am i nuts? let's vote!

mlf625

DH says I'm nuts. I say I am not nuts.  My kids are taking mega-naps and I'm bored, so I wanted to see if YOU think I'm nuts.

Story: Delta pulled out of our airport.  No connecting flight into Minneapolis now.  Only other local flight option requires 2 stops.  Not happening.  I decided to go to Cali with the kids next week for Thanksgiving, because DH works all weekend  and because also, hello, California is very fun.  So without a local flight to Mpls, my options are as follows: 1) drive 90 minutes to the next closest podunk airport, haul us and our stuff inside, take 45 minute flight, lug kids and double stroller and GoGo off the plane and across the airport and onto another plane, take 3 hour flight to CA.  Or 2) drive 3 hours to the Minneapolis airport, haul us and our stuff onto just one plane, fly direct to CA.

I decided option 2 sounded way better.  The kids have been great in the car lately, they can watch DVDs and yell all they want and I haaaate making connections (and stressing about ending up missing a connection).  DH thinks I'm insane.  I agree that the ride home might suck, when I'm tired of traveling and tired of my kids, but overall I think my way sounds easier.

Who's right? 

PS: we have multiple friends we can stay with in Minneapolis if our flight would get cancelled or the weather would be too bad to drive home.

[Poll]

ssinca

Hate connecting flights. Hate. Andplusalso, something could happen and you'd miss your connection, and that would just suck. Because we have target and Javier's here and you don't want to miss those either.

ali-1411

I'm siding with your DH.  Only because 4 years ago we couldn't get a reasonable straight flight from Austin to Detroit so we drove the 3 hours to Dallas instead.  Itfuckingsucked.  But we also had a 7 am flight or something so we had to leave at like 3 am.  Maybe I'd be more inclined if you had an afternoon flight.

mlf625

ssinca:

Because we have target and Javier's here and you don't want to miss those either.

DEAR GOD I KNOW!!!!!!  And Santa at Fashion Island!!!!  MEEEEP! 

mlf625

ali-1411:

But we also had a 7 am flight or something so we had to leave at like 3 am.  Maybe I'd be more inclined if you had an afternoon flight.

Oh, yes, should have mentioned that.  Flight times are perfect - leave mid afternoon, return mid afternoon.   

mlf625

MrsRosie:

MSP is a really nice airport too, IMO.  Easy to park, navigate, get luggage, etc.

I know!  Big plus.  I mean, there's a park.  And Caribou Coffee. 

ssinca

mlf625:

ssinca:

Because we have target and Javier's here and you don't want to miss those either.

DEAR GOD I KNOW!!!!!!  And Santa at Fashion Island!!!!  MEEEEP! 

I know how you love your FI:) I haven't *gasp* been there since we've been back. Someone needs to take my temp because I'm obviously very ill. 

OrangeFelt

I sided with Mr. mlf - mostly because I'd muuuuuch rather deal with a connection over adding three hours of sitting on my a$$ to get home.  That's like, doubling seat time. After a long trip, I want to get home ASAP - driving for three more hours to do so sounds miserable. 

But, if you have friends you can stay with - that's also an option if you don't want to drive it that same day. Hmmm.

Mrs.Purdue

if the 2 options were either fly locally with an additional stop or drive to MSP, then that would be tougher and I'd see his point.  However, either way you have to drive at least 90 minutes to get to an airport, so this is really just adding 90 minutes to that drive. 

calculate the total time you'd need for both options and then he'll see that your option is clearly the winner.  

assuming MSP --> CA leaves at 3pm:

option 1:  leave your house at 10am, arrive podunk at 11:30, flight from podunk to MSP at 1pm  arrive MSP 2pm.  leave for Cali at 3pm = 5 hours

option 2:  leave your house at 10:30am, arrive MSP at 1:30p.  leave for Cali at 3p = 4.5 hours.  winner!

 

august8080

I hate connecting flights with a passion! HATE. Everything you said makes total sense--kids doing well in the car, good flight times. You are not crazy!

Mrs.Purdue

OrangeFelt:

I sided with Mr. mlf - mostly because I'd muuuuuch rather deal with a connection over adding three hours of sitting on my a$$ to get home.  That's like, doubling seat time. After a long trip, I want to get home ASAP - driving for three more hours to do so sounds miserable. 

