CID to LAX direct flight

[homerdance]

Just an FYI, United (available united.com) has added a direct flight from Cedar Rapids (CID) to LAX leaving on 12/31 returning on 1/2.

This is a direct link to it from Google flights.

http://goo.gl/flights/cUQy

 

[MonkeyHawk]

For $1400+/person

 

[Scherrman]

Still expensive but compared to all the other flight options available right now, this is the best deal.

 

[Scherrman]

For $1400+/person

There really isn't much else for much less unless you want two stops or a 37 minute layover.

 

[MonkeyHawk]

Yes, I know . . .just looked out of curiosity.

 

[homerdance]

It's a small regional plane (Embraer ERJ-175) operated by skywest, and it looks like it is already 1/2 sold out, and it isn't exactly cheap either. But that is a long flight.

 

[IFlyEm]

Virgin America has flights out of Ohare.

Depart Dec 31 - Return Jan 4 for $537

Go directly to virginamerica.com

 

[johnbeerpong]

Virgin America has flights out of Ohare.

Depart Dec 31 - Return Jan 4 for $537

Go directly to virginamerica.com

Thanks Lance

 

[Scherrman]

A lot of flights I saw went through Denver and had a 37 minute layover. That's just asking for a missed flight. Other flights had layovers up to 10 hours over night.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Gets back to CR at 5am on the 3rd. Sounds awful

 

[IFlyEm]

Thanks Lance

Not Lance.....But I know him.

 

[Scherrman]

Gets back to CR at 5am on the 3rd. Sounds awful

I had originally thought that but then changed my mind. I figure instead of getting a little bit of sleep, waking up early and heading to the airport putting up with tons of holiday traffic I could just head to the airport late when it's more quiet. I would just sleep on the flight and be home nice and early. I hate getting home late from trips.

 

[thewop]

Gets back to CR at 5am on the 3rd. Sounds awful

I elected a red eye, though I'm near DC. Flying from the west coast during the day wastes an entire day pretty much no matter how early you leave, a red eye gets you in early, you take a nap (maybe), you have some daylight left.

 

[20Hawks14]

A lot of flights I saw went through Denver and had a 37 minute layover. That's just asking for a missed flight. Other flights had layovers up to 10 hours over night.

I booked one of these through Denver. The price was right and I'm not going to Vegas so this will be my gamble. Wish me luck?

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I booked one of these through Denver. The price was right and I'm not going to Vegas so this will be my gamble. Wish me luck?

Did the same. 48 min layover in Denver

 

[J-Fine]

Did the same. 48 min layover in Denver

I just traveled to Buffalo, NY and had a 35 min layover in Minneapolis and a 37 min layover in Detroit.

It worked out fine. I literally walked off the plane and on to the next. It was great. Of course, this time of year weather may play a role but I made my flights in plenty of time.

My flight out of Aberdeen, SD where i started was even slightly delayed. If you get off the plan and it is close to your departure time just let the people at the desk know which gate you need to be at and they will call and let them know you are on the way.

It's slightly risky but great when it works.

 

[Brian_Fantana]

GF and I just booked a flight out of MSP on the 31st to SD, get there at 11:20ish am, and out of LAX on a red eye Sunday at 12:30am for $800pp. Could have left Sunday morning instead for a little more but actually liked the red eye idea. Both flights are direct and back Sunday by 6:30am to rest up and don't need to pay for a hotel Sat night. Rent a car in SD for $85 to get us to the hotel in LA. Not the best price, but with prices where they are at, not too bad.

 

[fredjr82]

A lot of flights I saw went through Denver and had a 37 minute layover. That's just asking for a missed flight

They'll just delay the departure of the flight from Denver to LA. Anybody that has the 37 minute layover will get on that flight even if they're 30 minutes late arriving. Too many empty seats on the second plane if it took off before everyone was able to board from that arrival.

 

[83Hawk]

I booked my flight Monday when I found out I got tickets. Wanted to fly in/out of Vegas to save money. Couldn't get what I wanted. Flight out I got leaves 3:25 12/31 (I have to work), goes from Des Moines to Chicago to LA to Vegas arriving at 11:30pm. We are just going to get off in LA and not take the final leg, stay in LA, rent the car there instead of in Vegas, then drive to Vegas after the game, stay the night, then leave for home the next day.

