Hmmm... Sounds pretty Kosher but you never know. IMHO the real gotchas these days are hidden cities and unused segments. If they say no way, you could buy the summer ticket on a different airline, and the nested trips on NW. DL also flies to CID, if the alliance is "hot" by then.

FWIW CID prices are wacky- tickets vary wildly and often get cheaper closer to the date. Be careful on Friday afternoons- if you want to re-book make sure to do so early.

The people out there are nice but I have to say Iowa reminds me why I left upstate NY and moved to a city. There is so little out there!

-cwk.

PS- Make sure to ask the locals what the "fifth season" is...