Forum USA Trip 2018

[Rogue]

According to my bank account history there was a Qantas sale mid - late February (I purchased tickets on 22nd Feb). $1140, Wellington to Dallas via Sydney. I think I will bank on something similar happening again this year, but the current price might be the safer bet.

[tgsnoopy]

I'm kinda glad I sat on the fence... Trying to summarise where things are at, at the moment:

Back on 26th July 2017, SPWill recommended both a longer & shorter group both go over on 15th May (Shorter of 10 days leaving 26th, longer of 16 days leaving 1st Jun).

03Stormchaser - Think bought tickets with 11hr layover, but now has doubts & may have to do a shorter trip on different dates.

SPWill - Was going to make a decision in Jan, last post on the 15th Has Doubts he will be able to go.

MikeStormchaser - asked about costs in Aug, no other indication of intent.

NZ Thunderstom Soc - Initially indicated he was interested, but don't recall anything since.

Jamie - Seems keen still, conceded likely to fly QANTAS to DFW.

Rogue (Brendan) - Don't recall anything negative, recall booking in Feb last year at a good price.

NZStorm - Reviewing & may not be able to go as of 15th Jan.

TornadoTim - Was keen for a longer trip, don't recall anything much said since.

Richard - Indicated he would consider it early on. Don't recall anything since.

Manukau Heads Obs - Brian indicated early on he was interested, but has since been very quiet, think Jamie is keeping him in the loop.

Rodalco - Was keen for a longer trip, mention the train ride from LAX to OKC which got my attention/interest. Don't recall much since.

03Stormchaser/Jamie/Jamies mate/Brendan were looking at sharing rental car cost and forming a group.

I put up a comment on Facebook indicating my fears that I might not be going this year, included a link to this forum topic. A couple of PM questions have been asked at this point, but no plans formed.

I do not want to end up trying to be a driving force/organiser but would like to able to join some others for a trip. Where to from here everyone?

[RODALCO]

Hi, great that there is a tally made for the stormchasing trip 2018.
I am still keen to go, but would like to know where we meet in Dallas, everything seems to hang in loose ends at the moment. I prefer to go for a longer period 16 days +.
Haven't seen any good deals for airfares yet.

[tgsnoopy]

2+ weeks with little feedback. I'm not feeling very confident this will happen now, if an opportunity arises, I'm still interested, however I now need to back in NZ Wed 30th May, so would need to leave the US Mon 28th at the latest. I've booked to head to a conference flying out Thurs Morn 31st.

[jamie]

There is definitely one car load heading over. The dates for that are still up in the air as it sort of depends on ticket sales. But we are all pretty flexible for a 10 days of chasing through mid to late May.

There is no reason a second car could not come for the same time and convoy. So it sounds like Neil and RODALCO are keen but a third or 4th for that car would be better.

Once qantas have a sale I think discussion will ramp up quickly here about firming up on dates etc.

[spwill]

2+ weeks with little feedback. I'm not feeling very confident this will happen now, if an opportunity arises, I'm still interested, however I now need to back in NZ Wed 30th May, so would need to leave the US Mon 28th at the latest. I've booked to head to a conference flying out Thurs Morn 31st.

I think there is still a lot of uncertainty with some people.
For me it is starting to look like getting way from work is going to be the issue so best I pull out now.

[Willoughby]

Just for what it's worth - but I wouldn't be totally banking on a QF sale fare to DFW

This seems to be the lowest they're going for out of Sydney at the moment - on a 'deal' too.

[jamie]

Sadly Stephen from our group of 4 heading over has had to pull out, so now Brendan myself and Alan (not on forum) have a seat available in our car.

Is there anyone keen to fill the space?

We are looking at 10 days of chasing. Dates are flexible. All 3 of us can do mid May through to early June.

[tgsnoopy]

Sadly Stephen from our group of 4 heading over has had to pull out, so now Brendan myself and Alan (not on forum) have a seat available in our car.

Is there anyone keen to fill the space?

We are looking at 10 days of chasing. Dates are flexible. All 3 of us can do mid May through to early June.

I would definitely be interested in looking at this. I can go anywhere post 30th April, but need to leave Mon 28th to be back Wed 30th.

[jamie]

a group of 4 of us (Neil Brendan Myself and Alan) have just booked our flights. Well Brendan is playing roulette with his flights trying to get a cheaper flight but we managed 1100aud from sydney to dallas. Coupled with the 48hr sale air new zealand have today i was able to get return to dallas from auckland for $1700. Airpoints dollars took that down to $1400 cash for me.

Depart Auckland Saturday 12th May and will setup that day in dallas and maybe even chase?
Depart Dallas Friday 25th and back in auckland Sunday 27th.

[jamie]

Looking back at this thread, the cheapest flights were back in November! Should have booked back then!

[NZstorm]

Looking back at this thread, the cheapest flights were back in November! Should have booked back then!

Yes, AirNZ to Dallas for $1,050. The lesson is to book in November I think, if you are sure you are going.

Unfortunately I can't chase this year, but I have been for the last 3 years so shouldn't be too disappointed.

Will follow the 2018 storm season with interest. I expect to see set ups in the models from March onward, fairly quiet over there at the moment.

[jamie]

Qantas currently have 1300-1400 return to Dallas from NZ.

This is a deal not to be missed. Get in quick!

[treetopkk]

I am keen. Self employed so can fit in anywhere.Flight costs not an isscue, as there will always be specials.I take it people are hiring? Any probs with insurance ? Agreed ,a group of 3 cars would be great so keen to get stuck in !

[jamie]

Hi treetopkk. At this stage we have 1 full car. I suggest if anyone else is going or thinking of going you all make it clear in here.

RODALCO and treetopkk are keen. That’s two. You really only need 1 more person and you have a decent car load. Steven or Simon have said they might go.

[treetopkk]

Thats great, looks like a plan . Will look at fares this week.Any probs with insurance [storm chasing]???

[treetopkk]

Airfares around $1350 to Dallas return via Sydney. Will wait a couple of weeks .

[jamie]

You won’t beat that price treetopkk

[jamie]

I don't care how much you dislike flying into Houston. Return flights from Auckland to Houston for $849 with AirNZ is an absolute bargain. You could fly over 18th May and return either 29th May or 3rd June in order to get those fares.

Surely someone on this forum would take up a deal like that.

[treetop]

have not heard of that one. Will check it out. Its a trap to take one way fares as the return can be 2 or 3 times more and subject to availability on short notice.

[jamie]

Yea very selective on the dates. It’s grab a seat sale. Those dates are the dates you must take or else the price effectively doubles per flight.

[NZstorm]

Severe weather season looks like starting soon with the long range gfs showing more upper SW flow in the second half of March than the first. The suggestion is that April could be a good month for tornadoes. There is severe drought currently over the western high plains so likely high based dusty storms there with best tornado chances further east where the ground conditions are more moist.

Current USA drought monitor
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

[treetop]

You still planning to chase RODALCO ? Any one else interested for mid to late May ?

[Rogue]

Tomorrow looking like a potent early season setup over the South East, Tennessee down into Alabama and Eastern Mississippi.

[RODALCO]

Hi, not checking all weather related updates every day. I will give it a miss, as I have a couple of large bills to pay at the moment. Sorry.