My mom and I are scheduled for a getaway this weekend in Savannah. (Yay!)
However, we are supposed to fly out early Friday morning, amidst an impending winter storm. (Booooooo.)
Here are the details: We're supposed to depart at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, connect in O'Hare, and then on to Savannah. The weather forecast is currently calling for the worst of the storm to go south of GR, however it's supposed to hit Chicago head on. Right now, they're predicting heavy snow and high winds in Chicago for Thursday night and Friday.
I do NOT want to spend my vacation stranded at the O'Hare airport!
However, because my grandpa was quite ill when we booked this trip last month, we purchased an Expedia vacation waiver which allows us to change or cancel the trip at any point prior to the departure time. This applies to both the flights and hotel.
Obviously we'll keep an eye on the weather, and obviously it could very well change. But on Thursday, if they're still calling for heavy snow and high winds in Chicago for Friday morning, do you think we should call Expedia and try to reschedule? Or hope for the best and try to get to Savannah this weekend?
Re: What do you think I should do? (Travel related.)
If the weather still looks crappy on Thursday, I would probably try to reschedule. I would HATE to be stuck in an airport for my vacation, especially if it was just a long weekend getaway.
Ditto.
I ditto that ditto.
How bad do you want to get away this particular weekend?
If somehow your flight got canceled from Chicago, is there anyway you could turn this weekend into a Chicago getaway? I would hate being in O'Hare, but if I had the chance to spend time in Chicago, even in a snowstorm in February, I would do it.
But it's supposed to be 75 in Savannah!
You guys are confirming what I was thinking. I'll have to call my mom and talk to her about it tonight.
We don't have to get away this weekend, although my mom and I were both really looking forward to it. She (especially) has had a really rough few months and I was looking forward to whisking her away to the sunny south.
Visiting Chicago might be doable -- my brother lives there, so it would be nice to see him. But it wouldn't be cool to be paying for flights and a hotel in Savannah, and then spend the weekend in Chicago.
I've never gotten stranded anywhere during a major storm, but aren't the airlines notorious for not giving you many answers about when you'll be able to leave? I'm afraid we'd get to Chicago and then they'd tell us we're on a one hour delay every hour all day, you know?
Did you see the 30 Rock episode about this exact thing (I think it was two weeks ago)? Hilarious.
Back on topic, I have faith that early weather predictions are off and this won't even be an issue for you.
I did not see that episode. Approximately every week DH and I have this conversation:
"We should set the DVR to series record 30 Rock."
"Yeah."
And then neither of us ever do it.
I like your optimism! That is always good to hear.
Well, I read the waiver closer and if we canceled or changed our flight, we would get United credit. So, if we wanted to rebook on another flight, we would have to pay the difference which would likely be pretty steep if we wanted to rebook soon and thus we would be paying last minute fairs.
Ugh. We're watching the weather forecast to see what happens.
Thanks for the input everyone!
I feel a little bit like the winter gods are mocking me right now. C'mon, guys! I'm a winter fan! Don't screw me over.
Also, I think GRSweetpea may be chuckling at my comeuppance.
There's a reason for the optimism. We have to drive down to Chicago Monday morning to catch our flight. ;-)
BAH! No, no, no! I'm really upset for you. D@mn you, winter for messing with one of your fans and advocates!
I have no input about travel. Except, I'll ditto Chymes in hopes that you're untouched by bad travel weather.
If that's the case, I would chance it. I doubt you'd be stranded for long if your flight was canceled or delayed so you'd get to Savannah, just a little later most likely.
Ha! Point taken.
There's a winter storm advisory in Chicago tomorrow morning, but we're going to chance it and go. The advisory ends at 9:00 a.m., so hopefully worse case scenario is that we'll arrive in Savannah later in the day than expected.
Hooray! Now get off the internet and go enjoy.