MN Dis'ers flying during MEA...

[elgerber]

Sun Country has FINALLY released the October schedule. They are running $238.80 per person for MEA week, Sat. to Sun. Of course I already booked with Air Tran a couple of months ago for the same price, but for anyone still looking, it sure beats NWA!!!

 

[Minnesota]

I have flown from MSP during MEA the last two years and my biggest, most stressed, most important, peice of advice for any MN Dis'er flying is...

No matter the airline BUY VERY EARLY!!!

I go stuck with $350 airfare with bad times because I kept waiting to see if I could find something better. If you can frind airfare for $230 BUY IT as soon as possible. Think of it this way, there is $40 of taxes leaving $210 devide that in half it's $105 each way. MSP to MCO never gets much cheaper than that. Hope this and the previous post saves at least one MN person some money.
Minnesota

 

[kkmauch]

AWESOME!
I just posted a second ago with my Sun Country purchase! SO glad I got it today! I have been checking every couple of days to see when they would release the fares and today was the day for me to buy.

 

[Sherlee]

I was just going to post that I got Delta yesterday for $199.60 for MEA weekend!!! I could not believe it, half the price of NW. We do have to connect in both directions, however.

 

[deide71]

We booked Airtran last year for MEA because we had 2 vouchers. I was not pleased with their small, turbulence prone plane and poor service.

We are going the last week in Sept. this year (DH just has to be in South Dakota for opening weekend of out of state pheasant season ) and we booked Sun Country round trip for the price you mentioned. We have never flown Sun Country before, but have heard great things about them .

 

[blanq]

Sun Country has FINALLY released the October schedule. They are running $238.80 per person for MEA week, Sat. to Sun. Of course I already booked with Air Tran a couple of months ago for the same price, but for anyone still looking, it sure beats NWA!!!

I know many have been waiting for Sun Country to post their schedule for MEA. I, like you, already booked with AirTran. I was able to get R.T. tickets (nonstop flights) for just $158 pp Tue-Tue. With taxes/fees, we are paying $536.40 for our family of three. This is the best fare I have ever gotten from MSP to MCO, any time of year, ever!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Ok, I will bite. What is MEA?

 

[elgerber]

Ok, I will bite. What is MEA?

Minnesota Education Associaton. They have their big conference every October, so all our kids get at least 2 days off of school. It's a big vacation week for us MN people.

I have flown Air Tran twice now and have been very pleased both time. I have also flown Sun Country and they have been great too. Both offer much better service and on time than NWA from my experience.

Blanq, great deal! The best I ever got out of here was on Delta in Dec. of 2003, $137 round trip total, connecting flights though, but it was so darn cheap!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Ahhhh I see. Ny needs something like that. They randomly sprinkle staff days throughout the year and lengthen and shorten Feb break and Easter break on a whim, it seems.

 

[elgerber]

Ahhhh I see. Ny needs something like that. They randomly sprinkle staff days throughout the year and lengthen and shorten Feb break and Easter break on a whim, it seems.

These are the only conistent 2 days we get off. No Feb. beak here, and spring break varies widely, both dates and length ( 2 years ago we had none). At least my district is that way, so we are thankful for our 2 Oct. days.

Now 2008, Columbus day is the Monday of that same week, so we'll see what happens then.

 

[Sherlee]

I think about half the state vacations somewhere for the long weekend. Two years ago on the Wednesday before MEA, airport parking was full by 1:00 pm and I heard even the offsite parking was gone by 3 or 4 pm. It has become our annual trip to Disney. It is also usually the same weekend as the big golf tournament, so it is fun to try and see PGA players, too. I try to book my flights for the following year right at the 331 days out that it becomes available on NW, but this year I spent too much time debating between doing MNSSHP or MVMCP. (& forget about trying to book a ticket using frequent flier miles that weekend, too!) By last week, the non-stop flights were around $400pp. I was excited to see the $199 on Delta!

 

[blanq]

I think about half the state vacations somewhere for the long weekend. Two years ago on the Wednesday before MEA, airport parking was full by 1:00 pm and I heard even the offsite parking was gone by 3 or 4 pm. It has become our annual trip to Disney. It is also usually the same weekend as the big golf tournament, so it is fun to try and see PGA players, too. I try to book my flights for the following year right at the 331 days out that it becomes available on NW, but this year I spent too much time debating between doing MNSSHP or MVMCP. (& forget about trying to book a ticket using frequent flier miles that weekend, too!) By last week, the non-stop flights were around $400pp. I was excited to see the $199 on Delta!

Sherlee, so I assume you are going to do MNSSHP then, since you booked your trip over MEA? Have you done MNSSHP before, and if so, any tips you can give a first-timer? I think I am going to get tickets for 10/16, which will be the evening we fly in. I thought we might be a bit tired from traveling but figured we can sleep in the next day to recuperate if needed.

 

[dudspizza]

To be a little more clear, MEA is short for the annual teacher convention held on a Thursday and Friday in mid October. It is no longer called MEA, but everyone still calls it that. Teachers from all over the state converge on St. Paul to attend seminars, browse vendors, and many other things.

Now, that said, many school districts do not pay their teachers for those days in their contract, so many of us take the two days off just like everyone else....

Have a wonerful MEA everyone!

Duds

 

[dudspizza]

We booked Airtran last year for MEA because we had 2 vouchers. I was not pleased with their small, turbulence prone plane and poor service.
.

I am actually surprised by this comment. Their planes or no more turbulent prone than Sun Country, NWA, or any other airlines planes. You must have just had a bad, bouncy trip that could have occured on any airline.

Airtran was provided wonderful service to DW and I when we flew them last year. I would not hesitate to fly them again.

Duds