Got a room at the LAX Holiday in for a decent price on the 31st, which surprised me.

 

[ChloeDancer]

I booked my flight Monday when I found out I got tickets. Wanted to fly in/out of Vegas to save money. Couldn't get what I wanted. Flight out I got leaves 3:25 12/31 (I have to work), goes from Des Moines to Chicago to LA to Vegas arriving at 11:30pm. We are just going to get off in LA and not take the final leg, stay in LA, rent the car there instead of in Vegas, then drive to Vegas after the game, stay the night, then leave for home the next day.

Got a room at the LAX Holiday in for a decent price on the 31st, which surprised me.

Make sure u don't check bags if u are skipping that flight to LV or else your bags will land in Vegas.

 

[DallasIAHawk]

I booked my flight Monday when I found out I got tickets. Wanted to fly in/out of Vegas to save money. Couldn't get what I wanted. Flight out I got leaves 3:25 12/31 (I have to work), goes from Des Moines to Chicago to LA to Vegas arriving at 11:30pm. We are just going to get off in LA and not take the final leg, stay in LA, rent the car there instead of in Vegas, then drive to Vegas after the game, stay the night, then leave for home the next day.

Got a room at the LAX Holiday in for a decent price on the 31st, which surprised me.

Be careful. They may cancel your return if you don't take the final leg of the original. Not sure if they still do that, but you will be a 'no show' for lax-las. You might want to check.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Flew to Omaha for the Nebraska game the morning of. 34 minute layover at Ohare. First leg of the flight was delayed about 15 mins. My plane out of ohare left for Omaha at 10am. The next one not until 330. Talk about sweating bullets..... Ended up running to the gate in chicago with about 5 minutes to spare

 

[dgordo]

Be careful. They may cancel your return if you don't take the final leg of the original. Not sure if they still do that, but you will be a 'no show' for lax-las. You might want to check.

Most airlines will cancel the return flight.

 

[83Hawk]

Be careful. They may cancel your return if you don't take the final leg of the original. Not sure if they still do that, but you will be a 'no show' for lax-las. You might want to check.

Already called the airline (twice, on different days, just to be sure). No bags checked. We actually were booked as 2 one way tickets rather than a round trip. Of course, I had them pull up my reservation to be sure.

Both times they told me it would be ok.

 

[Scherrman]

I wish all of you luck on your flights. I hope they all go smoothly.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Anyone else going through Phoenix-Mesa?

 

[Scherrman]

Anyone else going through Phoenix-Mesa?

That seems like a really long drive.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

If you get off the plan and it is close to your departure time just let the people at the desk know which gate you need to be at and they will call and let them know you are on the way.

Have you actually done that before? Just about every gate agent I've ever dealt with would rather step on your throat and piss on your face than help you make your connection.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

They'll just delay the departure of the flight from Denver to LA. Anybody that has the 37 minute layover will get on that flight even if they're 30 minutes late arriving. Too many empty seats on the second plane if it took off before everyone was able to board from that arrival.

You must live in a parallel universe to the one I live in. I have never in my life heard about a flight being held back to accommodate passengers coming from a tight connection. They would much rather get the stand-by passengers on and close the gate on time, even if the plane sits there for another half hour.

 

[fredjr82]

You must live in a parallel universe to the one I live in. I have never in my life heard about a flight being held back to accommodate passengers coming from a tight connection. They would much rather get the stand-by passengers on and close the gate on time, even if the plane sits there for another half hour.

Strange. The last time it happened I was on my way to Boise, ID. Connection in Denver. There was about 10 of us on the plane to Denver and making the connection to Boise. We landed in Denver with about 10 minutes to spare before take off of the other flight. We taxied for about 10 minutes, waited for them to open the door, waited for our bags we checked before we go on the flight, and sprinted to the other gate thinking they left already. Nope, delayed flight because there was too many people from the other flight missing that boarding.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

Strange. The last time it happened I was on my way to Boise, ID. Connection in Denver. There was about 10 of us on the plane to Denver and making the connection to Boise. We landed in Denver with about 10 minutes to spare before take off of the other flight. We taxied for about 10 minutes, waited for them to open the door, waited for our bags we checked before we go on the flight, and sprinted to the other gate thinking they left already. Nope, delayed flight because there was too many people from the other flight missing that boarding.

