Advice needed on flights

[Jmish1035]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello SDN,

I am praying that someone with a similar experience can offer up some advice.
I have an interview coming up soon at a school 5+ hours away by plane. The main problem I am having is that the date I have been scheduled requires me to spend an obscene amount of money on a roundtrip ticket. Before you ask, I have called the school multiple times to reschedule my interview (early on if I may add), but they won't budge. Understandable on their side.
Why are the tickets so expensive? I am not sure. Maybe there is something going on in the area, but I have been keeping tabs on ticket prices since I received the II in mid December and they do not seem to be coming down.

Anyhow, here is the deal. I have found one flight on the airline which I have some miles saved up with that lands at 6 am on the interview day. I have to be at the school (15-20 min away) by 8:30. It seems doable in terms of time, but I am not too sure if it is a smart idea. Will my suit look all wrinkly and terrible? Will I be super tired and not able to function? It is a redeye so I plan on sleeping on the plane, but you never really know.

I do not see any other good options as I have a very limited budget these days. Has anyone here done this before and made it on time (and in good spirits and dress) to their interview?

 

[The Unburnt]

I did this for an interview and it ended up alright! I had almost 2 hours to get to the school 15-20 mins away so I was on a similar time budget. The stress definitely kept me awake/functioning so I wouldn't worry about that. There is always the possibility of a delay which is what I was most stressed about but there's obviously not much you can do about that if you take the risk.

If you have another option I wouldn't do this but if you have no other choice then as long as nothing crazy happens it should be okay! Good luck!

 

[3toedsloth]

I did this and nearly fell asleep during the financial aid talk. Would not recommend.

 

[raiderette]

Clear your cache and try again. You may find a cheaper flight. Barring the change, can you fly to another airport and rent a car or take a bus/train?

 

[lovehate]

I have done a similar trip and got accepted. The interview stress will keep you awake.

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Did it for two of my interviews. Got in to both. Definitely go for it!

 

[MDPedigree]

Was too scared to do this because of fear of delays. Would've definitely been much easier to do this though so you get the entire interview stuff done with in one day.

 

[nomdeplume1234]

Hello SDN,

I am praying that someone with a similar experience can offer up some advice.
I have an interview coming up soon at a school 5+ hours away by plane. The main problem I am having is that the date I have been scheduled requires me to spend an obscene amount of money on a roundtrip ticket. Before you ask, I have called the school multiple times to reschedule my interview (early on if I may add), but they won't budge. Understandable on their side.
Why are the tickets so expensive? I am not sure. Maybe there is something going on in the area, but I have been keeping tabs on ticket prices since I received the II in mid December and they do not seem to be coming down.

Anyhow, here is the deal. I have found one flight on the airline which I have some miles saved up with that lands at 6 am on the interview day. I have to be at the school (15-20 min away) by 8:30. It seems doable in terms of time, but I am not too sure if it is a smart idea. Will my suit look all wrinkly and terrible? Will I be super tired and not able to function? It is a redeye so I plan on sleeping on the plane, but you never really know.

I do not see any other good options as I have a very limited budget these days. Has anyone here done this before and made it on time (and in good spirits and dress) to their interview?

Some people say get a good night's sleep but I think there is some merit in the fact that you will have the adrenaline rush keeping you awake. If you keep your suit in one of those suit bags and they hang it properly you shouldn't have an issue I didn't need to iron or steam mine at all. Do you have your rental car reserved already?

 

[Jmish1035]

Good points everyone. Come to think of it I've never really been one to fall asleep and/or be extremely tired on important occasions even after getting a few hours of sleep. I almost always find a way to perk myself up (probably the adrenaline).

I would be using a car service to get to the school (think taxi, uber, etc.) and I will make sure to call ahead of time (~1 hr in advance) if I see any time-related obstacles.

@nomdeplume1234 About hanging garment bags...Are airlines usually receptive to this request?
@fldoctorgirl and @lovehate what did you both end up doing about your suits and shoes?

 

[fldoctorgirl]

@fldoctorgirl and @lovehate what did you both end up doing about your suits and shoes?

One flight left at 5:45 am and landed at like 7:30. I was renting a car so I just wore my suit on the plane with sneakers and packed my heels in a free carry-on bag. I also brought a change of clothes to wear on the flight home (left that night after the interview).

I didn't think the airline would be receptive to carrying a garment bag so I didn't bother, but you can definitely ask if you would be interested in doing that. I just wore it on the flight and it didn't wrinkle or anything. Then, on the way back I folded it up nicely in my carry-on and had it sent to the dry cleaner's when I got back home for the next interview.

