Crazy trip hack?

ORD-TLV-ORD (through EWR) out 1/22 and in 1/28 is still selling for $644, over $300 less than EWR-TLV on the same dates. I want to park at EWR because the off-site parking is so cheap and because it might be tough to get rides both ways if I start and end at different airports.

So, I'm thinking of taking B6: EWR-BOS-ORD for $125 (best price according to Matrix) and then ORD-EWR-TLV and still come out almost $200 ahead of the game.

My first question is when and where is the earliest I can check for TLV. Can I do it at EWR in the morning before leaving for BOS at terminal C and then take the airtrain to terminal A to catch the B6 flt to BOS or is that too early to check (it would be about 15 hrs before EWR-TLV)? If not, can I check through to TLV at ORD or do I have to get the bag back at EWR and then check it to TLV?

My second question is more practical: Am I nuts? Is it a really stupid idea to do 3 segments and then an 11 hour redeye on the same day? Should I just suck it up and pay the extra $200 and stop trying to game the system?

Haven't booked anything so I'm just looking for some advice.

Thanks!

I would be reluctant to do same-day positioning on B6. Especially in winter. Or summer. Or anytime in between.

They are a fine airline to fly when the sun is shining, but when the stuff hits the fan, no interline agreements and two east coast hubs will kill you.

But otherwise, yes, of course your nuts. Many of us on FT (well at least in the MR forum) would go EWR-IAH-DEN-ORD before starting our trip to TLV!

My advice (from someone who does this quite often): 'game' the system while you still can.

Just leave plenty of lag time in between the trips (at ORD) and you'll be fine. Plus, if things go on time and you get to ORD with say 5/6 hours between flights, take the train into town and enjoy Chicago for a few hours!

You'll get the extra miles, enjoy Chicago (hopefully), be a 'smart' consumer and best yet - SAVE money!

Keep those buffers in place and enjoy your trip (although it isn't crazy, at all - some folks here will tell you it is) to TLV!

Read about the EWR-SEA two years ago for crazy places to go en route to Seattle...now that was a fun experience

-jeremy

"Crazy" trip hack? This is pretty standard when you're starting from a hub and have time to burn.

I've done IAH-AUS-IAH-DCA, IAH-IAD-BUF-EWR-EZE, etc.

by making your trip: EWR-TLV-EWR-ORD and just don't get on the last flight.

Personally this doesn't seem worth it. Adding in Boston and Chicago in January seems like you're just tempting the Weather Gods. What would happen if a New England snowstorm knocked out your BOS-ORD flight? I can't imagine UA is going to be very sympathetic if you miss your ORD-EWR flight because you're stranded in the wrong city and have to make last minute arrangements to go back BOS-EWR.

Plus, is saving $200 worth the fact that you'll have to get to EWR a lot (~10-12 hours?) earlier to start flying? Enjoy being able to sleep in that day and pack leisurely.

PITA to go to chicago and back just to save $200. Not worth it, IMO.

So at the end of January, you want to fly Newark to Boston to Chicago to save a few pennies?

Through three of the worst possible airports to deal with snow and winds and ice?

I think it's crazy and not worth the savings.

On one of the worst airlines for irrops handling.... (B6)

$200 is far from peanuts. Moreover, one wins not only by saving $200 but by having an additional flight experience and the ability to have both a Nathan's and a Chicago dog on the same day. Best, however, not to do it on B6.

Great idea! I didn't even think of going open jaw.

Thanks!

BTW, I know this must have been discussed a zillion times here, but do they still let you get away with a hidden city trick like that as long as you don't do it too often?

I did it once and am going to do it again soon to save me $20. I hope I'm not taking a big FAT chance. (joke)

I can recommend a good pho place in Fresno if you need it.

I'm booked with my (adult) son on the same trip in mid-May, but it's a little more expensive: $764. Still, the fare from nearby CLE is a whopping $1,326. Thus my savings by starting in ORD are way more than $300. Fortunately, ORD is only 367.9 miles away from the front door of my palatial digs, so we're driving there and back and splitting the gas money.

RNE, realizing that NYC is 800 miles from ORD, but still, driving is a possibility.