Sigh.
The day I’ve been fearing for months has finally arrived. Independence Air has announced it is ceasing operations effective Thursday night, Jan. 5.
This might not mean much to most of you readers, but Independence’s hub was at Washington Dulles airport (IAD for you travel geeks) and it quickly became a favorite of mine because it offered cheap flights to a good number of places where Division III schools are located. I took six flights on Indepdence in the past 15 months, and sent Keith McMillan places via Independence on a few other occasions for D3football.com.
We’ve enjoyed the convenience, the service and the price, which enabled us to see teams such as Wheaton, Illinois Wesleyan, Aurora and the final Hope/Calvin game in the Holland Civic Center last season, not to mention a half-dozen football games. But we also had to figure that such bargains couldn’t last. We’ll have to work harder for bargains in 2006.
Is it too late to start collecting Wendy’s cups?
Not lying…when I saw the story that FlyI was ceasing operations, I thought of you.
Truth is…you can’t offer uber-bargain fares and exist in this marketplace.
That being said…I rather pay $300 for a flight considering the services I get for it than for a hotel room. $300 to get inside a metal tube and go 400 mph to get where I need to…it’s worth it.
Yes, well, this is why we don’t send people to New York City to spend the night.
I’m sorry to hear the expected news about I-Air folding under Chapter 11.
I had thought of taking I-Air back from Pittsburgh to Boston via DC when returning from CMU next month, but I would have had to stay over an extra night, while US Airways had a return 1-way to Boston via Philly for a relatively cheap $133 after taxes on a Sunday evening. However, I booked it as a United Air Lines codeshare, so I hope that United Air Lines gets out of Chapter 11 next month as anticipated.
To Jetblue, AirTran, and Southwest– please stay in business and remain successful.
Don’t worry, United’s going nowhere…
Government can’t let it happen.
I travel for work 80% of the time and spent a night at the Marriott Marquis in Time Square – overall cost $410.00 before taxes. When I booked the room, my cost-conscious travel department asked why the Marquis and not the Courtyard down the street.
I had done my research and realized that the Courtyard and Marquis were the SAME price…go figure. Hotels are dramatically overpriced…airfare is really cheap considering the service…IMO.
It’s an airline’s demise.
*whew*
I was afraid “sad day for D3hoops.com” might be something MUCH worse.
Hmm, true, sorry for the alarm.
As for going to New York and staying in the area, you can find cheaper hotel rates in Secaucus, NJ and the other Meadowlands area towns. Just take the NJ Transit buses from the Port Authority through the Lincoln Tunnel– I found a cheap budget rate at an Econo Lodge in Carlstadt, NJ– all I ask for is a room with a good-sized bed. Free continental breakfast is a plus.
Yes – I immediately wondered about Warren.
ROTFLMAO!!!
Just kidding WT!
C
C:
Yeah, right. Keep it up … I’ll remind you someday of what it feels like to be a geezer when you are a geezer. 🙂
When I saw the headline, I thought it might herald the announcement that Greg Sager had run off to join the Trappists and taken a permanent vow of silence (this, of course, after having made eternal peace with King Dennis).
Wow! When I initially read the topic of the blog, I thought the worst…Like the site was shutting down because of escalating bandwidth costs!
Can’t help anyone with airfare (although my brother just flew on Frontier Air to Florida with his wife and newborn for under $300 roundtrip, which is amazing)…
If you need a hotel in the Jersey City area, this I can help with.
http://www.njcugothicknights.com/Sports/general/2004/VISITING_TEAM_HOTEL_DIRECTORY.asp
Yes there are plenty of fine Inns on Tonelle Ave in Jersey City, some even have hourly rates if you just want to catch a quick nap. 😉
You may even be offered companionship while checking in.