<p>Are there any good flight discounts or frequent flyer plans etc. that would be cheaper than just booking 8 flights too and from NU?</p>
<p>I’d like to know this too.</p>
<p>I just did some research: Southwest Airlines offers some really good prices, if you plan ahead, like way ahead. It’s really good.</p>
<p>Depends. If you are from the east coast, Frontier Airlines offers a pretty good deal to Chicago Midway.</p>
<p>You wish to plan ahead. Most folks/students would like to plan a year’s worth of flights to and from college. So how do you know you are not going to have a final exam conflict? Are your exams locked in? I’d like to save a bunch of dollars on D’s flights to and from Florida.\ “…booking eight flights…” ?</p>
<p>Please advise. Thanks.</p>
<p>.02</p>
<p>and, Go Cats!!</p>
<p>Each quarter when the student registers for classes, the final exam schedule is posted, so I don’t think there is a way to plan more than a quarter in advance, unless you always book your student to fly home the latest possible day. But, that means that the student might be sitting at NU for 4 extra days…</p>
<p>clarinetnerd,
We have been using Southwest Airlines for about 6 years now for many flights to and from Chicago. Prices on Southwest are constantly changing, BUT they allow you to rebook at the lower price if the price goes down and “bank” the extra money to use on another flight within the next year. They don’t charge for the first two pieces of luggage, and there is no fee to change flights. You have to keep looking to see if the prices have dropped. We have saved a lot of money doing this. However, it is significantly more convenient for students to fly into O’Hare airport than to fly into Midway. There is a bus which runs from O’Hare to a train stop which is walking distance to NU. The first time my son had to get from NU to O’Hare, we booked a car service because we didn’t know any better. That cost $40 plus tip several years ago. Then we learned about the bus, which costs a whopping $1.75!! Many students use the bus from O’Hare to NU.</p>
<p>…“latest possible day…” in finals week is a known and safe to purchase a flight. Agreed.
As noted, the NU student might be sitting around for 4 days if finals were on day one (1) of finals week, or worse if the profs went with take home exams, term/research papers etc. The major would impact the above, of course.</p>
<p>The reason I’m reacting to this thread is that I’m a prof myself and have delt with parents/grandparents purchasing tickets that conflict with my final exams etc. I tell my students to explain to the folks at home that we will follow the institution’s published schedule – I will not break security on an exam-- sorry, but no sad stories.</p>
<p>.02</p>
<p>Southwest is super cheap (comparatively), allows two free bags, and doesn’t have many of the ridiculous fees. The best deal we could find otherwise, with bags, would cost ~$70 more plus it had a layover. So for 70 dollars plus a layover you get the convenience of O’Hare vs Midway. I think Southwest is the better option.</p>
<p>Midway is accessible by public transport. Take the CTA to the Loop and get off at a station where you can transfer to the Orange Line. Takes you straight to Midway.</p>
<p>I figure the first time I’ll take a cab for a flat rate to NU, because I’ve only used public transportation a few times in DC. After that I’ll take the CTA.</p>