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Old Aug 31, 2014 | 11:58 pm
  #1  
LPDAL
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Silver Airways Saab 340B+, Marriott Residence Inn Penthouse, United Club, FLL-MCO-FLL

Comments are very much welcomed and appreciated


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Routing for this vacation, courtesy GCMAP.

Silver Airways Saab 340B+, United Club, Marriott Residence Inn Orlando Airport MCO, Fun Spot USA Orlando, Tri-Rail FLL-MCO-FLL

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FOREWORD
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The Tuesday before the extended Labor Day Weekend 2014 started, my best friend and I were talking over drinks on Skype, pondering ideas about vacations we'd love to take. My friend stated that he had never been to MCO, but had been to the city of Orlando several times. Like most social discussions that we had, I figured this would soon be forgotten as we moved onto another topic while talking.

Later that night, long after I had said goodbye to my friend, I decided to look up random Marriott Residence Inn stay fares through UAMP, as sort of a just for fun exercise to see if I could find any noteworthy fares for premium accommodations at lower prices than usual. In one particular Floridian search, the Residence Inn Orlando Airport MCO brought up a large two-bedroom suite for only $100 per night, with full kitchenette and living room! I excitedly called my groggy mate up at 03:00 and broke the news. We would be travelling to Orlando during Labor Day weekend!

Of course, we would take an airline rather than driving. A few options exist in the South Florida to Orlando airfare market. First, you can take American Airlines out of MIA, who actually fly mainline jets on this route (I've experienced it myself firsthand: ), which was the most attractive proposition as I absolutely love Domestic First Class! However, the price per person on Saturday was $900 USD, which would add up to over $2,000! Certainly I could afford that, but I'd rather not spend that pretty penny on a silly Intrafloridian flight. Next, we have FLL. At Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (say that three times fast), the FLL-MCO route is served by both Ultra-Low-Cost-Carrier NK (Spirit Airlines), and humorously enough, I have done that route already in Big Front Seat: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/249895 . However, no Big Front Seats remained on Saturday's flight, and I would never want to brave Spirit's sardine tin Economy! Finally, we have Silver Airways!

Silver Airways (3M) is a small(er) regional airline based in my home city of Fort Lauderdale, formerly Gulfstream International Airlines flying B1900Ds around Florida and from FLL to various cities in the Bahamas. They did business as a Continental Express carrier, and I flew on them doing FLL-FPO-FLL in November 2008, so far my only B1900 ride. However, GIA was certainly a very controversial airline due to it's haphazard financial planning and dangerous pilot training program--which has lead to some people speculating that certain accidents have occurred with pilots trained at their flight school--Gulfstream Air Academy.

In 2011/Early 2012 the airline entered bankruptcy and switched hands to Victory Park Capital, emerging out of Bankruptcy as a fully-independent carrier, Silver Airways. This brought about the moving of the entire B1900D fleet to CLE and BIL, replaced in Florida, Georgia, and D.C. by Saab 340B aircraft in the airlines' new house colors.

I already had a very good expereince on 3M back in January ( http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/249021 ), so I decided to check out fares for my pal and I. Oof, $200 one way...Well, the service is great, I love turboprops, I have free United Club lounge Access, and I wanted to visit Orlando...The tickets and hotel suite were booked by Wednesday.
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