D.M. flights now cheaper than Omaha on average

[capitalcityguy]

Never been one to drive to Omaha or KC to grab cheaper flights. Drive time and related hassle rarely made it worth it to me.

Anyway, great to see the increased demand has allowed prices to become more in-lined with neighboring airports. For years, airline ticket prices have been a big knock on DM.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...ional-airport-flights-cheaper-omaha/20156249/

 

[jbindm]

That is good news. I flew out of Omaha a couple times and it wasn't bad getting to the airport, but coming back sucked. The last thing I want to do after a long flight is hop in the car for another two hours.

 

[mj4cy]

Wish that was true when I booked my DSM flight to Denver for skiing.

 

[The_Architect]

That's great! I've avoided DSM several times the past 5 years to fly out of Omaha for several hundered dollars cheaper.

 

[ianoconnor]

It'd be interesting to see what data they used.

I'm guessing there are more direct flight destinations out of Omaha & KC, which in turn cost more & bump up their averages.

*edit:
# of direct flight locations
DSM - 18
OMA - 18
KCI - 43

 

[cyflier]

Wish that was true when I booked my DSM flight to Denver for skiing.

Did you try Frontier?

 

[cyflier]

Recently booked a trip to Jamaica through a travel agent. The flights out of DM were cheaper than Omaha and KC.

 

[HFCS]

anyone w lots of experience getting flights to LA from DM or Omaha? Family in Ames and Sioux city and just moved to LA.

 

[capitalcityguy]

Wish that was true when I booked my DSM flight to Denver for skiing.

"on average".

 

[capitalcityguy]

That is good news. I flew out of Omaha a couple times and it wasn't bad getting to the airport, but coming back sucked. The last thing I want to do after a long flight is hop in the car for another two hours.

There's that, and I heard of a couple a few years ago that missed their cruise because they insisted on trying to save a few bucks driving to Omaha and ended up getting stranded by weather heading over on i-80.

 

[wxman1]

Good to hear. Has SWA expanded much there? Ticket prices are so weird. Quite often you can fly domestically for $800/person or for a couple hundred more get on a foreign carrier and fly to Asia...

 

[mj4cy]

Did you try Frontier?

No frontier offered crap times. They have nice prices, but they charge for EVERYTHING. Seat selection, carry on bags ect.


I went with United.

 

[HFCS]

No frontier offered crap times. They have nice prices, but they charge for EVERYTHING. Seat selection, carry on bags ect.


I went with United.

Should be illegal to charge for a single carry on. What % of people don't travel with even a backpack, briefcase or purse.

 

[DurangoCy]

DSM has been pretty competitive with MSP over the last few years when I fly home. It's kind of nice being able to rotate between the two to see different friends.

 

[alarson]

I'll still check other airports like KC and Omaha (and chicago because sometimes the price difference is just massive there) but yeah, if the price is within $100 or so might as well stay in des moines when i take into account driving time\cost, having to pay for parking in OMA\MCI (can usually get a ride down to DSM) etc. Its a good thing for des moines, need to get the new terminal going sooner than later.

 

[3TrueFans]

Should be illegal to charge for a single carry on. What % of people don't travel with even a backpack, briefcase or purse.

Personal items like purses/briefcases/backpacks don't count as carry-ons for Frontier anyways, you get 1 as long as it fits under the seat.

 

[boone7247]

Should be illegal to charge for a single carry on. What % of people don't travel with even a backpack, briefcase or purse.

There is always a charge for it. It is just in the price of the ticket. United, american what have you, charge you for that carry on in your ticket price Frontier chooses to break it out. Neither is wrong and neither are right. Let the consumer choose which airline they like.

 

[mj4cy]

My choices were:

1. Fly Frontier at very inconvenient times in relationship to when others are flying in for our ski trip. Price was $164 + carry on (which i'd have to use for ski gear) + seat selection.

2. Fly United and get the times I want. I get that a lot of those fees are hidden, but the price was $318. I guess now that I'm 30, I'm to the point where I'd rather pay more and make travel easy. I fly maybe once a year at the most.


Our group used to drive out to Denver, but after flying one year we are spoiled.

 

[2020cy]

anyone w lots of experience getting flights to LA from DM or Omaha? Family in Ames and Sioux city and just moved to LA.

I think Allegiant has a LA flight.

 

[CyFan61]

Just an FYI: In my last three flights between Iowa and NC, two have been cheaper through Cedar Rapids than Des Moines. Worth taking a look.