So for the last couple years we have been using a new approach. Definitely agree with Todd the earlier you book the better. It didn't used to be that way, but the way things are going you have to book your room for the following year before you leave, so you may as well start looking for flights right? Anyhow, the new approach. Last year we booked united after they big blow up when they dragged the doctor off the plane. They were hundreds cheaper than anyone after that incident and we booked out of Duluth with a short layover in Chi Town for 490 a ticket. This year after a dog passed away in their hold, then a short time later they had to reroute a flight because of a dog on the wrong plane, we once again hit the united jackpot with flights out of Duluth for 557 return a ticket with the same short layover in Chi Town. In the 11 years we have been going these prices compare or are better than Minni and we don't need a nights hotel in Minni or shuttle service to and from Duluth as we can take off and land at home. This was never an option for us before. We used to fly Southwest all the time but I think the thing that changed for us was we couldn't book a year out because of their limited calendar of flights. So now we watch the news feeds for airline mishaps that lead to temporary price drops to bring people back. I know it sounds goofy, but two years in a row we have found significant fare reduction shortly after airline mishaps.
