coming home from vacation

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

also generally sucks. This one is particularly bad because soemthing triggered my depression on the way home. I'd like to think it's just separation from my family. (hopefully). Also, the front tire on one of my cars is mysteriously flat. And the sandbox was left open (I'll wager the work of one of the neighborhood kids, who try to deny it) and is now sort of a mini-pond. *sigh*. Today sucks.

[Entsuropi]

And then I started talking to you.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

that wasn't so bad, but the fact that they ripped up my luggage was annoying.

they were just going to grab me a replacement, but they were out.
So they said they'd repair it if I came back up in the next three weeks. Heck, I'm going up on Tues. Maybe I'll do that. The other option is a $100 travel voucher. I'm not traveling anywhere in the next year but Boston, and SW doesnt' fly there.

[stacer]

SE, I just half-heard a commercial about Southwest now flying to Boston. You might want to check it out. Of course, you're planning on driving, aren't you? But anyway, it might be worth it before you get more luggage to see if you *could* use that voucher.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

yeah, if they now fly to Boston (they told me Sat Night that they didn't) than it'd be worth flying if I got $100 off.
There's another airline out of Dulles now that flies to New England for like, $40-60. If they go to Boston, that'd be worth taking over driving anyway.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

hrm.... I can't find anything on their website about Boston. But Independence Air has a round trip for me at $120 from Dulles (about half an hour from my house, as opposed to Baltimore where SW flies from, which is at least an hour). I budgeted almost that much for driving, and this way I don't have to stress about parking or actually driving or getting food on the way.

I'll probably fly these Independence people. Then I can get work done and lose less time of my life.

.... unless someone would be willing to pick me up in Hartford, and then take me there again after the con. Then I can fly for under $100 and get it all free w/ SW! I'd even buy you a tank of gas for each trip! (I have no idea what the distance involved is)

[stacer]

It's about an hour and a half from Boston. They also fly into Providence, which is only an hour from Boston.

I'd pick you up, but I don't have a car. But the commuter rail runs from Providence to Boston. I've done that before, but you have to arrange to get yourself from the airport to the train terminal, which my cousin, who lives in Providence, did for me and my sister. I imagine tacking on the cab ride would possibly make it not worth it.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

Hrm... yes. Perhaps I'll just fly to BOS via Independence and take a train/bus/whatever fromt he airport to the con. Sounds like MUCH less hassle.

[stacer]

I'd say that's probably a better idea. You just have to hop on the shuttle to the Blue line, transfer at Government Center to the Green line, which takes you directly to Hynes. Tops, 30 minutes. Much better than the 1 1/2-2 hours it'd take you from Providence, and not really a whole lot of money difference, except that you'd have a cheap air ticket. But for $40-60--which I need to remember for August! (and is that round trip?)... oh, nevermind, I see. At any rate, a lot less hassle to fly direct.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

It's $60 each way. But it's hard to argue still. figuring in 2-2.5 tanks of gas each way, with today's gas prices, you're close on cost, and WAY ahead on convenient.

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

You know, I'm sure there is a train terminal somewhere, that is *usually* relatively cheap and quicker than a car.  You could save time and money as compared to driving or flying by taking the rail...  It's worth looking into at least...

[stacer]

These days, long distance trains (such as Amtrak) are usually more expensive than flying. My roommate sometimes took the train from Boston to D.C., and it usually took longer than driving because of layovers in NY, and cost as much as flying would have--she just hadn't bought a plane ticket in time.

I believe her roundtrip cost was usually in the neighborhood of $150-180.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

Also from a little bird who deals with calls about accidents from the railroads day in and out flying is much safer in terms of security and infrastructure.

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

I had no idea.  I've never heard of such high charges, but then again, I've only looked into it for decently short distances.  How far are you going?  I was under the impression that you were going from somewhere in northern virginia to boston, which isn't really that far.  Less than a days drive...

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

If your doing the Acela Express to Boston I think its like 180 one way or something.