LGA to DFW Weekend Round Trip for $107

May 20, 2016

LGA – DFW – LGA Weekend Trip

Delta Platinum Medallion Status

Purchase

I wasn’t planning on going to Dallas, but this amazing fare popped up and I couldn’t resist. $107 round trip non stop from LGA to DFW and back is a great fare. It was gone just a few hours after I booked. I used my Delta Reserve card to get 2x SkyMiles, although a better card to use the Amex Gold Premier which gives 3x rewards points on airline purchases.

Getting to the airport

LGA is always interesting to get to – if it’s early enough in the morning, a cab from downtown is about $35 and there is generally no traffic. If it’s any other time, you’ll hit traffic and a better alternative if taking the subway to Astoria and then grabbing a cab to the airport (usually around $10).

LGA doesn’t have a separate SkyPriority area, just a divided line, but it’s generally quick. TSA PreCheck is always a little more congested here than at T4 in JFK. After making it through, I checked out the SkyClub, which allows decent views of the Delta tarmac area and one of the runways.

Gates C12- C14 are in the basement and you take buses out to the aircraft which are in a parking lot at the back corner of the airport. You literally feel like you’re in the basement – low ceilings, awful lay out, and all three gates were boarding simultaneously, etc. It was probably the worst boarding experience I’ve ever had at any airport. Plus you’re also in a crowded bus on the tarmac. I was upgraded to Comfort+ at the last second (they had already called PREM boarding). It seems nearly every time I fly, the upgrade process is different, and very few reps can shed any light on what to expect.

Flight

The flight was uneventful, as are most Delta flights that aren’t in business/first. The Comfort+ seats 5C & 5D have a huge amount of legroom, which was great, since the plane was old and tiny. Thankfully this was a short flight and I was able to doze off for a little while. The only notable item was that on the flight back, Chewbacca Lady (from Facebook video fame) was on our flight, travelling to the Good Morning show in NY. Lots of people recognized her and were requesting photos, which made boarding slower but she was really friendly and accommodating to everyone.

Metrics :

Total time from Apt to LGA SkyClub Bar : 55 mins

Total Time from LGA entrance (defined as exiting the cab & entering the terminal, including security line and walking through terminal to SkyClub) to SkyClubBar: 18 mins