interview travel tips

[drcushing]

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anyone uses air miles? worth getting a credit card with airmiles?
thought I would travel to about 6-8 places for interviews and collecting some points might be a good idea. maybe enough for a bonus flight? what's everyone experience with airmiles?

 

[ResidentMD]

anyone uses air miles? worth getting a credit card with airmiles?
thought I would travel to about 6-8 places for interviews and collecting some points might be a good idea. maybe enough for a bonus flight? what's everyone experience with airmiles?

Also would like to know the cheapest way to schedule flights. Heard priceline is good. Anyone get better deals than that? Please share your strategies! Also, anyone know how to specifically find red eye flights? I'm flying coast to coast, often!

 

[drcushing]

flights have gotten expensive again 🙁
airlines always try to make people pay way more for direct flights. I feel like they always send the lowest price options being a roundabout via couple of major hubs before getting to your destination unnecessarily..

 

[thesauce]

anyone uses air miles? worth getting a credit card with airmiles?
thought I would travel to about 6-8 places for interviews and collecting some points might be a good idea. maybe enough for a bonus flight? what's everyone experience with airmiles?

I looked into this. If you can find a good cash-back card like Schwab invest-first, it ends up giving you about the same (or often better) deal but you get it in cash instead of having to use it for flights.

As for good deals: priceline, kayak, and the individual airline sites are solid.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Speaking of interview travel, I have a related question. Anyone have any suggestions for luggage that will hold your suit without wrinkling it that also happens to meet carry-on requirements? I've been looking all over for something like this, but everything I find that will hold a suit has to be checked and I hate having to check baggage for a 1-2 day trip.

 

[Atracurium]

what about this?

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/selectpass/

a monthly pass seems to be a good option to avoid plane tickets for a month.

 

[ResidentMD]

what about this?

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/selectpass/

a monthly pass seems to be a good option to avoid plane tickets for a month.

California to New York - seriously? 😉

 

[ResidentMD]

Speaking of interview travel, I have a related question. Anyone have any suggestions for luggage that will hold your suit without wrinkling it that also happens to meet carry-on requirements? I've been looking all over for something like this, but everything I find that will hold a suit has to be checked and I hate having to check baggage for a 1-2 day trip.

Couple of options -

1.You get those carry on bags that have a separate compartment for suits.

2. I plan to carry on my suit on board in a water-proof cover/jacket of some kind and ask them to put it up for me where they hang the coats.

 

[Baby Einstein]

Don't forget to check out individual websites for low-cost carriers (Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Virgin, etc.). They don't come up on the price comparison websites (Priceline, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc.) and you can find super-sweet deals, especially if you're booking in advance.

 

[ResidentMD]

Don't forget to check out individual websites for low-cost carriers (Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Virgin, etc.). They don't come up on the price comparison websites (Priceline, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc.) and you can find super-sweet deals, especially if you're booking in advance.

Yeah, I got a pretty decent deal on Southwest to travel on the west coast recently, was at least $30 cheaper than priceline. However, coast to coast southwest is more expensive than united, which does show up on priceline, so i guess its mix and match.

Ive heard some issues with JetBlue's frequent delays - anyone ever had problems with any of the low cost carriers, so we can be warned in advance, or they are good to go?

 

[Seville]

great tips everyone. Thanks!

 

[Baby Einstein]

I fly JetBlue and SouthWest often and I have had fewer issues with them than with Delta or American (both of which I hate with a passion). I've saved well over $100 on flights on multiple occasions using low-cost carriers. Of course it's not always possible to book far in advance when it comes to interviews, but it's worth a try. The only issue I can foresee with smaller airlines (smaller than JetBlue/Southwest/AirTran) is that if you get bumped or canceled for whatever reason, they have fewer alternate flights to put you on.

 

[ResidentMD]

I fly JetBlue and SouthWest often and I have had fewer issues with them than with Delta or American (both of which I hate with a passion). I've saved well over $100 on flights on multiple occasions using low-cost carriers. Of course it's not always possible to book far in advance when it comes to interviews, but it's worth a try. The only issue I can foresee with smaller airlines (smaller than JetBlue/Southwest/AirTran) is that if you get bumped or canceled for whatever reason, they have fewer alternate flights to put you on.

Hmm..why the hate for Delta? I use it for international travel..never had an issue. But their rates are at least $50 more than United, at least on all the sectors I have been searching right now...big problem for me, because I'm a Delta Skymiles member. Will probably switch over to United/Southwest now.

 

[John Deere Gree]

From travelling around last year for interviews:

1. I booked all my flights through Southwest (except one). The main reason was that for whatever reason I'd have to switch an interview date, which meant switching plane flights. Most carriers charge a $100 change fee, but not Southwest.