But, if you have friends you can stay with - that's also an option if you don't want to drive it that same day. Hmmm.

But she's not adding 3 hours, only 90 minutes.  even option 1 is driving 90 minutes to get home.  option 2 is an additional 90 minutes.  

mcurban

and here I thought I already knew the answer before even reading the question...

I'm w/ you on this one, milf. my worst fear is a missed/delayed connection. I would much rather be in a car for three hours than in an airport, during naptime, for three hours. 

austxgrl

Dude, if I had parents that love me as much as your family loves you I would pretty much move heaven and earth to spend Thanksgiving with them.  I don't think your nuts at all.  BTW, do your parents need another daughter? I'm adoptable.

amyliisa

mcurban:

I'm w/ you on this one, milf. my worst fear is a missed/delayed connection. I would much rather be in a car for three hours than in an airport, during naptime, for three hours. 

Yep.  Especially with 2 kids + gear - a spouse to help.  No way.  Let me drive as far as I need to drive, as long as I can fly somewhere direct!  Plus, it's probably cheaper your way, too, which would be a huge plus for my DH...

mlf625

I RULE! 

austxgrl:

Dude, if I had parents that love me as much as your family loves you I would pretty much move heaven and earth to spend Thanksgiving with them.  

Aww, that's very sweet.  You're sweet.  And I do have pretty amazing parents - I don't ever forget that.  

Nessia

OrangeFelt:

I sided with Mr. mlf - mostly because I'd muuuuuch rather deal with a connection over adding three hours of sitting on my a$$ to get home.  That's like, doubling seat time. After a long trip, I want to get home ASAP - driving for three more hours to do so sounds miserable. 

But, if you have friends you can stay with - that's also an option if you don't want to drive it that same day. Hmmm.

I hate to throw out the "wait till you have kids" line but it's totally different when you're carrying around two little ones and their sh!tload of crap. I passionaly hate most situations that involve driving long distances but an extra 90 minutes to avoid having to get off a plane with two kids, drag them across the airport to get them into an airplane again is nothing.

MrsMillerTime

I'm with you.  A 3 hour drive is noooooooooothing - especially if you can gate check all your crap and be done with it until you get to sunny CA.  Go for it.

OrangeFelt

Nessia:

OrangeFelt:

I sided with Mr. mlf - mostly because I'd muuuuuch rather deal with a connection over adding three hours of sitting on my a$$ to get home.  That's like, doubling seat time. After a long trip, I want to get home ASAP - driving for three more hours to do so sounds miserable. 

But, if you have friends you can stay with - that's also an option if you don't want to drive it that same day. Hmmm.

I hate to throw out the "wait till you have kids" line but it's totally different when you're carrying around two little ones and their sh!tload of crap. I passionaly hate most situations that involve driving long distances but an extra 90 minutes to avoid having to get off a plane with two kids, drag them across the airport to get them into an airplane again is nothing.

Haha.. i know that's what everyone is getting at - and almost disclaimed to take my opinion with a grain of salt since I like to spend my connections lounging around with a Lone Star in my hand.

But really, I also just hate driving right now. To the point of, I make someone else drive if its longer than 30 minutes, hate it.

mlf625

OrangeFelt:

and almost disclaimed to take my opinion with a grain of salt since I like to spend my connections lounging around with a Lone Star in my hand.

I hate you.

  

thethomps

Dude.  Connecting flights suck.  We are totally driving to Chi-town (almost 3 hour drive) for certain flights because switching planes with LOs...nightmare!

AustinMimi

Mrs.Purdue:

OrangeFelt:

I sided with Mr. mlf - mostly because I'd muuuuuch rather deal with a connection over adding three hours of sitting on my a$$ to get home.  That's like, doubling seat time. After a long trip, I want to get home ASAP - driving for three more hours to do so sounds miserable. 

But, if you have friends you can stay with - that's also an option if you don't want to drive it that same day. Hmmm.

But she's not adding 3 hours, only 90 minutes.  even option 1 is driving 90 minutes to get home.  option 2 is an additional 90 minutes.  

Exactly. I would do it your way.