US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - CLT alternatives

I've got an upcoming midweek trip to Charlotte. The fare on the US nonstops are outrageous -- something like $1000. However, flying TPA-CLT-GSO-CLT-TPA lowers the fare to about $150.

Is GSO a viable alternative to CLT? How far away is it? Are there any closer airports that have low fares that are easier to get to CLT.

Also, obviously TPA-GSO connects in CLT. I'm assuming that there is no possible to way to skip the GSO legs because if I skipped CLT-GSO the return would be cancelled, no?

GSO is about 2 hours from Charlotte (maybe less). We've driven to Charlotte from Raleigh passing Greensboro on the way (about a 4 hour trip) to catch a flight out of CLT so 2 hours doesn't seem out of bounds for us. YMMV.

My wife was working for a major bank in Charlotte until a recent merger. Living in Ohio, she had to fly down occassionaly for work. ALWAYS flew into GSO. Going to the north side of Charlotte took her about 1 1/2 hours to drive from the GSO airport.

Lower cost (well below $200 normally), plus no Saturday stay requirements from DAY. I know for a fact that she flew both UA and CO to GSO last year - CO when all the bonus miles were around, and UA to get status.

For fun, just checked DAY-GSO down 4/24, back 4/25 is $142 on NW, $148 on US. DAY-CLT for dates is $612 on US, but you get 6 segments ! Interestingly, it routed DAY-PIT-GSO-CLT on the way down. GSO still a good option it appears.


[This message has been edited by ToddETurner (edited 04-14-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ToddETurner (edited 04-14-2002).]

I fly out of GSO at least as much as I fly out of CLT. I've also flown out of GSP. They're both about an hour and a half from CLT.. GSP may be a little closer.. but the fares are better into GSO. Both are small, very easy to maneuver airports.. both right off the interstate and it's an easy ride to CLT.

GSO, GSP, and CAE (Columbia, SC) are all roughly 1.5 hours from Charlotte, give or take, depending on where exactly you are going in Charlotte of course.

In my opinion, GSO is probably a better airport to fly into than GSP, considering that GSO has a US Airways Club. And yes, I figure if you jumped off the flight at CLT, you may have a problem with the return - unless somehow your CLT-GSO leg gets cancelled - then you can work your way around taking the dreaded bus if they can't get you on the next flight. Go with GSO, by all means.

I have flown out of Charlotte exactly once this year. I go to either Greensboro or Raleigh and have saved over $6,000 this year so far. Why do I keep track? Because I treat myself and my wife to a dinner every now and then when I fly out of Raleigh...she schools at Chapel Hill and lives there during the week. GSO is about 90 minutes from the north side of Charlotte...tack on maybe 10 more to downtown. If it is your money, it is definitely worth it to use one of the alternatives mentioned here.

If you need to go anywhere in the South or Southeast part of town, I would use CAE (Columbia, SC). Straight up I-77 maybe 90 min.

JMHO.