"Standby", "space available"....no longer good means of travel

[icepac]

I recently flew to norfolk from Florida to buy another Infiniti and, after driving west to I95, decided the car would not make the trip all the way back to west palm.

My quick solution would be a trip to mom's place in DC area, put car on shipping truck, and have dad set up a "standby" pass on delta under "friends and family".

Shipping company showed up the same day and car arrived home 15 hours later.

Me?.......still stuck in DC 11 days later.

All flights overbooked for even some full fare ticket holders that were asked to give up thier seats meaning "standby" passengers (including employees scheduled to work in 2 days) had zero chance of making it to home for work.

All trains full.....all buses full....no full fare tickets available and delta decided to cancel the first and last flights of every day from the beginning to the end of the holiday season!!!.....and then bring back those two flights after the rush is over and they really aren't needed!!!

Running out of options

Any ideas?

[ScottyK]

 rental car one way, some companies do (the one i work for does) some dont',  the rates are usually higher than if u returned to the same city.

[Volron]

More than likely, that won't be an option as more than a few folks would have done so already.  Still, doesn't hurt to try that route.

[smoe]

Ask around and hook up with some other people to share a rental car. Don't be shy, just ask around.

[CAP1]

I recently flew to norfolk from Florida to buy another Infiniti and, after driving west to I95, decided the car would not make the trip all the way back to west palm.

My quick solution would be a trip to mom's place in DC area, put car on shipping truck, and have dad set up a "standby" pass on delta under "friends and family".

Shipping company showed up the same day and car arrived home 15 hours later.

Me?.......still stuck in DC 11 days later.

All flights overbooked for even some full fare ticket holders that were asked to give up thier seats meaning "standby" passengers (including employees scheduled to work in 2 days) had zero chance of making it to home for work.

All trains full.....all buses full....no full fare tickets available and delta decided to cancel the first and last flights of every day from the beginning to the end of the holiday season!!!.....and then bring back those two flights after the rush is over and they really aren't needed!!!

Running out of options

Any ideas?

 doesn't hertz do one way rentals?  if not, what about renting a u-haul pickup one way?

[ScottyK]

 yes we do 

[Tec]

Any ideas?

Put a post on craigslist looking for someone with a junk car who doesn't want to pay to have it hauled off.  Call the shipping company you used on the first car and order a pickup.  Get some snacks and sodas.  Black out the windows and get in car.  Arrive home 15 hours later.

[mbailey]

Put a post on craigslist looking for someone with a junk car who doesn't want to pay to have it hauled off.  Call the shipping company you used on the first car and order a pickup.  Get some snacks and sodas.  Black out the windows and get in car.  Arrive home 15 hours later.

This one wins on creativity alone 

[Dragon]

11 days 

You could have walked home by now.

[VonMessa]

Don't plan these things during the holidays?

[icepac]

The car was paid for on October 20th and I had paid a shipper to pick it up from Norfolk.

The shipper did nothing for 5 weeks and the previous owner was grumbling that the car had to go so I obtained a refund from the pathetic shipper and came up to make it happen.

I have simply purchased another car......pics of it later.

[Bodhi]

Take a cab to Baltimore and then take Southwest to someplace in FL.  It's expensive, but it will get you home.

[Nathan60]

You coulda shared  a rental with some salesguy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjwavGuTQSM

[ozrocker]

Try BWI



                                                                                                                                            Oz

[icepac]

Been flying standby on my own since 1968.

I tried every avenue, route, and destination including DCA to detroit to CVG to Atlanta to west palm beach.

Every leg had either full seats or would have stranded me halfway home.

I simply checked craigslist for the car type I have been looking for in the last couple of months and found one up here.

My new trusty steed to replace my older square and non-aero station wagon.