heartbeeps
not taking vacations but collecting experiences!
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,602
plan for the unexpected... especially with triplets!
a couple of considerations if you're looking at the later flight...
check and see if BOTH flights price out at the same price - typically the "prime" times are more expensive flights! The airlines have this one figured out to maximize profits! Also, if that late flight doesn't "go" you're "stuck" with another night's lodging (plus meals, kennel care, or whatever else you have in way of expenses). In addition, the airlines have become MUCH MORE savvy in filling the planes to/fro every destination in the U.S. (even if that just means swapping out bigger metal for smaller metal). So, other than a full plane, what does that mean to you? Well, if there's ANY kind of weather problems, the chances of rebooking on the next available flight diminish. (Think about getting 4 tickets to the same place at the same time!) Ok, that said, then look historically at how typically planes get out in the morning but then as the weather comes in, more and more cancellations pile up. I fly ALOT (on DL) and have seen it all - flights cancelled, crews missing, equipment failures, missed connections, and so on. "Stuff happens! So, if you're ok with the risk (may be small the time of year you're flying - don't know), AND, you're ok with overtired kids that day and maybe into the next, take the later flight.
I'm on a 1130am flight home because I need some downtime before work the next day and if there's any air traffic problems, I've still got a chance to recover and make it home the same day. Ideally, I'd have liked a flight home around 2pm but that wasn't a possibility.
plan for the unexpected and delight in it NOT happening!
a couple of considerations if you're looking at the later flight...
check and see if BOTH flights price out at the same price - typically the "prime" times are more expensive flights! The airlines have this one figured out to maximize profits! Also, if that late flight doesn't "go" you're "stuck" with another night's lodging (plus meals, kennel care, or whatever else you have in way of expenses). In addition, the airlines have become MUCH MORE savvy in filling the planes to/fro every destination in the U.S. (even if that just means swapping out bigger metal for smaller metal). So, other than a full plane, what does that mean to you? Well, if there's ANY kind of weather problems, the chances of rebooking on the next available flight diminish. (Think about getting 4 tickets to the same place at the same time!) Ok, that said, then look historically at how typically planes get out in the morning but then as the weather comes in, more and more cancellations pile up. I fly ALOT (on DL) and have seen it all - flights cancelled, crews missing, equipment failures, missed connections, and so on. "Stuff happens! So, if you're ok with the risk (may be small the time of year you're flying - don't know), AND, you're ok with overtired kids that day and maybe into the next, take the later flight.
I'm on a 1130am flight home because I need some downtime before work the next day and if there's any air traffic problems, I've still got a chance to recover and make it home the same day. Ideally, I'd have liked a flight home around 2pm but that wasn't a possibility.
plan for the unexpected and delight in it NOT happening!
