As long as there’s a public bus, I’m good.
Ok I’ll stop. But it would depend for me how close the airport is to downtown and how easy the connection is. Because if I’m going to Asheville or Charleston, I’d most likely be walking around everywhere and not need a car. I don’t love the drive to either city from Raleigh, so I’d consider a flight, but all the pieces would have to align to make it worth the effort and price for me.
The drive to Charleston is just awful. I would always fly if there was a good option but I realize many would not.
3 Likes
I think one of the important things to point out about this graphic is these nonstop destinations are not offered every day of the week. The flight to Kansas City is only offered on Saturday/Sunday, for instance.
I completely understand why that’s the case, but it takes away the option to go on a weekend trip to some of these places.
It’s one of the most boring drives in the US. Just flat close forest with only South of the Border and Lake Marion to break it up. At least you end up in the best weekend town in the country - I’ve always thought of it like sitting through purgatory before you get to heaven.
3 Likes
My MIL lived in Charleston for a long time. I-95 is truly brutal (when we lived in RVA it felt like it was never-ending). We would go down 3 or 4 times a year and learned to get off of I-95 at SC-38 (Exit 181) and take it over to SC-41 then down into Mt. Pleasant and Charleston. It is still a long drive, but it is a much better trip than 4 1/2 hours of interstate. Driving through the Marion National Forest is actually nice during the daytime (not so much at night with all the deer!!). Then you pop back into civilization about 15-20 miles from Mt. Pleasant and all the stop and go into Chucktown.
3 Likes
I agree. I just made that drive this weekend for the first time. Ugh…
The moment you cross the border into South Carolina highways.
Don’t even need a welcome sign to know you’re there.
12 Likes
Both American and Midway (remember them?) flew RDU-SJC for brief periods, although not overlapping. This was around the time of the high-tech bubble in 2000.
One of the commuter airlines, ExpressJet, briefly flew RDU-BHM nonstop about 15 years ago.
1 Like
I’m a former Concierge Key on AA. The golden handcuffs are strong indeed.
2 Likes
Probably Reno/Tahoe, another one of the LA-area airports (Long Beach or John Wayne), OKC, Milwaukee
3 Likes
A would loooovvvee a direct reno route!
1 Like
Now THAT is the way to travel. I had an experience traveling with a friend that was CK and we would have missed our connection in DFW if they didn’t have someone grab us off the flight before everyone else, walk us down the jet bridge to a black SUV waiting to take us directly to our next gate. PIMP service.
1 Like
Yes, I’ve had exactly that treatment at DFW. On another occasion I was flying home from Santiago, Chile. My flight into Miami was late, and someone from AA walked me through CBP and then drove me to the gate for the connecting flight to RDU.
I was spending $100,000 a year on airplane tickets. Do that, and AA will take very good care of you.
3 Likes
Holy crap that’s a lot of AA spending!
Almost all of it international. Only one-third on AA metal, the rest spread across JAL, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, BA, and the other OneWorld airlines. But the tickets were bought from AA and it’s a seamless point accrual no matter which OneWorld airline you fly. All goes back to AA.
1 Like
I recommend the entirety of I-16 in GA. Outside of crossing the plains, it is the most mind-numbing ride in the country.
1 Like
I-10 between El Paso and San Antonio says “Hold my beer”. 500 miles of nothing but tumbleweeds.
1 Like
As one who was born in Charleston. Never ever utter the word “Chucktown” again. My mother will stab you with a brass pineapple. Plus, only NCSU frat boys call it that. Don’t be that guy.
5 Likes
Don’t forget the windmills. Lol.