I like mAAinf_Flyer's idea as SUX is 35 min away from my home. I did find a $1081 flight out of DSM which is 3.5 hrs from my home.
In the back of my mind I'd love to accrue 8800 Skymiles to add to my MQM count for this year and get me that much closer to Sliver, but I think finding a lower fare is more important to me now than trying to rigmarole thru different airports just to earn airline miles. It is looking more and more like a large scale MR run this Fall.
Appreciate everyone's help with my ?