John Glenn Columbus Airport

[sam_gordon]

I have a love/hate relationship with Delta for this reason. Their service always has been phenomenal for me (they were so awesome on our flights to Columbus)...upgraded my boarding group for free and a number of other little freebies just for good customer service), and even cancellation or rebooking was so easy, but everything goes through Atlanta...unless you're going to Atlanta and then you're probably good!

I'm glad things worked out for you. We ended up driving from Houston to Central Ky after Delta's computers took a nose dive last summer. Eight people + luggage in two cars and ~16 hours drive.

Something to keep in mind next time you have issues with Delta, see if flying through one of their other hubs (Detroit, Minneapolis, JFK/LGA ) would have been an option. If Atlanta has weather, it will jack everything up.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm glad things worked out for you. We ended up driving from Houston to Central Ky after Delta's computers took a nose dive last summer. Eight people + luggage in two cars and ~16 hours drive.

Something to keep in mind next time you have issues with Delta, see if flying through one of their other hubs (Detroit, Minneapolis, JFK/LGA ) would have been an option. If Atlanta has weather, it will jack everything up.

Good idea. Before I read your reply, I was looking at their hub map since I do like flying Delta. Even DD remarked about how good their service was compared to the other airlines. I don't think I would opt for JFK/LGA unless targeting the northeast but Detroit and Minneapolis would be possibilities. I don't even know if Atlanta was experiencing weather but it could have been snow impacting another hub.

Our drive home was estimated at a little over 17 hours, but with stops it came in closer to 22...not counting going to IAH to return the rental and get picked up by DH. I guess at least it was just two of us in one vehicle with a light load.

 

[sam_gordon]

Good idea. Before I read your reply, I was looking at their hub map since I do like flying Delta. Even DD remarked about how good their service was compared to the other airlines. I don't think I would opt for JFK/LGA unless targeting the northeast but Detroit and Minneapolis would be possibilities. I don't even know if Atlanta was experiencing weather but it could have been snow impacting another hub.

Our drive home was estimated at a little over 17 hours, but with stops it came in closer to 22...not counting going to IAH to return the rental and get picked up by DH. I guess at least it was just two of us in one vehicle with a light load.

I'm assuming Columbus would be served by Detroit, maybe Minneapolis. Don't know about the Houston airports though.

We had to go through four vehicles (including one that hadn't been cleaned from the last rental) to find two that would fit all of the people and luggage. Fortunately we had multiple drivers.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm assuming Columbus would be served by Detroit, maybe Minneapolis. Don't know about the Houston airports though.

We had to go through four vehicles (including one that hadn't been cleaned from the last rental) to find two that would fit all of the people and luggage. Fortunately we had multiple drivers.

It could be where we commonly fly, but everything Delta I've ever priced out of Houston involves a stop in Atlanta. That being said, the hub map I was viewing looks like there are flights that go from IAH to Detroit and Minneapolis.

Our vehicle was filthy and had a bit of interior cosmetic damage. In fact, there were no mats and the carpeting on the driver's side had a large circular hole about the size of a standard frisbee. I wish we could have kept the vehicle we had originally rented from Alamo, but they were completely sold out and I was informed that we could not extend our rental. Avis/Budget was our only option. Hertz may have had vehicles but I have never had good experiences with them or their affiliated companies. Traveling with a 17 year old meant I was the only driver so I listened to my body and pulled off to nap when I needed it.

We can at least use it all as a learning experience. DH is flying DD to Columbus next month for something at a different OH school.

 

[sam_gordon]

It could be where we commonly fly, but everything Delta I've ever priced out of Houston involves a stop in Atlanta. That being said, the hub map I was viewing looks like there are flights that go from IAH to Detroit and Minneapolis.

Our vehicle was filthy and had a bit of interior cosmetic damage. In fact, there were no mats and the carpeting on the driver's side had a large circular hole about the size of a standard frisbee. I wish we could have kept the vehicle we had originally rented from Alamo, but they were completely sold out and I was informed that we could not extend our rental. Avis/Budget was our only option. Hertz may have had vehicles but I have never had good experiences with them or their affiliated companies. Traveling with a 17 year old meant I was the only driver so I listened to my body and pulled off to nap when I needed it.

We can at least use it all as a learning experience. DH is flying DD to Columbus next month for something at a different OH school.

Just because I like a challenge, I wanted to see if going through Detroit might have been an option for you.

I used Google flights for the search. I did next Sunday (12/21), set it to "Multi City", Columbus> Detroit, then 2nd flight from Detroit > Houston. Set the airline as "Delta only" and this is what it came up with:



My THEORY is with the information, I could then contact Delta to get on those flights. Now, they may have been affected by whatever screwed up your Atlanta itinerary, so it's all hypothetical, just thought it would be fun to look.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Just because I like a challenge, I wanted to see if going through Detroit might have been an option for you.

I used Google flights for the search. I did next Sunday (12/21), set it to "Multi City", Columbus> Detroit, then 2nd flight from Detroit > Houston. Set the airline as "Delta only" and this is what it came up with:

View attachment 1030625

My THEORY is with the information, I could then contact Delta to get on those flights. Now, they may have been affected by whatever screwed up your Atlanta itinerary, so it's all hypothetical, just thought it would be fun to look.

Thank you! I know DH is going to have me do all of the flight research, so this is very helpful.

Who knows what we'll end up choosing. Bush/Intercontinental is usually only a 15 minute drive from our house, so United, American, and Delta are often appealing. IAH is a United hub, so it makes them the best for non-stop options closer to home. American is usually my second choice because Dallas is a hub. It's a pretty easy drive from DFW to home if we get stranded and they have a ton of commuter flights going at all hours between DFW and IAH. This worked well for us over the summer when flying back from Missoula (until they lost DDs bat bag). Still, often Southwest (which flies out of Hobby and is a 45-60 minute drive from home) is the better option for price and connections (or lack of them). We flew SWA r/t nonstop to Phoenix last month and our airfare was 60% cheaper than the other carriers' options.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not sure if you're familiar with google flights (https://google.com/flights), but you may want to explore it. It will compare multiple airlines and other airports you're willing to use, and track prices and notify you on price changes.