Chicago - Groupon: Roundtip MDW to PLN (Pellston, MI) on Lakeshore Express for $205

http://www.groupon.com/ch/getaways/deals/ga-m-lakeshore-express

Looks like the deadline to buy is 1/16/12

Ts & Cs:


Must complete travel by 3/18/12

Limit 5 per person

Limit 5 per visit

Reservation required; subject to availability

Cancellations are subject to a fee up to the Groupon price

Must be 1 or older to fly

Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol

For Chicago departure, valid only for Thursday or Friday flights to PLN and Sunday flights back to MDW; for Michigan departure, valid only for Friday flights to MDW and Sunday flights back to PLN

6.25% tax not included

Although parking is free at the MDW private terminal, it is also limited, so call beforehand to ensure you won't have to park in the public lots

I love how one of the amenities is use of a "private terminal" at PLN.

That said, if these flights normally cost $410 you have to wonder how this little
puddle-jumper can stay in business. Is there THAT much demand for non-stops
between Chicago and PLN?

I love how one of the amenities is use of a "private terminal" at PLN.

That said, if these flights normally cost $410 you have to wonder how this little
puddle-jumper can stay in business. Is there THAT much demand for non-stops
between Chicago and PLN?

No kidding, one of their big competitions is to just drive from Chicago. If I'm going to fly to ski, why wouldn't I fly to the Rockies?

My understanding is that there are a lot of people in the Chicagoland area that have vacation homes (i.e. cabins) up there.

While I totally agree with the sentiment of "why not just fly to the Rockies" I think that the UP of Michigan is considerably cheaper.

I think they are trying to target folks that would otherwise drive, but would rather not spend 6-7 hours in the car each way.

My understanding is that there are a lot of people in the Chicagoland area that have vacation homes (i.e. cabins) up there.

While I totally agree with the sentiment of "why not just fly to the Rockies" I think that the UP of Michigan is considerably cheaper.

I think they are trying to target folks that would otherwise drive, but would rather not spend 6-7 hours in the car each way.

Rental car would kill it for me though. That's another big expense you're adding if you don't drive your own car. It's not like there's easy taxi service up there (or at I least I don't think so).

My family has a place on Little Traverse Bay. Until Lakeshore Express came along, only UA and AA flew between ORD and TVC...no one was flying from CHI to PLN.

Airfare on the Chicago to "Up North" routes are ridiculous. I'll regularly pay $300-500 (and as much as $800) during the summer months. And the flights during peak travel times--Friday heading to Michigan and Sunday afternoon/Monday heading back to Chicago--are often sold out. There are a lot of Chicagoans who have a second (third, fourth...) home up there, where wife and kids go up for the summer and husband comes up every weekend.

All things being equal, I'd rather fly into Pellston, particularly if it eliminates some/all of the TSA hassles. It's also minimally closer to my family's place. Alas, I'm normally flying with family who live in STL, so they transit through ORD and it's obviously easiest for them to check bags all the way through. (I have a young nephew, so checking bags for a week-long trip is the best option.) Given that Lakeshore Express is flying out of the private terminal at MDW, it would be a huge hassle for my relatives to fly WN to MDW, claim bags, change terminals, recheck bags, etc. So I haven't yet tried Lakeshore Express, but hope to sometime soon!