Northeast travel to marathon

[Rpsemont]

Not sure if I should post here or the transportation board, but I'm trying to decide on flights for marathon weekend. I'm signed up for the 1/2, and will be flying from MASS (probably BDL) At this time, it doesn't look like it's really a good time for me to take off work, so I thinking of catching a noon flight that would get in at 4 on Friday, but I'm concerned if there's weather issues I won't be there in time to pick up my packet.
Anyone had issues with northeast flights on marathon weekend?

TIA
Anne

 

[Kristi1357]

We've been going to marathon weekend from NH since 2002 and never had an issue. BUT we usually fly down Thursday.

As a safety net, maybe you could give someone that you know will be there a copy of your drivers license with a note. Then they could pick up your packet in case you got in really late Friday night.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I think it is difficult to tell with the way things are changing right now.

I like what Kristi suggested. Maybe have someone pick up your packet.

 

[momof2minnies]

We don't have a flight from BDL yet and I am nervous.We don't want to book too early because the way they cancel flights here is ridiculous.

Linda

 

[princessrunner]

I flew down from Maine in January and I had no issues. I also did as Kristi said, and flew down on Thursday. I only did the half so I flew home on Sunday a.m. I did have the foresight to book direct flights into Portland as I figured they would go or not but I would not be stuck in limbo somewhere. I also use the American Express travel insurance. It pays pretty well and does so if you are delayed for 3 hours or more, more for overnight stay, and more if they lose your bags in transit. I felt, traveling from the northeast, that the insurance was worth the money.

Best of luck.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I am planning to fly down for Thursday as well. I spoke to my TA since I've never travelled during January - WDW or otherwise. She told me that any delays at the airport would be a couple of hours at most. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for weather either way

 

[tippy77]

I'm going to fly down from Logan and am coming down Wednesday or Thursday. I am just too nervous about the weather to come on Friday! I'm glad to hear there have been no problems in past years though.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I will be flying out of Manchester, NH and am coming in early as well. We travel a lot in the winter and rarely have problems. In fact, the majority of the problems we have experienced were on the FLORIDA end, not the New England end.

 

[wdw4us]

I too am from NH and we are flying down on Thursday. Our Boston-Manchester regional airport rarely closes we have some high tech runway that melts - having said that I was delayed in Baltimore (I had a direct flight from MCO-MHT) because of weather all the way up. SWA dropped the ball on that one and sent all of us -thousands - stranded in Baltimore free tickets. Thankfully this was in March and I was on the way home. In NE you just never know. I would be "sick" on Thursday and start you trip then to guarantee your packet pickup.

I just changed our flights yesterday we're leaving at 6:30 am on Thursday 3Disneykids - are we on the same flight?

denise

 

[MomofCKJ]

We are flying out of BDL on Thursday. We decided to give ourselves that extra day just in case. I think being a New Englander you just know that you can never tell what winter weather will be. Hoping that it isn't an issue but I think you should make some other plan like the PP mentioned of someone getting your packet for you just to be on the safe side.

Allyson

 

[scoolover]

The last two years I have flown out of Newburgh, NY without issue. I have also saved about $125 per ticket doing this. It might be worth looking into. When I booked, I didn't think about possibly having weather issues but now that you mention it, I hope it's not a problem. Lets hope for some nice weather leading up to the date.

 

[wdwrunner]

I will chime in that I usually fly two days before the event. So in my case, since I am doing the half in 09, I will fly Thurs. Then I pray I get "bumped" so I can stay longer coming home.

I only came close ONCE to not making it when a storm overnight dumped a foot of snow. But I had stayed close to the airport and the flight was only delayed an hour.

So, in my many jaunts down for the marathon and half, I have never failed to get there on time.

Do as others have suggested though... give someone who is going down earlier permission to pick up your packet. You don't want that added stress.

Kris