Rapid transit

December 8, 2005 11:46 AM

I need to get from Boston, MA, to Denver, CO, as fast as possible. How do I do that?

The biggest problem is that I don't have a credit card. So: is it possible to just go to Logan Airport with cash and ask for a ticket? Do they do that? Should I get traveller's checks or something?

posted by koeselitz to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

Yes, you can buy a ticket right at Logan. Counting in your favor is the fact that Denver is a major hub airport, so I'm guessing there will be a lot of flights with (presumably) empty seats.

Just don't be surprised when you're singled out for extra security screening.

As an alternative, you can book online as little as six hours before your flight departs (I'm usually a last minute traveller, and this is how I tend do it).
posted by killdevil at 11:52 AM on December 8, 2005

I wish I could book online. As I said, I have no credit card for this. But thanks; I'll go down and see what they can do for me.
posted by koeselitz at 11:54 AM on December 8, 2005

No, you don't need a credit card.

You might want to go to a nearby travel agency. They'll charge a fee (say, $25 or $50), but if they don't take cash, they will hold the reservation until you've gone to a post office and gotten a money order. (You might call ahead, once you've picked an agency, and confirm this.)

Alternatively, you could go online (say, to orbitz.com), find a good flight, and call the airline to ask if you can use cash at the airport, or failing that, traveler checks or a money order. (A money order is tricky since you have to get an exact amount, of course.)

Good luck!
posted by WestCoaster at 11:55 AM on December 8, 2005

Yikes, buying a ticket right at the airport in cash? You're going to get the alien anal probe treatment at security, don't be surprised by it...
posted by SpecialK at 11:56 AM on December 8, 2005

I've purchased tickets right at Logan check-in counters with no difficulty in the past. Good luck. Also, guess I should have read your last sentence a little more closely -- sorry bout that.
posted by killdevil at 11:56 AM on December 8, 2005

Make sure you bring several ID documents and allow time for screening, as killdevil says. I've also heard they treat one-way purchases lots more stringently than round trips purchases.
posted by jasper411 at 11:57 AM on December 8, 2005

United in Terminal C has four flights a day to DEN. Cash should not be a problem, travelers checks just get in the way. Remember, however, you will need a government photo ID or you're going nowhere. Expect to pay somewhere around $1000.00 if it's truly last minute (assuming there are seats available).
posted by Xurando at 12:02 PM on December 8, 2005

Call United beforehand (they fly direct from BOS-DEN). You may be able to get a lower rate and put a 24-hour hold on it, then go to the airport and pay for your ticket.

TSA will flag you at every turn for using cash. Use 20s, not 100s, if possible. Bring lots of different forms of ID (license, passport, student ID, etc.) Don't put locks on your luggage. Make sure you aren't wearing anything that might go beep in the metal detector.

If you don't need a direct flight, Travelocity shows Northwest at $323 roundtrip, leaves BOS 6:10 AM tomorrow and arrives DEN at 10:25, with a stop in MSP. This assumes a Saturday night stay.

If you do need a direct flight, you're up to $1000.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 12:03 PM on December 8, 2005

If this is because of a family emergency make sure you ask them at the counter about hardship discounts. Particularly for funerals and the like there's often a deal to be had.
posted by phearlez at 12:40 PM on December 8, 2005

I've never done it, but wouldn't standby be cheaper? If you do plan to go standby, I think it would be best if you didn't check any luggage.
posted by j at 1:06 PM on December 8, 2005

phearlez: although this doesn't apply in the poster's case, bereavement fares are, oddly, often more expensive than any other "last minute" web-purchased option. I haven't experienced this myself, but it's what I've read e.g. here. Bereavement fares are a discount off of the normal "full price" of a seat, which almost no one pays anyway.
posted by xueexueg at 1:39 PM on December 8, 2005

I've never done it, but wouldn't standby be cheaper?
Never been to logan, but if it's like any other big airport out there, you neen an airline ticket to actually get to the gate where you can get on via standby.
Also, I've had wretched luck with traveling by standby, but YMMV.
posted by jmd82 at 5:02 PM on December 8, 2005

Well I'm sure its too late now, but you could get a JetBlue flight on 12/9 for $129, cash at the counter.
posted by fourstar at 6:15 PM on December 8, 2005

What they look for (according to the 60 minutes show I saw) is extra cash (they assume your making a drug deal). So don't bring a lot of extra cash beyond the ticket price or the cash could be arrested and detained. Then you'll have to prove that you weren't makeing a drug deal (the cash doesn't have presumed innocence like a person).
posted by 445supermag at 6:53 PM on December 8, 2005