I did the same thing for a flight that landed at the airport at like 1 am....wore the suit, slept on the airport floor, still looked fine lol.

 

[Jmish1035]

I did the same thing for a flight that landed at the airport at like 1 am....wore the suit, slept on the airport floor, still looked fine lol.

This is more like what I'll be facing lol, but on the plane. Fingers crossed that my suit still looks pretty decent whether or not I wear it on the plane or fold it very nicely.

 

[alexlex143]

I have found it difficult to sleep on red eyes, personally. So you'll be taking a risk. I too found myself nearly dozing off during a financial aid presentation and I have never fallen asleep in class or lecture before in my 10 years of college! That was super frustrating but before and afterwards, I felt totally fine. I had to rent a car and drive in traffic for 2 hours after I landed also.

It's challenging but I just couldn't afford the alternative flight options. I'd say go for it and do your best to prepare.

I've had the airline hang my garment bag a couple of times without a problem. Just keep in mind that some might consider it a carry-on or your personal item. In both cases, I only had a carry-on (my purse was inside it). Depending on how easily your suit wrinkles, I'm not sure I'd recommend you wear it on the flight.

Good luck!

 

[fldoctorgirl]

This is more like what I'll be facing lol, but on the plane. Fingers crossed that my suit still looks pretty decent whether or not I wear it on the plane or fold it very nicely.

I personally think wearing it trumps folding it....your suit probably won't really wrinkle just from sitting on a plane, at least not as much as it would being folded in a tiny bag.

 

[nomdeplume1234]

Good points everyone. Come to think of it I've never really been one to fall asleep and/or be extremely tired on important occasions even after getting a few hours of sleep. I almost always find a way to perk myself up (probably the adrenaline).

I would be using a car service to get to the school (think taxi, uber, etc.) and I will make sure to call ahead of time (~1 hr in advance) if I see any time-related obstacles.

@nomdeplume1234 About hanging garment bags...Are airlines usually receptive to this request?
@fldoctorgirl and @lovehate what did you both end up doing about your suits and shoes?

Maybe I got lucky I will never know but what I did:

I called the reservations desk and they looked up what type of aircraft would be used and whether or not they had a closet.
Then I guess it's technically up to whichever flight attendent you run into. One made a fuss but eventually hung it while the others acted like it was no big thing. They do have a closet at the entrance of the aircraft, afterall.

 

[Potentia Virtus]

I didnt read the other replies, so this may be redundant, but I would NOT advise scheduling your flight that close to your interview time. Any delay and you're screwed. I missed an interview this weekend because my flight was diverted and then cancelled, and I was coming in the night BEFORE. So yeah, don't do it.
Also, screw Southwest Sirlines, and screw the Kansas City airport. Ahhh.... feels good to vent.

 

[3toedsloth]

I didnt read the other replies, so this may be redundant, but I would NOT advise scheduling your flight that close to your interview time. Any delay and you're screwed. I missed an interview this weekend because my flight was diverted and then cancelled, and I was coming in the night BEFORE. So yeah, don't do it.
Also, screw Southwest Sirlines, and screw the Kansas City airport. Ahhh.... feels good to vent.

I feel ya, man. I couldn't get to Albany for the same reason. I couldn't get a refund so ended up not even rescheduling the interview, and just saying it wasn't meant to be.... 🙁 Oh well...

 

[trev5150]

By the time you get to the airport, park, get to the terminal, check in, go through security, wait to board, board, taxi out, en route, landing, taxi to the gate, get your bag, get a rental car, drive to the hotel, check in, unpack your stuff, try to unwind and get some sleep....

...you could have just driven the 5 hours, taken everything you needed without having to take your shoes off, go through the metal detector, empty your pockets, get rid of the toothpaste you forgot was too big because it must be Semtex....

Save money on the flight and the rental car too.

 

[aldol16]

This should depend on how long the flight is, how much the price difference is, and how much you like this school/how many acceptances you already have. If it's a long flight, then your suit will get wrinkled - it's just the price to pay. But if you pack it well, it won't be too noticeable. If it's a huge price difference, then I would seriously consider it - two hours is a long time to get to a place only 15 minutes away. Flights can be delayed, of course, but that's a risk that you would have to take if you decide that the price differential is just too great. If you have an acceptance and you like that school at least as much as you like this one, then you might also decide that you can afford to take the risk.