Any Tips for Saving $/Miles Flying Around SE US?
May 10, 2012 | 2:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SoCal
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Posts: 447
Any Tips for Saving $/Miles Flying Around SE US?
xlax Jr. and I will be visiting several cities in the Southeseast US (including perhaps ATL, MSY, BNA, RDU, and MIA/FLL) later this summer and I'd appreciate any suggestions anyone has for saving money or miles. I have points in several airline and hotel programs (plus MR, UR and Diners) and I am also willing to use actual American currency if that's a better deal. What i'd like to know is if there are there any ideas or deals -- using miles or money -- for multi city trips such as this? I figured that if there was any such thing, FTers would know about it. TIA.
xlax
xlax
May 10, 2012 | 3:26 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Las Vegas since 11/2023
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Posts: 4,648
So what universities is he applying to? 
One major piece of information missing, is whether you are doing this all in one, trip, or several.
Most of the cities you mentioned are a fair drive from each other, just too short to make it worthwhile to fly, too long to really want to drive. BNA-ATL is about 5 hours, ATL-RDU is 6-6.5. MIA is kind of a long way from anything.
One tip I can give concerns car rentals. Most one-way rentals these days do not have a drop charge per se, but they come with a significantly higher daily rate. Sometimes you can use points for one-way car rentals, often you can't. It's worth investigating, because a "Free day" is worth a long more when it's a one-way.
However, another major point, if you rent a car, is to consider renting off-airport. Depending on the location, airport surcharges can be huge, and are often a percentage of the rental. I was considering a road trip starting in DFW and lasting a week, and I found that if I rented the car at the airport it was $900, but if I rented from a Hertz location about 3 miles away, it was $500. So a $20 cab ride would save me quite a bit.
Obviously, use Priceline for your hotels. In case you need it, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onlin...ng-primer.html.
I live in RDU; PM me if you have any specific questions about the area.
One major piece of information missing, is whether you are doing this all in one, trip, or several.
Most of the cities you mentioned are a fair drive from each other, just too short to make it worthwhile to fly, too long to really want to drive. BNA-ATL is about 5 hours, ATL-RDU is 6-6.5. MIA is kind of a long way from anything.
One tip I can give concerns car rentals. Most one-way rentals these days do not have a drop charge per se, but they come with a significantly higher daily rate. Sometimes you can use points for one-way car rentals, often you can't. It's worth investigating, because a "Free day" is worth a long more when it's a one-way.
However, another major point, if you rent a car, is to consider renting off-airport. Depending on the location, airport surcharges can be huge, and are often a percentage of the rental. I was considering a road trip starting in DFW and lasting a week, and I found that if I rented the car at the airport it was $900, but if I rented from a Hertz location about 3 miles away, it was $500. So a $20 cab ride would save me quite a bit.
Obviously, use Priceline for your hotels. In case you need it, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onlin...ng-primer.html.
I live in RDU; PM me if you have any specific questions about the area.
May 10, 2012 | 6:10 pm
#4
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you will start and end at lax or some where in that area?
how much time at each of the 5 stops? can any be on sun going or sat coming back?
so w/aa for example, 25k ea for out & back & 25k for both for the 4 trips between the 5 stops, total 150k.....
will you need a car at each place?...will son cost extra as driver because of age?
use mapquest to see what driving between the various stops....
see what motel 6 costs at the stops....
post answers to my ?s
how much time at each of the 5 stops? can any be on sun going or sat coming back?
so w/aa for example, 25k ea for out & back & 25k for both for the 4 trips between the 5 stops, total 150k.....
will you need a car at each place?...will son cost extra as driver because of age?
use mapquest to see what driving between the various stops....
see what motel 6 costs at the stops....
post answers to my ?s
May 10, 2012 | 6:17 pm
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Shop hops to or from MIA on AA are cheap if you redeem BA Avios for them: 4,500 Avios for a Coach award leg of up to 650 miles, and 7,500 Avios for a leg of 651-1,151 miles.
Shop hops to or from MIA on AA are cheap if you redeem BA Avios for them: 4,500 Avios for a Coach award leg of up to 650 miles, and 7,500 Avios for a leg of 651-1,151 miles.
May 11, 2012 | 6:26 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 756
Any Tips for Saving $/Miles Flying Around SE US?
Although Delta low awards are rare, you can piece together a 3-city (closed jaw?) itinerary at the 25K level (i.e. LAX-ATL, then two days later ATL-RDU, then two days later RDU-LAX). I don't know the exact routing rules.