Late flight home? Different airlines down and back?

[karly05]

Ugggghhhhhh, I hate airlines!!

So, still watching for flights for my trip next April - now Delta has dropped any sort of midday flight I can take home. My only options are to be on the DME bus at 3 am (NOT gonna happen!) or not get home until 8:45 pm (not the end of the world, but would rather be home before dark.

IF I go with the Delta option, my DME pickup time will be around 12:30 pm. What can/should I do with that departure morning? I've never had that "problem" before, and I don't want to get stuck somewhere and miss my bus. I'm at POFQ, so nowhere convenient to have a TS breakfast, and I don't plan on having park admission for that day.

Delta is still my best schedule option going down, and that is still my first choice. Southwest going down would be acceptable, but I can't see my return flights on SW yet. From what I can see, though, my SW return options are no better. United's schedule is bad both ways.

American going down is out of the question. The problem is, American coming back has the best/most schedule options - but that's throwing me back into the clutches of American Eagle out of DFW to get home, which is exactly what I was trying to avoid!!! Delay delay cancel delay, run up and down terminal B playing musical gates then end up spending the night in Dallas - my blood pressure is going up just thinking about it. Delta may get home late - but at least I have a decent chance of getting home.

If I'm stupid enough to go down Delta and come back American - has anyone used different airlines going and coming, and how did that work out?

I hate airlines...

 

[maxiesmom]

I use a different airline each way all of the time! Whatever flight works best with my schedule, or what I hope to accomplish, that is the one I use! It causes no problems at all. Just know each airline's carry-on size and checked bag fees.

 

[g8rben]

Kayak DOT com will actually show you flights on different airlines for each leg if you want. They call them "hacker" fares. These days, one-way flights are typically the same price as "half" a round trip so it can work out nicely to fly different airlines each way. Now, this is nothing compared to our trip in 2013 where my wife and I had frequent flyer miles on separate airlines. I flew Delta with our 2 boys, DEN-ATL-TPA and she flew United DEN-IAD-TPA. We left Denver within an hour of each other and actually landed in Tampa with in 45 minutes of each other! Going back, no such luck, she landed about 4 hours before we did as we got stuck in Minneapolis, but since it was on the way home it worked out ok. But all 5 of us flew for less than $200!

 

[DebbieB]

The only caution I would give you is if you have to change your plans and you are on 2 legacy airlines, you will get hit with the change fee twice instead of once.

 

[sam_gordon]

As far as your "time" dilemma, I think you should be able to arrange a TS breakfast for 9am just about anywhere and get back to POFQ for DME pickup. Granted, you'd need a cab, but it might be worth it.

 

[kristenrice]

As far as your "time" dilemma, I think you should be able to arrange a TS breakfast for 9am just about anywhere and get back to POFQ for DME pickup. Granted, you'd need a cab, but it might be worth it.

Yes! I love Boma for breakfast on my departure day. We used Uber to get back to our resort (Pop Century) and it cost only $11 with surge pricing in effect. Totally doable with a 12:30 DME pickup.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would say that a simple breakfast at French Quarter plus relaxing time at the pool would be better than the anxiety of going to another resort for table service and getting back for Magical Express.

If breakfast is the only thing you can/will accomplish before boarding your flight, then I don't think there is much difference between an 8 AM Magical Express departure and your 12:30 DME departure.