more about travel to the Midwest

[ritaxis]

So, based on the advice my kind friends here have given me, I've been looking into flying to someplace else and busing it from there to Madison.

It's $60 cheaper to fly to Milwaukee than to Minneapolis, which is really weird because to fly from San Jose to Milwaukee you have to change planes in Minneapolis. Why can't I just get the ticket for the first plane? For grim curiosity's sake, I looked up the air fare from Minneapolis to Milwaukee: they have a flight which takes you to Chicago and then to Milwaukee, for, again, $60 less going straight from Minneapolis to Milwaukee. What the hell?

Oh, and the Greyhound from Milwaukee to Madison is just fine, but from Madison to Milwaukee it doesn't meet the plane unless I stay the night in Milwaukee.

Flying from San Jose to Chicago is about the same cost, so there's no saving, but it looks like the bus might meet the plane better. Flying from San Francisco to Chicago is still more expensive. From Oakland to Chicago is the same as from San Jose.

Taking the bus all the way from California is a two-day trip each way. The train from San Jose requires four changes, from Oakland three changes, and in either case takes two days also.

Driving is out of the question, even if it wasn't a two-day trip each way.

I'm not sure I can't swing the Chicago option. I'm pretty sure I can't, though.

Comments

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

At the risk of stirring up chaos, Midwest Airlines flies direct, San Francisco to Milwaukee, and Badger Bus runs regular service from Milwaukee Airport to Madison and back.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Well, you didn't stir up chaos, but I did go check it out before I made my final decision. That's an actual possibility, or it would be if I weren't so under-employed (and with three young folks, now, living here, all under- and unemployed themselves, one in college and two applying to grad school. One is not exactly kin, and is here only temporarily, but he has no limit to how long he stays, because we're damned well not going to spike his whole getting-it-together by quibbling about a few days).

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Well, you could probably find a place for your boarder to stay for a few days, if that's an issue. But the fare is near $300 per person, and if you don't want to spend it, that's that.

Have a good time at Baycon!