Decided to get crazy for a return flight home
 

So excited! My first international flight(s)!

So for my xmas gift, my parents got me a plane ticket to Sweden. Came out to about $1025 with tax, was pretty nice. I picked the routings and what not, and having never flown internationally (sans Cancun), I wanted to try some...more exotic? and indirect routes.

Well this is what I originally had:
December 25
FNT - CLE 142/241pm
CLE - EWR 317/504
EWR - OSL 8pm/945 am
(next day)OSL-ARN 745pm/845 pm (10 hour layover in norway, cool! - what should i do/see?) (SAS)

Way home was a tad bit boring.
Jan 3
ARN-EWR-CLE-FNT

Was happy with that, until I decided to do some messing around before bed. Uh oh!

For an extra $44, I can leave January 2nd at 530pm from ARN and do this:
ARN-ZRH (SAS)
ZRH-AMS (Swiss? (edilweiss air)

(Jan 3rd)
AMS-IAH (787!!!!!!)
IAH-CLE-FNT.

New cost $1069.30
Any other crazy ideas to consider? Maybe there's a way to get on a 787 outbound, maybe some route I'm not sure of that's international? I'm open for anything!

Also, since I'm travelling around x-mas and new years time, hopefully my chances of getting bumped are good. Anyone have any stories from flying during the holidays and getting bumped?

In terms of getting bumped - bumping you from one flight would screw your other flights, so I can see an airline preferring to bump someone who is only on the A-B flight, rather than someone they will have to rebook on B-C, C-D, D-E etc etc.

I think OP means getting bumped up to a premium cabin?

if this is your first international flight, are you sure you don't want to just focus on your destination and have a good time, then get home the shortest way possible and adjust to jetlag?

just sayin..
:)

Yeah.

I do enjoy flying though, really I do. And being as that the longest flight I've ever been on has been about 3 hours, I just want to say I was at "x" location, even if it was just only the airport. Who knows if I'll ever have another chance.

Also, couldn't get confirmed on the route I wanted for the way back, so it looks like it will just give me an excuse to make a domestic trip on a 787 :p

Sure, if you enjoy flying and airports, add the extra segments. Just be prepared for additional possible instances of "poop happening".

The extra miles will be nice too. :)

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Me thinks this trip makes more sense than the usual mileage run, which IMHO is an expensive (because of time commitment) way to get status. OP likes to fly. Whether OP counts airport as valid stay or not is up to OP.
With a bit of luck (which can be enhanced by shortest stop overs allowed) due to winter weather you can get nice delays and interesting, unanticipated reroutes.
Unless you have megastatus on your carrier do not count on upgrades. Xmas is the time when we all try to bring our OH and OS (offspring :) ) on upgrades/miles. Good luck & enjoy. Don't fly too much because at some point you will start resenting Y.