlando to proctor test in FL?

Even if you have to pay to have it done, it would be cheaper than flights, car and hotel.

 

[ancestry]

I haven't followed your story, so sorry if this has been discussed.

Can you get your professor to find a prof in Orlando to proctor test in FL?

Even if you have to pay to have it done, it would be cheaper than flights, car and hotel.

I was going to suggest this. As a teacher as a major university in the NE I can tell you that there are proctors and proctor centers around the US. You really shouldn't have to fly back to take a test. They should be able to send the test to a professor/university/library in Florida, have you take it there, and then have it returned.

Here is a url that shows approved testing centers for the University of Florida Continuing Education Division. http://www.correspondencestudy.ufl.edu/students/handbook/testingcenters.html

Maybe you can work something out with one of them.

 

[bumbershoot]

Her school isn't allowing it. Has refused the option. Which is ridiculous, as she's attending a school in So Cal from the northeast anyway, what's the difference between that and FL, but that's what they've said. (though they'd change their tune if this were a work trip...it's the "vacation" part of it that's messing it up)

 

[WDWisTheBest]

any update? When is the test? Hope the visit to WDW is going well.