^^^Unless you’re taking a private plane, you most definitely have never flown direct from PVD to the west coast. I’ve lived in Rhode Island for almost 30 years, and unfortunately, there are no direct flights - most layovers are in Chicago or Denver.
Both daughters of one of the people on my staff (home in the East Bay) went to Brown and always flew Southwest out of Providence. Yes, connections can be an issue, but it was easier than dealing with Logan.
I don’t know if it matters to Gourmetmon or 36chmbrs but “direct” doesn’t mean “nonstop” but “layover” means a different plane and is not a “direct” flight. But, having said that, two hours travel to and from Logan, with an extra hour’s allowance for traffic, accidents, etc. means that you are tacking at least three hours onto your round trip by going to Logan, so an hour layover, even on a change of planes, can be faster in the long run.
@bonenz is that still true - the 2 hours with extra time for accidents and traffic - with the train? I don’t know the area at all but was hoping between being able to walk to the train (if not a long trip and only carryon) and taking it to south station it would be less time and more predictable (but I don’t know how close the train schedules adhere to their posted schedule.) As someone whose daughter was stuck in Philly for over 4 hours post ADOCH and who almost missed the connection on the way out due to delays, I was thinking BOS could be smoother. Well that and the fact the flights are less than half the cost out of Boston than Green to SFO.
Again, I’ve lived in RI for a very long time, and if the flight requires a connection (or rarely, a stop over on the same plane), I drive up to Boston to get a nonstop flight. I like to avoid connections because of the frequent delays, especially in the winter. Realistically, you should add about 1-½ hours to the whole airport arrival rigamarole to go to Logan versus TF Green, but the extra time more than makes up for delays or cancelled flights during peak holiday times. However, both airports are quite convenient to Brown and are great options, so prospective students should know that they have a good menu of choices.
The trains run on schedule and Amtrak into South Station is usually on time - a very, very late train is 20 minutes late.
@CalDreamin. Sorry, good point. Train generally runs on time and then the Silver Line or subway to the airport doesn’t require the cushion, but I’m not sure of the time for the walk, the train, allowing for the wait at South Station. And train vs. plane schedule adds some time. But traffic wouldn’t be an issue. Train delays are fairly rare, but not unheard of. But for a nonstop and lower fare, I go to Boston too. I take the bus direct to Logan, rather than the train, on weekends if I don’t just drive myself. And I don’t disagree with anything @Gourmetmom said. I have only rarely had a missed connection out of Providence, but I’m not a frequent traveler. I think the point of connections being tougher and delays more likely around holidays/school vacations is a good point.
Re Thanksgiving: possibly book flight the week student is finished with shopping classes and knows what the profs are saying about schedule (doesn’t hurt to ask them.) That said, if they haven’t explicitly said there is a test on that Wed, (extremely rare), lots! of students leave on Tuesday pm. (If you are trying for the cheaper fares on Monday, I would hold be less certain that is “ok”.)
In the past sometimes Brown student services (BSA) has had shuttles at vacation time to Logan as another option. There is a very good chance if your student asks around that there will be at least another student headed to Logan for a flight at a near time, and buddying up for logistics (and an UBer or cab down to the station to save time or in case of weather) will be possible.
Another reason besides the usual Brown pride with all those relatives, to take a Brown sweatshirt or scarf etc home at Thanksgiving: wear it on the trip back to find fellow Brown students to commute back to campus with!
@Gourmetmom I have also lived in RI for almost 30 years and definitely just flew PVD to PDX non-stop this past weekend. It wasn’t on a private plane either.
@36chmbrs Really? That’s pretty great. What airline?
@36chambers I am really interested in this as well. My daughter has flown between PDX and PVD many times over her past 4 years at Brown and we have never seen a non stop to Portland or Seattle. I don’t see PDX on the list of destinations served from the Providence airport. http://www.pvdairport.com/flights/airlines
@36chmbrs Another person here who’s a bit confused at your assertion. I’ve been at Brown for 7 years now and have probably flown to and from the West Coast at least 20 times in that period. TF Green has never had direct flights to SFO, where I fly. If I choose to fly from TF Green, I generally end up changing planes in Philly or Chicago (via American or United).
Unfortunately, this poster is misleading people. There are no direct flights from PVD to the west coast. Hopefully prospective students did not take this erroneous information into account when they made their decision to attend or not to attend Brown.
Anyway, easiest to Logan is Peter Pan Bus, which has a stop down the hill from campus, near city hall. RISD and Brown kids routinely walk there, about a half mile, (closer than the train station.) And the bus co knows how to schedule through Boston traffic, it’s built into their arrival times.
As far as stopovers are concerned, you just book through a major hub- eg, Chicago. Not the new routes that take you through odd cities,like Bangor or Nashville. Or Atlanta. In all the time I’ve flown from northeast to west, only one time did weather get in the way (and that was from Logan.) One time it was a mechanical delay.