35 replies to this topic

[gjanke]

This has gotten crazy. Finding a hotel and car reservations during the 2024 eclipse has gone from silly to just plain nuts.

 

So unlike the 2017 event this is going to be a solo event for me. I hail from Maryland and have have charted out a strategy that will have me flying in the day of the eclipse to either DFW or Cleveland and viewing the eclipse from the top of a parking a garaging at the very airports I have flown into.

 

I have it set that once the totally solar eclipse is finished I am getting back on a plane within hours after landing and flying back home, the very same day.

 

I have chosen these two cities because they still have flights available to get me there and back and view of the total solar eclipse can be seen from the airport. 
 

Cleveland has a greater than 70 percent chance of overcast for that day and DFW is around a 40 percent chance. I have flights to both places scheduled and will determine which one I get on to the night before.

 

Wondering if anyone else has considered this approach.

 

G.

[mikepier]

What if the flight gets delayed/cancelled?  

At the very least, you should try to get there a day before. 

[gjanke]

I'm not really worried about them being cancelled both are set for 0600 departures. arriving in time for the start of the eclipse, all of the totality and then getting on plane to come home shortly there after. If I go in a day early I lose the flexibility of determining which city has the best weather for the event..

 

The only concern I have is if I am cancelled on the way home and if I see the eclipse I wont really care.

 

This is going to save me a lot of money in hotel, car rental, and food costs. 

[mikepier]

I actually thought about doing the same thing in 2017 to go  to SC, but decided to drive instead.

 

I wish you luck , and hope everything works out.

[gjanke]

I don't know how well my plan is going to work but with the hotels and others realizing there is money to be made from a Total Eclipse it will not be like In 2017 I was able to roll up the usually summer vacation into the event. So the actual cost for the event was less than $50. That will not be the case this time.

 

However, if I am able to pull off the viewing at the airports short of the airline ticket it should still be a cost effective event.

 

I did SC as well in 2017. I vacationed in Myrtle Beach that year and drove 1 1/2 hours to Andrews SC. It looked like it was going to be a rain out so I started driving to Georgetown but the clouds cleared out about time the totality was going to start so I pulled over at a closed tire off of 501 ( I think) and my daughters and I watched it. What was really cool was all around use the clouds had settled in but opened up for the totality eclipse so when the moon covered the sun it went pitch black. Unlike others in other locations in the USA who cloud see sun light past the path of totality. It was dark as midnight. Really very cool.

[kfiscus]

This could work.  How much gear are you schlepping around?  Since you're traveling solo, I presume it is next to nothing.  You won't have a companion to watch your gear if you need to go to the bathroom or grab a bite.  You're going to be leaving the terminal to find a clear rooftop or sidewalk.  A grassy area would be ideal if there are any within walking distance.  Good luck.

 

EDIT:  Another option.  If you rented a car at the airport, you would be able to find a good observing spot and lock stuff up.  You'd  have mobility to dodge pop-up clouds and find food.

Edited by kfiscus, 10 January 2024 - 12:14 PM.

[MEE]

Re: Dallas:

DFW gets a bit less than 3 min totality

If you can find a direct flight into Love Field (the other airport here), you’ll gain an extra 30 seconds of totality

Also, re: hotels - are you only looking at places in the path, and close to the centerline? Have you tried looking at places a bit outside the path with the strategy of getting up early and driving in?

Edited by MEE, 10 January 2024 - 12:16 PM.

[bunyon]

This certainly sounds efficient. What is the cost of the airfare? Sounds like you'll be eating one ticket; is it less than a hotel? 

 

I would also worry about a canceled or heavily delayed flight. It does happen. But not dealing with traffic and not spending a night sounds awesome. Good luck with it.

[gjanke]

Re: Dallas:

DFW gets a bit less than 3 min totality

If you can find a direct flight into Love Field (the other airport here), you’ll gain an extra 30 seconds of totality

Also, re: hotels - are you only looking at places in the path, and close to the centerline? Have you tried looking at places a bit outside the path with the strategy of getting up early and driving in?

I am using SW as the carrier and if I am not mistaken thats where they fly into (Love Field) so that is go infomration. 

 

This certainly sounds efficient. What is the cost of the airfare? Sounds like you'll be eating one ticket; is it less than a hotel? 

 

I would also worry about a canceled or heavily delayed flight. It does happen. But not dealing with traffic and not spending a night sounds awesome. Good luck with it.

I am using SW points which allows me to cancel up to one hour before the flight and get my points back. So which ever place has the best weather is where I am going.  In reality, since the points are a sunk cost the whole adventure shouldnt cost me anything.

