Skybus: Montana Via Seattle, Washington

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6-05-2007 @ 9:54PM

Matt said...

Hi Jamie,

Unfortunately, you're going to have a harder time than you imagined with this trip. I'm big on lists, so here you go:

1. I'm assuming you meant 5 bags total, not 5 bags per person? Checked bags are $5 for the first two, then $50/each after that! As long as you have three people, you'll be okay.

2. You absolutely need to get to the airport that early and sit yourself down at the very front of the line. There are no colored boarding cards or any way of getting a decent seat other than being the first one on the plane after the Priority people.

3. Getting an aisle seat will hopefully help your husband, but with a seat pitch of a mere 26", you're already dealing with the smallest seat-back to seat-back space of any US airline. I'm only 5' 8" and my knees brush the back of the seat in front of me. I can't imagine how anyone 6' or taller would even fit in those seats...

4. There actually _won't_ be anyone at the airport for you to talk to. It specifically says on their website that they don't have gate agents available until it is time to board and their gate agents won't be able to help you with seats, tickets or anything other than getting you onto the plane. Also, the baggage check agents are equally unequipped and unwilling to help in this regard.

5. Bellingham is a wonderful, adorable little airport. Unfortunately, this does not bode well for your chances at a good rental car deal. They only have Avis, Hertz, Budget and Enterprise and only 100 or so cars in the lot... total. Depending on the difference in price and how long you're going to need the car, I would consider taking the Airporter bus (http://www.airporter.com/) down to Seattle and getting a car there -- particularly since your route to Philipsburg will go down through Seattle anyway. Airporter is pretty reasonable and runs very frequently.

Bonus #6: You do realize it's a 10 hour drive to Philipsburg from Bellingham, right? Did you consider flights into Calgary or Spokane?

Sorry to be the bearer of rough news. SkyBus definitely is cheaper but it can be an incredibly frustrating experience.

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