$900 Ticket

September 10, 2006 5:06 PM

I have $900 to spend on a flight. Where should I got?

Basically, Northwest screwed me so I have to fly somewhere for $900.

It is Northwest money, so only places that you can find through here.

Also, it is ok if I don't spend the full amount. I will have credit (so I could essentially go two places).

posted by bd to Travel & Transportation (22 answers total)

Ever been to New York City? If not, you should go there. Manhattan is the center of the universe after all. :)
posted by bim at 5:11 PM on September 10, 2006

Maui is also a good destination, especially if you've never been there and wait until winter to take your trip.
posted by kindall at 5:13 PM on September 10, 2006

Munich, for Oktoberfest!
posted by fatbobsmith at 5:21 PM on September 10, 2006

One thing to keep in mind with "compensation vouchers" is that they're often subject to blackout dates. So Munich in October and Hawaii in winter, as others have suggested, might not be options. Definitely read the fine print before you start making plans.

If they gave you frequent flier miles instead of a voucher (rare, but I've seen it happen) you might want to see where else the miles can be redeemed-- hotels, cruises, etc.
posted by chickletworks at 5:31 PM on September 10, 2006

Balloon Fiesta is right around the corner.
posted by FlamingBore at 5:34 PM on September 10, 2006

What do you like to do? What kind of weather do you like? We don't even know where you're flying from!

$900 can be spent very differently if you are in San Francisco, versus NYC, versus Frankfurt!
posted by symphonik at 5:42 PM on September 10, 2006

Barcelona! Dirty, gritty, beautiful Barcelona.
posted by trinarian at 5:57 PM on September 10, 2006

If you fly to Hong Kong I'll show you around the mainland side, Shenzhen.
posted by trinarian at 5:58 PM on September 10, 2006

Go foreign whatever you do. The Eternal City is alway a great place to visit if you've never been [and return, if you've been there before].
posted by yeti at 6:02 PM on September 10, 2006

Where are you starting from? North America? If you're on the west coast, you can probably get a ticket to somewhere in Asia. If you're on the east coast, you can probably get a ticket to somewhere in Europe. Get out of the country, definitely.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 6:12 PM on September 10, 2006

I got a $600 round trip ticket on NW from Portland, OR to Paris (through Detroit - ugh). I'd probably head back if I had the chance ;)
posted by devilsbrigade at 6:16 PM on September 10, 2006

oooh... I like the Oktoberfest idea! Timely, too. Just my $0.02.
posted by rolypolyman at 6:18 PM on September 10, 2006

Go to Europe. How about Amsterdam?
posted by zia at 6:36 PM on September 10, 2006

I would go San Jaun and then get a little $50 puddle hopper flight to St. Thomas. St. Thomas is so much nicer than Munich. I have lived in both places.
posted by Slenny at 7:35 PM on September 10, 2006

go to alaska, but hurry up.
posted by brandz at 7:52 PM on September 10, 2006

Last time I flew to Tokyo on Northwest, it was around $900. If you know what you're doing, you can do Tokyo on the cheap... the largest expense, really, is the flight.
posted by jal0021 at 7:55 PM on September 10, 2006

All the cool cats are going to Iceland.
posted by msittig at 7:57 PM on September 10, 2006

blackout dates. So Munich in October

well, not to worry. Oktoberfest starts in september.
posted by krautland at 7:59 PM on September 10, 2006

A) Where are you?

B) Can you use the voucher on *just* Northwest, or on any of their partners, too? Continental, Delta, KLM...they might get you further.

C) Can you book part of the trip on Northwest and then use another (budget!) airline to somewhere else NWA don't fly? Say, XXX-London Gatwick-EasyJet to/from Marrakech/Istanbul/Dubrovnik/Krakow-London Gatwick-XXX?
posted by mdonley at 9:22 PM on September 10, 2006

Response by poster: Im starting on detroit.

I am pretty sure partners are OK...but not 100%.

I am big into photography, music, and skiing.
posted by bd at 11:54 PM on September 10, 2006

Well, all right then!

Here's Travelocity's "Dream Maps" feature: put in your base, a date range, and a price range, and you'll get a pretty clickable map of destinations!

This is a stripped down version of the Dream Maps thing, all textified, but apparently only for domestic. Might have some luck there.

Also, if you can get to NYC cheaply, grab a relatively-inexpensive Kuwait Airways or Air India flight to London (or Air India from Newark to Paris) and use the Northwest voucher on KLM flights around Europe or further afield, and use KLM to get home. (Or not.)

Finally, here are the prices of Northwest flights from DTW to a variety of European cities for a hypothetical Jan 10-Jan 25 trip. Ask for the fares by "fare basis code" - the info's on the "fare details" page. $573 DTW-LGW here,...or ask the people in the "Northwest Worldperks" forum over on FlyerTalk for advice on maximizing your voucher's possibilities. It's free to join.

Also, going to cold places in the dead of winter at odd times might be cheaper as well. Skiing in Alaska? I bet Japan and Korea would be cheap as well. Or what about Shanghai and Beijing?
posted by mdonley at 6:31 AM on September 11, 2006

Northwest (née Northwest Orient) has an excellent network to Asia. That's definitely what I would do. Maybe Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam?
posted by raf at 6:38 AM on September 11, 2006