Sounds like you got really lucky, but trust me that is an extremely rare occurrence, and remember the demand for a flight to Boise is a little different than the demand for a flight to LA. Coming on here and preaching to people that their connecting flight to LA will wait for them if their arriving flight is late is just plain (plane?) wrong.

 

[fredjr82]

Sounds like you got really lucky, but trust me that is an extremely rare occurrence, and remember the demand for a flight to Boise is a little different than the demand for a flight to LA. Coming on here and preaching to people that their connecting flight to LA will wait for them if their arriving flight is late is just plain (plane?) wrong.

Not really. If 65% of the plane coming from CR to Denver is connecting on that LA flight they aren't taking off without those people. I don't care how many people you have on standby. Do you realize the logistical nightmare of the plane taking off with that many people stranded in Denver? I'm of the assumption that the airline would delay the LA bound flight in order for the 65% of people to make their connection.

 

[ChloeDancer]

Just an FYI. If any airline over books and you cannot get on the flight the airline has to pay you 3x the amount you paid for your flight. Also the most I have ever seen offered to volunteer to bump off a flight is $700-800. At least on delta.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

Not really. If 65% of the plane coming from CR to Denver is connecting on that LA flight they aren't taking off without those people. I don't care how many people you have on standby. Do you realize the logistical nightmare of the plane taking off with that many people stranded in Denver? I'm of the assumption that the airline would delay the LA bound flight in order for the 65% of people to make their connection.

Not saying that what you stated doesn't make sense, just saying that it doesn't happen very much, and your "assumption" isn't so accurate. In the grand scheme of things, United Airlines doesn't give two sh!ts about a small plane of people from C.R.; they'll fill a flight from Denver to LA over the holidays with or without you.

 

[fredjr82]

Not saying that what you stated doesn't make sense, just saying that it doesn't happen very much, and your "assumption" isn't so accurate. In the grand scheme of things, United Airlines doesn't give two sh!ts about a small plane of people from C.R.; they'll fill a flight from Denver to LA over the holidays with or without you.

Cool. I've seen it work one way, you've seen it work the other way. We'll just agree to disagree. GO HAWKS!!

 

[cohawk]

They'll just delay the departure of the flight from Denver to LA. Anybody that has the 37 minute layover will get on that flight even if they're 30 minutes late arriving. Too many empty seats on the second plane if it took off before everyone was able to board from that arrival.

They won't delay the flight. Especially if there is a weather delay. You will simply have to wait to be booked on another flight. With that said if the flight is on time you should be able to make that flight.

 

[cohawk]

I booked my flight Monday when I found out I got tickets. Wanted to fly in/out of Vegas to save money. Couldn't get what I wanted. Flight out I got leaves 3:25 12/31 (I have to work), goes from Des Moines to Chicago to LA to Vegas arriving at 11:30pm. We are just going to get off in LA and not take the final leg, stay in LA, rent the car there instead of in Vegas, then drive to Vegas after the game, stay the night, then leave for home the next day.

Got a room at the LAX Holiday in for a decent price on the 31st, which surprised me.

They will cancel the rest of your itinerary if you don't take your full flight. You will have to buy a ticket with a change fee and a new fare.

 

[83Hawk]

They will cancel the rest of your itinerary if you don't take your full flight. You will have to buy a ticket with a change fee and a new fare.

Technically you are correct....if your itinerary is round trip, which mine isn't. I was actually booked 2 one way trips, so getting off in LA on the outward flight will not affect my return trip.

I called American Airlines THREE times this week, and each time they told me it was OK (as long as I don't have checked baggage).

 

[cohawk]

Technically you are correct....if your itinerary is round trip, which mine isn't. I was actually booked 2 one way trips, so getting off in LA on the outward flight will not affect my return trip.

I called American Airlines THREE times this week, and each time they told me it was OK (as long as I don't have checked baggage).

Sorry missed that part. If they are one way you are more than OK. I guess I should have kept reading.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

Cool. I've seen it work one way, you've seen it work the other way. We'll just agree to disagree. GO HAWKS!!

I suppose. If you want to believe that it's common practice for flights to be delayed for the purpose of accommodating passengers with tight connections, I guess there's nothing I can do about it. Good luck with your travels.