Darrell KSR
07-13-2013, 09:25 AM
All non-stop, an hour or less, and generally for very cheap prices. Could often get deals for under $100, roundtrip.
I went to school there, have a lot of friends there, and my wife and her family are from there. If you know me, you know I love New Orleans. I will be honest, one of the reasons we moved to Birmingham was because of the easy access to New Orleans. It's only 360 miles by car, but the idea of getting in a plane for a 50 minute flight for cheaper than it would cost to run your car was enticing. My in-laws have made that flight more times than I have, as has my brother-in-law and his family.
When Katrina hit, New Orleans took a big hit. Population dropped, many things were destroyed, and tourism fell. Southwest--a hub in Birmingham--dropped their flights from 4 down to 2 daily. The great prices were generally not able to be found as readily, but that was ok, as long as the flights were available.
In June, it all changed.
Southwest dropped the flights to New Orleans altogether. Huge blow.
Now, if you search for flights, you a) won't find any from Birmingham to New Orleans. I mean, you can get there, but they are all at least one stop elsewhere. Birmingham to Houston to New Orleans. Birmingham to Atlanta to New Orleans. Etc. b) the prices, naturally, have increased. And c) the time has substantially increased. It looks like it will be about 4 hours to cover those 360 miles by road now, give or take.
Very sad time for us. My daughter is in a play the last two weeks of the month/first week of August that family members want to attend, and although my father-in-law is in good shape and can easily drive, he has a consulting job in Houston that will keep him from making the trip. Not unusual for them, as his wife will often just hop a plane and come see us. Except not quite so easy any more.
I am considering the "Crescent City Classic" (I may have the name wrong) train ride from New Orleans to Birmingham for her (driving is not an option), but I think that's like 8 hours.
Not really venting, just lamenting here. I am sure it relates back to Katrina and the population loss in New Orleans and drop in tourism as a whole. I used to love that flight. Even as frugal as I am, that flight just made sense.
I went to school there, have a lot of friends there, and my wife and her family are from there. If you know me, you know I love New Orleans. I will be honest, one of the reasons we moved to Birmingham was because of the easy access to New Orleans. It's only 360 miles by car, but the idea of getting in a plane for a 50 minute flight for cheaper than it would cost to run your car was enticing. My in-laws have made that flight more times than I have, as has my brother-in-law and his family.
When Katrina hit, New Orleans took a big hit. Population dropped, many things were destroyed, and tourism fell. Southwest--a hub in Birmingham--dropped their flights from 4 down to 2 daily. The great prices were generally not able to be found as readily, but that was ok, as long as the flights were available.
In June, it all changed.
Southwest dropped the flights to New Orleans altogether. Huge blow.
Now, if you search for flights, you a) won't find any from Birmingham to New Orleans. I mean, you can get there, but they are all at least one stop elsewhere. Birmingham to Houston to New Orleans. Birmingham to Atlanta to New Orleans. Etc. b) the prices, naturally, have increased. And c) the time has substantially increased. It looks like it will be about 4 hours to cover those 360 miles by road now, give or take.
Very sad time for us. My daughter is in a play the last two weeks of the month/first week of August that family members want to attend, and although my father-in-law is in good shape and can easily drive, he has a consulting job in Houston that will keep him from making the trip. Not unusual for them, as his wife will often just hop a plane and come see us. Except not quite so easy any more.
I am considering the "Crescent City Classic" (I may have the name wrong) train ride from New Orleans to Birmingham for her (driving is not an option), but I think that's like 8 hours.
Not really venting, just lamenting here. I am sure it relates back to Katrina and the population loss in New Orleans and drop in tourism as a whole. I used to love that flight. Even as frugal as I am, that flight just made sense.