2. I always packed light with only my carry-on. My suits were nicely folded on top of all my other clothes, and usually stayed wrinkle free. Keep them in plastic bags. Iron them at the hotel. It was so nice not to have to check in at any airport counter with just a carry-on bag, especially on a couple of interviews that ran late, and me scheduling things too tightly

3. Travel to close cities at the same time. I lived in the middle of the US, so I made my northern interview loop, and then a southern interview loop. Some people will say don't schedule interviews on back to back days. I did it quite a bit. However, I wouldn't miss pre-interview dinners if at all possible.

4. Be happy the economy tanked. Gas was expensive last year.

5. Enjoy the interview trail. I still have fond memories of travelling to parts of the US that I had never been before. It's all right to be a tourist.

 

[Seville]

5. Enjoy the interview trail. I still have fond memories of travelling to parts of the US that I had never been before. It's all right to be a tourist.

did you take time to go out and see the cities when you interviewed? I was thinking about this today. I applied far and wide and have never stepped foot in some of these cities I may potentially be living in for several years. It sure would be nice to take a day to check out the surroundings but I'm not sure this would work out.

 

[John Deere Gree]

did you take time to go out and see the cities when you interviewed?

I tried to see the city as much as possible. usually I arrived in the afternoon, and had some time to kill before the pre-interview dinner. That's when i would head out by myself. If there was a place that someone mentioned that I had to visit while in town, I'd try to do it depending on my travel schedule.

You gotta be happy with where you live. yes, you work crazy hours in residency, but there's always time to have a life away from the hospital.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

Amen to the being happy where you live. Though I can foresee having interview burnout and going broke from traveling, I'm actually looking forward to seeing so many new cities.

 

[krodUT]

Speaking of interview travel, I have a related question. Anyone have any suggestions for luggage that will hold your suit without wrinkling it that also happens to meet carry-on requirements? I've been looking all over for something like this, but everything I find that will hold a suit has to be checked and I hate having to check baggage for a 1-2 day trip.

I bought a carry on bag from men's warehouse recently. Apparently, its the only wheeled carry on garment bag (2 suits + internal compartments). Go to skyroll.com to check it out. I cannot recommend it enough.

 

[Ashers]

For interviews last year, I flew on American except 4 or 5 trips (Northwest and Delta -- hate them, United -- like them, but I'm not elite, so I pay for bags). I'm also elite on AA, so I got free bag check. I hate Southwest as well, so I refuse to fly them -- too many bad experiences in college.

http://supersearch.travelzoo.com lets you compare travel sites and airline sites. Generally what I did was look up flights on American, then check on orbitz or something to compare the flight options and prices.

Also, www.studentuniverse.com is run by Orbitz I think. It can have amazing deals on airfares, but you need to be a student (ie. have a .edu email address).

If I had some interviews within a reasonable distance (500 miles), I'd see how long it'd take and the cost for me to rent a car and drive vs. fly.

I used miles for some flights. I'd recommend getting a credit card, but I just got an American Airlines AAdvantage card, and I had a heck of a time getting that card despite good credit.

 

[JPmamd09]

Hmm..why the hate for Delta? I use it for international travel..never had an issue. But their rates are at least $50 more than United, at least on all the sectors I have been searching right now...big problem for me, because I'm a Delta Skymiles member. Will probably switch over to United/Southwest now.

My husband and I have flown Delta separately a total of three times. One of two times my luggage got lost, and the time my husband flew (on his way to a funeral no less) they lost his luggage until a week after he was back from the trip.

Delta = Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive

For real.

 

[Seville]

My husband and I have flown Delta separately a total of three times. One of two times my luggage got lost, and the time my husband flew (on his way to a funeral no less) they lost his luggage until a week after he was back from the trip.

Delta = Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive

For real.

I have never heard that acronym but it is awesome. I am definitely stealing it.

Delta lost my luggage when I went to France a few years ago. I didn't get it until 2 weeks later.

I didn't fly them again until I went to Boston for a conference last year-and voila, they lost my bags again. If I ever fly with them, I bring only a carry on. I don't understand how it can be so difficult to lose bags on a direct flight.

 

[Ashers]

I have never heard that acronym but it is awesome. I am definitely stealing it.

Delta lost my luggage when I went to France a few years ago. I didn't get it until 2 weeks later.

I didn't fly them again until I went to Boston for a conference last year-and voila, they lost my bags again. If I ever fly with them, I bring only a carry on. I don't understand how it can be so difficult to lose bags on a direct flight.

Delta hasn't lost my bags since I went to Sweden in 1992, but I'm always late when I fly with them. I especially despise the Atlanta airport. I've never been through there without an issue.

 

[Baby Einstein]

Oh the Atlanta airport. Good ol' Jackson-Hartsfield. So many fond memories. OVERNIGHT memories. "sure ma'am, you'll make your connection - go ahead take the first flight." I hate Delta. The only thing they're good at is ignoring your complaints, or if you're a good enough complainer, give you vouchers to cover up their messes. And their flight attendants are rude, idiotic, or often both.

