I’m going to BlogHer 12 this summer in New York City. Like the true planner I am, I’ve been watching the cost of flights. I live in Iowa and I have  three airports I can choose from.

I could fly out of Omaha which is usually the most cost effective. But when you add the cost of gas for the 1 ½ hour drive and usually a hotel, it’s worth looking into flying out of somewhere smaller but more local. To me, it’s worth paying a bit more for the flight if that means I can fly from somewhere where I don’t need a hotel room or find someone to bring and pick me up, or worry about leaving my car parked for five days in strange city.

We do have a local airport, it’s SUX. It doesn’t suck but that’s the airport code. Love it, don’t ya? Here is my issue with them. Or should I say, was my issue. Until recently, the cost to fly out to NYC had gotten close to $1000. While out of Omaha was $254 at its lowest price. The difference is definitely worth driving down to Omaha, paying the gas and hotel room.

However, American Airlines has come to town and so far it’s proved to benefit me. On opening day, flights from SUX to NYC were only in the $390 range! It was only $50 more than Omaha. That is so worth not having to make the drive to Omaha and all that comes along with it. Of course, I should have booked but couldn’t. After checking today, my flight went up to just over $500. Which is about $100 more than Omaha. But, it’s still worth the extra $100 after I factor in a $79 hotel room and gas.

It will probably be a week or two before I buy and I’m pretty persistent on checking the costs. I just hope they can continue to keep the pricing competitive. I do have to say that I’m excited that American Airlines is here and they do SUX. I mean that is the most nicest way possible.