Which senerio would you take to get home

A couple of weeks ago I was in MSP trying to get to SLC. I had the option of a direct flight that was showing full and an option that connected through RAP. The MSP to RAP and RAP to SLC flights were very open (20+seats). Both flights leaving at the same time so I could only pick one option.What would you do? Chance the quicker direct route with a possibility of not making it on or the connecting route that you should make both flights. Also, there was not much time difference. The route through RAP only took an extra hour to get to SLC.Anyways, I took the chance with the direct flight and I made it on. I just thought it would be interesting to see what others might do. It might be a little different if I was at an airport with only 1 flight a day and if you missed out you would have to stay overnight.Tony

Hmmmm i'd err on the side of caution and take the indirect routing. Was there another MSP SLC flight later?

Good question!
If I had to deal with 50seat RJ for connection, I doubt I'd go that way. They have a habit of canceling, filling last-minute and/or being short of crew or not on time. Too many variables for me.
I would consider an indirect route if I connected thru somewhere like DCA or similar but not a small regional location.

I would have gone through RAP.
I usually choose the most open flights.....

I'm with Offroader & M767, I usually choose the direct route.

Now Vulindlela, you "usually choose the most open flights" and yet will fly into Vegas on a holiday week-end. What aren't you telling us? :lol:

Maybe he does the route planning work as well, but fails to put tickets for a certain flight for sale? :P

I've done something similar once, though it wasn't a difficult choice. When in YYZ, we arrived at the airport and saw a flight to DTW boarding. I was with a buddy that had to go to FWA (which has more flights from DTW) after, so we were able to jump on that (even though the flight was boarding, the guy even gave us exit row seats on a DC9!). When I arrived at MSP, (DTW, sorry) I looked up the loads on my laptop and noticed that I couldn't get on a flight until about 21:00 I think it was, and it was only about 14:00. I looked at the flight board and saw that there was a flight to RST (Rochester, MN... tiny airport that I didn't even know served DTW in addition to MSP) leaving in 30 minutes. I hopped over to that gate and boarded, then continued on the same plane with the same crew to MSP an hour later.

You lost me. You went YYZ-MSP-RST-DTW-MSP? I think you and Vulindlela do this stuff on purpose. http://bestsmileys.com/frustrated/7.gif

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Originally Posted by Migflanker

You lost me. You went YYZ-MSP-RST-DTW-MSP? I think you and Vulindlela do this stuff on purpose. http://bestsmileys.com/frustrated/7.gif

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That's where the fun is!

DAL-HOU-ELP-LAX-OAK

MSP-MDW-SEA-YVR-HKG-MEL

are my longest two

Wait, what? Sorry if I was confusing with the way I worded it. The ENTIRE trip for me was MSP-YYZ-DTW-RST-MSP. Although, when I arrived at DTW and was checking loads, I was searching based on risk and time. The "best" option according to the system was DTW-YYZ-MSP, but having come from YYZ and having a whole day's worth of better options without a departure tax I avoided that. I did have to clarify a couple times then that I meant RST, not ROC, though.

Edit: Sorry, I see what happened. Mistyped at one spot. That's what happens when I have trouble sleeping the night before an 8:00AM final

Thanks for all the replies. Nick, there were more flights later to SLC but loads looked bad. I was not really worried about the MSP-RAP-SLC route, the flights are normally open and I do not believe they cancel much (these are delta connection mostly operated by my airline-skywest).I believe that the gate agent on the direct flight said I was #4 with 4 seats, so I made the decision to take the direct route. I am sure if I was #6 with 4 seats I would have taken the route through RAP. I really like direct routes so once on the plane you normally make it to your destination.

I live in a city that is served by CRJ200 and 900 countless nonrevs will come to my city only to be disappointed by full flights that occur because of rerouting of passengers from canceled flights, missed connex ect... I believe its wise to stay at hubs more people miss connect there and provide more opportunity for one to make their flights

What city is that jethawk?

Speaking of rerouting, whenever someone travels on my benefits without me, I act as their reservationist. I am sure that you guys probably do the same for friends and family. Two years ago my wife and mother went to Europe. They traveled SLC-CDG-ZRH-by car to MXP-TXL. On their way home they went TXL-CDG-EWR were the were supposed to travel from EWR-IAH-SLC. One of the afternoon flights from EWR-IAH never made it to EWR. There was weather somewhere and 200 passengers were left without a plane. So EWR-IAH went from multiple open flights to every flight being oversold. It was in the afternoon so I had about an hour window to get them on a flight so that they could make the connecting flight to SLC. In that hour I sent them to 4 different gates, in two different terminals, plus they came in a different terminal. I finally got them through IND so they went EWR-IND-IAH-SLC. The funny thing was they were running as fast as they could through the airport. In that hour they went through security 3 times, and made the flight within seconds of closing the door.

By the way when choosing the routing to the OP, it would depend on the time of day for me. If it is the first flight from MSP-SLC I would be on the nonstop for sure. Lots of rev passengers miss the first flight and fly standby later. It is usually my favorite option. Last flight of the night, I am going on the sure flight through the connecting city.

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Originally Posted by imon32red

Speaking of rerouting, whenever someone travels on my benefits without me, I act as their reservationist. I am sure that you guys probably do the same for friends and family.

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Yup, I most certainly do.
I call it "breezin D3 style".

"It's 2 a.m. and I'm online listing my rookie D3 passriders. I'm prepared for a long day, for if nothing else experience has taught me that rookie pass flyers will call at least three times to give a running report on their exciting nonrev adventure.
The ringing phone jars me awake, it's my intrepid adventurers, they're calling to tell me that airport security was a breeze and now they're sitting at a deserted gate. Why did I tell them to get there so early, nobody else is there - they could have slept in- and no they didn't see the irony in waking me up to tell me that."

For the rest of story -click here - http://nonrev.net/general-discussion...-d3-style.html