Help From Pittsburgh Disers

[disneyvacationtime]

We are scheduled to fly out of Pittsburgh at 7:30 on Tuesday morning on a direct flight to Orlando via Air Tran. According to the weather, Pittsburgh is to get 2 to 4 inches of snow by Tuesday. Some suggest that I change the flight to Orlando to the next day. Maybe I have my head in the sand, but I don't think the weather will impact the airport that much.

So, do I incur about $250 in change fees and lose a day of vacation or keep everything as is?

We are about two hours from the airport and I am considering driving to Pittsburgh on Monday and staying in a hotel.

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jennapens]

My suggestion is not to change anything with the flights. 2 to 4 inches really isn't that much (and we know how the weather changes here so quickly). As far as I've seen, the airports keep the take off and landing strips pretty clear. Trust me, if the airport doesn't think it's safe to fly, it won't let planes take off and land.

I would suggest staying Monday night. Being 2 hours away, you probably have to leave your house pretty early, and PennDot trucks may not be out in full force by then.

Have fun!! (I'm jealous!! =)

 

[LWQuestie]

With a 2 hr commute before a 7:30 am flight, you'd have to leave home around 3:30am. I'd definitely get a hotel for Monday night.

I checked Hotwire and there is a 3* available for $49. You might be able to do better on Priceline.

 

[disneyvacationtime]

Thank you for your advice. I have not changed anything and we are leaving Monday and staying overnight in a motel.

Again, thanks for the advice and reassurance.

 

[DebbieB]

Thank you for your advice. I have not changed anything and we are leaving Monday and staying overnight in a motel.

Again, thanks for the advice and reassurance.

That's your best bet. The Pittsburgh airport rarely closes for snow.

One time I was returning home from a business trip, my flight was delayed due to snow in Hartford and I didn't land until about 11:00pm. I was afraid to drive home, it was freezing rain in Pittsburgh. I got onto my companies travel agent website and booked the Crown Plaza by the Pittsburgh airport. Spent the night there and then went back to the airport in the morning to get my car by then the roads were clear.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We live in Cleveland Ohio and flew out of PIT a few years ago. We stayed at the Laquinta. We had the park and fly rate and left our car at the hotel and took the hotel shuttle to and from the airport. The hotel was very nice. There were quit a few airline pilots and flight attendant staying there as well.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Thank you for your advice. I have not changed anything and we are leaving Monday and staying overnight in a motel.

Again, thanks for the advice and reassurance.

Hopefully you are already on the plane and en route to MCO at this point, but as a fellow Pittsburgh DISer, we did the same thing in Feb 2010 when we had that big snow (stayed overnight at airport hotel) and everythign was fine.