<p>applicantmum, this is just what we are weighing. One school, btw, did tell me after my son was interviewed that the more expensive travel costs will be taken into consideration for a an applicant who has greater travel expenses. We are geographically not their usual applicant. I think that more schools will need to do something to keep the geographic diversity they would like, because airfares in general are really shocking.</p>
<p>We take lots of short-hop commuter shuttles to visit S-1, D-2, and my mom. so that's direct from Buffalo to in NYC or Logan Airport in Boston. Recently on one of them at 9:00 a.m., they asked for volunteers to be bumped. We weren't in a hurry, so said, "fine."" This gave us 2 free tickets for anywhere in the continental U.S. for the upcoming year.</p>
<p>Will use those to finance S-2's airfares to California, as these were transferable to another passenger.</p>
<p>As I understand it, the best time to get this opportunity: early morning non-stop business commutes are often overfull and look for volunteers to give up a ticket. If you're a pleasure traveller, you can do this but the business travellers have to make a schedule so can't.</p>
<p>The airline agent told me that on Spring Break, there are some college students who know how to get bumped from one plane after another, and take home FIVE free fares after such a hard day's work.</p>
<p>D hopes to go to college in Florida 2009. Luckily, we can get inexpensive airfare direct from Atlantic City, only 1/2 hour away. She's looking in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Fort Lauderdale, all with airports within 1/2 hour. Gainesville would be tricky and some inexpensive flights from Tallahasse to Newark.</p>
<p>Besides, she's going AGAINST the holiday traffic. Sometimes it's cheaper going from south to north than it is to go north to south. :)</p>
<p>paying3, years ago we volunteered as a family to get bumped. They needed 4seats, so we got 4 free tickets. They put us up for the evening in a hotel, and gave us each a small allowance for toothbrushes, etc. We were coming back from vacation and my H and I planned on trying this (only if we could all be bumped, because our children were small then). We used those tickets for a vacation in California. It took me a long time to find 4 seats using those type of tickets on the same plane, but I did it.</p>
<p>We have a kid on the opposite coast also. Ticket home for the December holiday is almost double what it was last year...and that is on Southwest (compared to United last year). DS's ticket from the southeast is about the same...so far. We've booked for DD for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are also FAR fewer flights from which to choose this year PLUS her school starts Jan 5 right after the holiday weekend.</p>
<p>We would have considered the cost of travel...but probably it wouldn't have made a difference in her choice.</p>