[bunyon]

I am using SW as the carrier and if I am not mistaken thats where they fly into (Love Field) so that is go infomration. 

 

I am using SW points which allows me to cancel up to one hour before the flight and get my points back. So which ever place has the best weather is where I am going.  In reality, since the points are a sunk cost the whole adventure shouldnt cost me anything.

 

Awesome. Given that, yeah, seems a good plan. Southwest does fly into Love. You're coming from Baltimore? Is it direct to Dallas?

 

With the plan you describe, I'd look at other cities Southwest goes into. I thought they flew into Rochester. Anyway, yeah, able to cancel an hour before and using points, it's a good plan if the emphasis is on efficiency and cost. 

[gjanke]

Yikes, Southwest went and cancelled my flight into Cleveland and left the DFW one in place. I called and they said they canceled it since it was booked on the same day. They rebooked it and put notes in both reservations not cancel. No guarantees it won’t be canceled again.

 

So if it is canceled my alternative is to fly to Cleveland the day before and if the weather is good stay there if not fly to DFW on the 8th from Cleveland.

 

we’ll see how this plays out. 

[mikepier]

Yikes, Southwest went and cancelled my flight into Cleveland and left the DFW one in place. I called and they said they canceled it since it was booked on the same day. They rebooked it and put notes in both reservations not cancel. No guarantees it won’t be canceled again.

 

So if it is canceled my alternative is to fly to Cleveland the day before and if the weather is good stay there if not fly to DFW on the 8th from Cleveland.

 

we’ll see how this plays out. 

Wow, thats pretty clever of them, I guess they want to avoid overbooking or leaving empty seats.

Now you really have to be careful and make sure they don't  cancel one, or the other, or both right before the eclipse. Someone might take your spot.

I would pick one city a few days before and just stick with it,  otherwise, you may not have a flight at all.

Also, how would you book a flight to Cleveland the day before? By that time, it might be sold out.  And then your plan was to fly from Cleveland to DFW on eclipse day if weather was better there?  Sounds like a lot of moving parts and a lot can go wrong.

[gjanke]

Wow, thats pretty clever of them, I guess they want to avoid overbooking or leaving empty seats.

Now you really have to be careful and make sure they don't  cancel one, or the other, or both right before the eclipse. Someone might take your spot.

I would pick one city a few days before and just stick with it,  otherwise, you may not have a flight at all.

Also, how would you book a flight to Cleveland the day before? By that time, it might be sold out.  And then your plan was to fly from Cleveland to DFW on eclipse day if weather was better there?  Sounds like a lot of moving parts and a lot can go wrong.

If it gets cancelled it will be in the next day or two. So I would buy a ticket to Cleveland ( I have a buddy that can put me up for night or two) now for the 6 or 7th and buy one for the Cleveland to Dallas portion for the morning of the 8th. It appears to be same day booking that they look for. So if Cleveland looks good stay there or head to Dallas the morning of. All of that if they cancel…we’ll see.

[FrankRyanJr]

I just happened to search for international airports on or near the eclipse line and found this thread!
Great minds eh?  
I'll be in NY on that week and was thinking about flying down to chance catching the eclipse. I think I can work it in but not 100% sure of my travel plans yet. 
Aside from all the usual things that could scupper your plans. My mind is wondering about WHERE you could set up? Would it attract security's attention or would you even be denied setting up altogether?
Let's face it, scopes and tripods and all our gadgets may look a little odd on the roof of a carpark or somewhere .
Unless you know of a spot there where the usual plane spotters set up with their telephoto camera lenses... they are usually on public property and wouldn't look as out of place?
 

[kfiscus]

It might require a short cab ride off site.  I'll repeat the idea of renting a car at the airport just to get some more options for lunch, panic if clouds show up, and security for gear.

 

(I have no idea how complicated renting a car is with a non-US license.)

Edited by kfiscus, 21 January 2024 - 09:15 PM.

[gjanke]

I just happened to search for international airports on or near the eclipse line and found this thread!
Great minds eh?  
I'll be in NY on that week and was thinking about flying down to chance catching the eclipse. I think I can work it in but not 100% sure of my travel plans yet. 
Aside from all the usual things that could scupper your plans. My mind is wondering about WHERE you could set up? Would it attract security's attention or would you even be denied setting up altogether?
Let's face it, scopes and tripods and all our gadgets may look a little odd on the roof of a carpark or somewhere .
Unless you know of a spot there where the usual plane spotters set up with their telephoto camera lenses... they are usually on public property and wouldn't look as out of place?
 

