Argh, airfare to Ithaca is so high..!!!!

<p>I just got my acceptance a couple days ago and now am trying to book a ticket to Ithaca. Man, USAir being the only carrier to Ithaca makes it so much more expensive than it needs to be! Is detouring to Syracuse really worth the time and effort, considering the amount of money you could possibly save?</p>

<p>yeah you should just fly to a big city like rochester or syracuse and rent a car or something because there are cheaper airlines like southwest or jetblue or something like that</p>

<p>Yeah, I feel your pain, auracon. It looks like three flights from PDX to Ithaca: PDX --> Chicago --> JFK --> Ithaca, or something like that. Does anyone have a list of airports Ithaca connects to?</p>

<p>JetBlue is all full for the days I want to visit for Cornell Days :(</p>

<p>US Air was the cheapest for me at $360 for Ithaca or $280 for Syracuse.</p>

<p>So how far are the alternative airports? Around ITH (Ithaca) I found SYR (Syracuse). Rochester close enough? Any transportation possible from Rochester to Cornell?</p>

<p>Binghamton is just as close as Syracuse and is closer than Rochester...</p>

<p>Most students who have to fly to get to Cornell go through Syracuse. There's a shuttle that runs between the two cities several times a day for about $50. It takes about an hour.</p>

<p>Transportation to Ithaca could be better. I'm from Boston, and when I have no direct way, I have to take a bus to NYC and then a bus to Ithaca. It's doable, but it takes about 12 hours total.</p>

<p>Another airline is coming to Ithaca (Northwest I think), so hopefully the competition will soon improve fares.</p>

<p>Apparently, the only way to get to Ithaca Airport is via USAirways from Philadelphia or LaGuardia. (This is according to the Ithaca Airport's website.) Because USAirways is the only airline that flies to Ithaca, they can charge as much as they want. There's no competition. Damn you, Khan!</p>

<p>Also, there's no train station in Ithaca. The closest train station is in Syracuse.</p>

<p>Ive flown out of and back into Ithaca three times this year (the 3 breaks) and it's been so easy and painless that I think it justifies any costs in my mind. I pack up, take a taxi from RPU to the airport for 10 bucks, only have to get there 45 mins early because only one flight is departing at that time, get through security, and get on my flight. Land in philly, jump on a bigger plane, and, 6 hours after i left my dorm room, I'm on the ground in Orlando. Yeah its a little more expensive, but if you book the flights early (you know when breaks are going to be), its really not that bad at all. And syracuse seems to have a lot of problems. I mean many students fly into there and its fine most of the time but ive heard of people getting stuck there and etc. For me, at least, the convenience really justifies the cost.</p>

<p>my friend has had her luggage delayed by usairways TWICE this YEAR (both breaks) out of philly. try not to come back or leaving when it is hectic.</p>

<p>Northwest is starting service starting May from Ithaca. In fact, I'm flying out from Ithaca to Detroit (and eventually to SF) this summer.</p>

<p>THANK GOD NW is starting service in Ithaca. This will bring the airfare down gradually. (or quickly). wee~</p>

<p>auracon, im also from bay area, and me and my dad just purchased roundtrip airfare for cornell days (and penn preview days) through hotels.com (calling them is easier than doing it online, and more helpful). It is cheaper to get a round trip going to NYC or Philly of course, and the driving time to Ithaca isn't horrible....4 and a half hour. Doing that and renting a car might be cheaper overall than getting a flight straight to Ithaca, Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany. Overall, our package came to be $600, which for two people is a pretty good deal considering you're booking it 8 days in advance...</p>

<p>Oh wait, maybe we can share a ride? (If I do the same.) Maybe I could contribute to the gas/rental portion of your trip..?</p>

<p>Definitely look at Syracuse for more flights. There is an airport commmuter service listed in your Cornell Days information,
Ithaca Airline Limo, 800-273-9197.</p>

<p>WHOA, American Airline has a web special fare -under $200!!!!! ORD_SYR for next weekend if you stay over Sat. night!!!!</p>

<p>Sorry, the fare seems to have disappeared. It was for real, though. Good luck to all who are still hunting.</p>