Thanks for replying. I had planned on dressing formal but comfortable enough for being in airplanes/airports all day. Nice slacks and a nice shirt. I'm meeting his mom for the first time (yikes) so I need to look decent anyway. Dad says dressing up and acting respectful can get you a long way with the agents at the gate, which isn't a problem for me. I was raised with the manners are NOT optional philosophy that a lot of kids my age lack, and I'm grateful for that now My first standby flight alone was from Des Moines to Minneapolis and I had no issues, and then from Minneapolis to Omaha (where my dad lives) with Dad as the pilot which was kind of cool. So I'm hoping this trip goes as smoothly.

Can you check NWA loads? The first flight I think I want is Northwest Airlines 5086 departing 11/5 from DSM to MSP and then Northwest Airlines 2153 departing 11/5 from MSP to SMF. I haven't looked at the return flights yet. I just want to get there for now lol. Though the night flights concern me, because getting bumped could mean a nice vacation in Minneapolis for a night. I'm obviously bringing money to stay if that happens, and I guess if I get stuck that's the best place for it to happen. I'm fairly familiar with the area.