So based on the 2017 event. I realized this is more a meteor shower display than a trek through the heavens. So, I will be traveling with a pair of solar binoculars, solars glass and my phone to video record it. That’s it. Unlike 2017 I  will be the only person on this trek so no scope. Also, for many years I worked at various airports across the US. The top airport parking garage will be providing my viewing platform. Both airports, have such facilities so I will be in good shape and won’t have to worry about security. Renting a car is out of the question. It adds costs, time, and delay to the schedule. So that’s it, my whole plan in a paragraph. 
 

The only purpose of thread was to see if anyone else might be doing something similar and what their approach would be.

[Cajundaddy]

I have talked to friends who are doing this with a flight into Dallas.  It is a very surgical approach.  It can be a very time and cost efficient way to go, but my previous eclipse experience suggests this is an event I prefer to share with others.  Instead of 10 hours our adventure will be closer to 10 days and cover a lot of road miles.  Should be fun.

[jrussell]

I know at D/FW airport (Dallas/Ft. Worth) there's an area at the north end of the airport called Founder's Plaza where people can watch landings and takeoffs. I haven't been to it, but I would imagine if one was to fly into D/FW and didn't want to get far from the airport that would be a good place to watch from. However, I'm not sure if any of the airport shuttles run there.

[kfiscus]

So based on the 2017 event. I realized this is more a meteor shower display than a trek through the heavens. So, I will be traveling with a pair of solar binoculars, solars glass and my phone to video record it. That’s it. Unlike 2017 I  will be the only person on this trek so no scope. Also, for many years I worked at various airports across the US. The top airport parking garage will be providing my viewing platform. Both airports, have such facilities so I will be in good shape and won’t have to worry about security. Renting a car is out of the question. It adds costs, time, and delay to the schedule. So that’s it, my whole plan in a paragraph. 
 

The only purpose of thread was to see if anyone else might be doing something similar and what their approach would be.

You've thought this through- it's all up to the weather.  Good luck.

[knahs]

I am also from Maryland.  I booked a refundable flight on Southwest to Love field back in December.  It arrives at 9 am and then departs at 3 pm.  I just hope that I will be able to view the eclipse from the airport - does anyone know if this will be possible?  If Dallas is going to be cloudy - I would plan the 4.5 hour one-way drive to Cleveland.  If both are cloudy I am out of luck.  I wish there was a website where you could put in your zip code and then find, definitely, where is the closest place to totality.  If anyone know of this, let us know.

Edited by knahs, 28 January 2024 - 11:53 AM.

[jrussell]

There's a couple of maps available that show the path of the eclipse with information about duration, etc. One of them is here: http://xjubier.free....gleMapFull.html

The other one is newer and there's a thread in this forum about it. It's located here: https://www.celestia...wer/viewer.html

 

With the second one you can also determine the distance from a point where you might be to the center line.

[gjanke]

I am also from Maryland.  I booked a refundable flight on Southwest to Love field back in December.  It arrives at 9 am and then departs at 3 pm.  I just hope that I will be able to view the eclipse from the airport - does anyone know if this will be possible?  If Dallas is going to be cloudy - I would plan the 4.5 hour one-way drive to Cleveland.  If both are cloudy I am out of luck.  I wish there was a website where you could put in your zip code and then find, definitely, where is the closest place to totality.  If anyone know of this, let us know.

Southwest cancelled my DFW trip and left the Cleveland flight in place. I looked at it the weather historical for the 8th and it doesn’t appear to be too bad on the 8th year over year. So for the moment I plan on going to Cleveland. I will be checking the weather till the day before and if it looks bad. I will buy a ticket to the nearest place with the best weather I can.

[gjanke]

I have talked to friends who are doing this with a flight into Dallas.  It is a very surgical approach.  It can be a very time and cost efficient way to go, but my previous eclipse experience suggests this is an event I prefer to share with others.  Instead of 10 hours our adventure will be closer to 10 days and cover a lot of road miles.  Should be fun.

Wishing you clear skies.

[gjanke]

I am holding steady with my flying into the airport and viewing from the top of parking garage. Checking the weather year over year and chances are good for a clear view.

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[jqc99]

We did this for the 2017 eclipse.  Flew into Nashville, saw the eclipse, then flew home later in the day.  Worked perfectly.  My daughter still talks about taking a flying day trip to see it.  So we decided to do it again this time to DFW.  We got the earliest flight in case of delays, which leaves around 530a.  The return trip is later and has a connection, ironically through Nashville. Like everyone else, hoping for no clouds!