further afield

An Old Favorite and a New Deal

Story by Dale Irvin
Don't let this air fare fly under your radar — New England, where you can take in sights
like the mansions on the cliff at Newport,
Rhode Island, is less than $200 away.
Somewhat to my amazement, despite all the talk of escalating fuel prices yielding escalating airline fares, there are still deals out there for peak season summer travel. Including an old favorite. For reasons that I’ve never quite figured out, for years now we’ve often seen terrific fares between New Orleans and Bradley airport that serves Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield Massachusetts. Once again this summer you can make that trek starting at $143 roundtrip. Even with taxes and security charges it comes in well under $200. That’s about the same fare as when I first discovered this deal almost a decade ago.
It’s a great starting point for a circle tour of New England, with lovely Mystic Seaport about a hour away, then it’s on to the mansions on the cliff at Newport, Rhode Island. From there it’s a short drive to Cape Cod, back up to Plymouth (I still reminisce about the how enchanted my kids were by the gifted reenactors at Plymouth Plantation). Boston is just a few miles more up the road. And when it’s time to head home you’re about two hours from Bradford Airport at that point.
Once again I find the best tool for discovering days when the cheapest fares are available is the flexible fare search at www.travelocity.com.
Jet Blue doesn’t serve that particular airport, but they are offering a deal that can save you a bit of cash if you’re planning a couple of trips up east in the months ahead. Book a roundtrip between May 5 and May 16 for travel by June 11, 2008 and you’ll get a $50 voucher for travel between September 3 and October 31.
I was a bit shocked to discover that Jet Blue doesn’t seem to be matching the best fares to many of the airports it serves, including of course, New York City, so make sure you compare fares to see if you’ll really be getting a deal. Details on the promotion are HERE.