Additional Costs of a NOS Free Route
Aug 24, 2011, 6:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 57
Additional Costs of a NOS Free Route
Has anyone else noticed the additional costs of booking a NOS free itinerary? Example - I need to fly from the Los Angeles area to San Francisco in October. Naturally, I would only want to fly American, Virgin America, or United/Continental to SFO Terminal 2 or 3. In addition, I can only fly from LBG, BUR, or SNA in the LA area. It looks like it's going to cost me $250 to fly non-stop from BUR or SNA on United to SFO. LAX to SFO I could do for $150, but then I risk being groped at LAX. LGB to SFO is $150 on JetBlue, but I risk getting groped at the SFO International Terminal. Basically I'm going to pay $100 for the privilege of getting the WTMD on both ends.
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
Aug 24, 2011, 6:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Denton County, TX
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 737
Has anyone else noticed the additional costs of booking a NOS free itinerary? Example - I need to fly from the Los Angeles area to San Francisco in October. Naturally, I would only want to fly American, Virgin America, or United/Continental to SFO Terminal 2 or 3. In addition, I can only fly from LBG, BUR, or SNA in the LA area. It looks like it's going to cost me $250 to fly non-stop from BUR or SNA on United to SFO. LAX to SFO I could do for $150, but then I risk being groped at LAX. LGB to SFO is $150 on JetBlue, but I risk getting groped at the SFO International Terminal. Basically I'm going to pay $100 for the privilege of getting the WTMD on both ends.
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
I do these kinds of calculations.
I haven't taken a single trip in 2011 where I HAVEN'T thought about NOS as the first concern when deciding where or if to travel.
Aug 24, 2011, 6:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: in the sky
Posts: 490
Aug 24, 2011, 7:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 171
I'm trying to get from Baltimore to Buffalo without being sexually abused next month. The Amtrak train there is a no-brainer, but the train home is very inconveniently scheduled. So I'm talking my hosts into getting me a very expensive one-way car rental so that I can drive home. Protecting myself from blueshirts is indeed expensive. Too bad for the airlines who won't see a penny. I wish the airlines would stand up for their customers instead of standing by watching as children and adults get pointlessly molested.
Aug 24, 2011, 7:20 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Southwest has $59 OW fares in California for October. LAX to SFO, and SNA to SFO. OAK also included. ONT is not.
Looks like you can get cheap (if you can stand WN) and miss NOS at least on one end.
LAX-PHX and SNA-PHX is also showing $59 OW fares for October. BUR-PHX and ONT-PHX (NOS both ends) is at $49 OW.
Looks like you can get cheap (if you can stand WN) and miss NOS at least on one end.
LAX-PHX and SNA-PHX is also showing $59 OW fares for October. BUR-PHX and ONT-PHX (NOS both ends) is at $49 OW.
Aug 24, 2011, 7:27 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
Has anyone else noticed the additional costs of booking a NOS free itinerary? Example - I need to fly from the Los Angeles area to San Francisco in October. Naturally, I would only want to fly American, Virgin America, or United/Continental to SFO Terminal 2 or 3. In addition, I can only fly from LBG, BUR, or SNA in the LA area. It looks like it's going to cost me $250 to fly non-stop from BUR or SNA on United to SFO. LAX to SFO I could do for $150, but then I risk being groped at LAX. LGB to SFO is $150 on JetBlue, but I risk getting groped at the SFO International Terminal. Basically I'm going to pay $100 for the privilege of getting the WTMD on both ends.
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
PHX Terminal 4 nowadays has a love affair with the NOS. 80% sounds unfortunately too low to me. I try to fly Delta out of PHX as much as possible to avoid it.
Aug 24, 2011, 7:47 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,162
Has anyone else noticed the additional costs of booking a NOS free itinerary? Example - I need to fly from the Los Angeles area to San Francisco in October. Naturally, I would only want to fly American, Virgin America, or United/Continental to SFO Terminal 2 or 3. In addition, I can only fly from LBG, BUR, or SNA in the LA area. It looks like it's going to cost me $250 to fly non-stop from BUR or SNA on United to SFO. LAX to SFO I could do for $150, but then I risk being groped at LAX. LGB to SFO is $150 on JetBlue, but I risk getting groped at the SFO International Terminal. Basically I'm going to pay $100 for the privilege of getting the WTMD on both ends.
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
Aug 25, 2011, 8:11 am
#8
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Medallion 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 550
All of my flight itineraries take into consideration the presence/absence of NoSs and/or high probability of doing an SDOO at the departure airports of each segment. I watch fares for weeks ahead in order to grab a low fare that involves airports without NoSs or airports that allow likely SDOO "security".
When it comes to having family members accompany me, NO FLIGHT ITINERARY is booked unless the airports will meet these criteria.
Thanks for nothing, TSA.
When it comes to having family members accompany me, NO FLIGHT ITINERARY is booked unless the airports will meet these criteria.
Thanks for nothing, TSA.
Aug 25, 2011, 8:17 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 733
FWIW, airports such as SNA, LGB, and ONT have long been "preferred" airports for the West Coast. It is not unusual for their fares to be higher than LAX into/out of many markets, not just intra-CA.
Though, I wouldn't be surprised if bookings were higher out of SNA and LGB to avoid NoS. As NRSA I've noticed that it's ridiculously impossible to use those airports now, as opposed to previously when it was only slight impossible pre-NoS.
Though, I wouldn't be surprised if bookings were higher out of SNA and LGB to avoid NoS. As NRSA I've noticed that it's ridiculously impossible to use those airports now, as opposed to previously when it was only slight impossible pre-NoS.
Aug 25, 2011, 10:03 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
JetBlue LGB-OAK r/t $140 all-in. Likely no body scanners either way.
Sep 6, 2011, 12:34 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,007
Has anyone else noticed the additional costs of booking a NOS free itinerary? Example - I need to fly from the Los Angeles area to San Francisco in October. Naturally, I would only want to fly American, Virgin America, or United/Continental to SFO Terminal 2 or 3. In addition, I can only fly from LBG, BUR, or SNA in the LA area. It looks like it's going to cost me $250 to fly non-stop from BUR or SNA on United to SFO. LAX to SFO I could do for $150, but then I risk being groped at LAX. LGB to SFO is $150 on JetBlue, but I risk getting groped at the SFO International Terminal. Basically I'm going to pay $100 for the privilege of getting the WTMD on both ends.
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
I've also been contemplating how I would fly from the LA area to PHX. Should I go A) Delta from LAX Terminal 5 to PHX Terminal 3, or B) US Air from LGB to PHX Terminal 4?
Last time I flew out of LAX terminal 5, I could use the WTMD lane on the right (but can I count on that regularly?), and of course PHX Terminal 3 has no NOS. Or I could have a 100% chance of a hassle free flight from LGB but what would the chance of me getting the NOS at PHX Terminal 4 these days, 80%?
Anyone else do these kinds of calculations?
Sep 6, 2011, 4:49 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798