Delta is the airline with the most complaints, Southwest the fewest. I tend to agree, Southwest is pretty good. Of course, people can get unlucky with any airline, really.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/07/06/daily74.html

 

[angel03]

My husband travels a lot for work and has taught me to only pack a carry on bag. We never, ever check bags. I always have everything I need and there is no waiting around the luggage carousel once we get there and no worrying that our bags didn't make it. Just be economical with your packing and you will be glad that you did! Also, a good carry-on is essential, looking around for one that suits you is worth the time and money. If you want something for your suits, they have "suitors" which allow you to pack your suits so that they are less likely to wrinkle and still on hangers when you get where you are going. These are a little bit difficult to find and possibly more expensive, but if you are really worried about it, then it's worth it. Hope this helps!

 

[fakin' the funk]

Speaking of interview travel, I have a related question. Anyone have any suggestions for luggage that will hold your suit without wrinkling it that also happens to meet carry-on requirements? I've been looking all over for something like this, but everything I find that will hold a suit has to be checked and I hate having to check baggage for a 1-2 day trip.

This advice applies if you have a nice wool suit: there are how-to websites out there that show you how to tuck one shoulder inside the other and fold the jacket into 3rds, maybe line the creases with your shirt(s), stuff it with the pants into some kind of plastic bag (I used a heavy-duty plastic shopping bag from like Target), lay it flat in your luggage and go from there. When you get to your hotel, hang the jacket and pants in the bathroom while you take a hot steamy shower and whatever wrinkles there are will fall right out.

If you have a polyester suit...it's never too late to buy wool 😀

Oh and as others have said - NEVER check anything!

 

[fakin' the funk]

From travelling around last year for interviews:

1. I booked all my flights through Southwest (except one). The main reason was that for whatever reason I'd have to switch an interview date, which meant switching plane flights. Most carriers charge a $100 change fee, but not Southwest.

2. I always packed light with only my carry-on. My suits were nicely folded on top of all my other clothes, and usually stayed wrinkle free. Keep them in plastic bags. Iron them at the hotel. It was so nice not to have to check in at any airport counter with just a carry-on bag, especially on a couple of interviews that ran late, and me scheduling things too tightly

3. Travel to close cities at the same time. I lived in the middle of the US, so I made my northern interview loop, and then a southern interview loop. Some people will say don't schedule interviews on back to back days. I did it quite a bit. However, I wouldn't miss pre-interview dinners if at all possible.

4. Be happy the economy tanked. Gas was expensive last year.

1. Yes - Southwest is awesome
2. Yes - carryons only! Sort your suit out at the hotel. Don't fuss with hanging it in the plane's closet.
3. Yes!!! Make multi-city driving trips; driving is more reliable, more comfortable, and less expensive.
4. No it wasn't...where were you when gas was $1.59? The dip in gas prices last winter personally saved me $500

 

[John Deere Gree]

4. No it wasn't...where were you when gas was $1.59? The dip in gas prices last winter personally saved me $500

I stand corrected. Seemed like I filled up way too often and spent way too much on gas. Thanks for backing me up on the other stuff.

 

[EM2BE]

anyone have any tips for hotels? Which ones not to use in particular?

 

[cookymonster]

This might sound a little crazy, but what do you guys think of staying in youth hostels? There's at least one in most major cities, and they're all uber-cheap ($20-$25 a night). Has anyone done this who has experiences to share?

 

[thefafo]

This might sound a little crazy, but what do you guys think of staying in youth hostels? There's at least one in most major cities, and they're all uber-cheap ($20-$25 a night). Has anyone done this who has experiences to share?

I've stayed at the youth hostel in Chicago - it was nice, but there won't be anywhere to park nearby without high prices, and I wouldn't recommend public transport in Chicago. I think with a few taxi rides it would work out well for interviews. I stayed in a room with bunk beds and met some fun foreigners from Ireland. If you have to iron anything, you'll probably have to bring your own.

 

[fakin' the funk]

anyone have any tips for hotels? Which ones not to use in particular?

Yes. Priceline. 2.5 - 3 stars: you get nothing but business-traveler well done hotels like Courtyard . Be flexible and willing to pay $45-60/night and you will have sweet hotel rooms, a great night's sleep, maybe a pool. Bid 50% of the list price for the class you're looking for and go from there.

 

[Frugal Traveler]

Two neat sites:

A. 36 hours in... (New York Times)
Ex. 36 Hours in Saint Louis
http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/travel/escapes/31hour.html
Might be useful for pleasure and business.
Some programs send out great travel tips though.

B. Credit card
I have not pursued an airline rewards credit card (still tinkering with the idea)

Websites like this one exist:
http://www.creditcards.com/

There are tons of sites and options available for airline reward cards. Just keep in mind that a new line of credit could influence your FICO score. Given "change we can believe in," happens every day, especially with increased governmental regulation, loans and other financial issues could be affected by the credit score (although I think only one person... the person who invented it... knows how all of this works out).