West Michigan-ORD Commute Suggestions

[ImbracableCrunk]

Anyone have the scoop or opinions on buses and train service for commuting from west Michigan to ORD?

Thanks.

 

[2EASYPilot]

Where in West Michigan

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

I guess I coulda been a little more specific. Kalamazoo.

 

[2EASYPilot]

Amtrak, see if this link will work...only goes to downtown chicago though.


http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtra...dren=0&_infants=0&_searchBy=schedule&x=29&y=8

 

[Skippy]

Go to sbn and take the coach usa $17 each way for airline discount
takes 3 hrs term to term. I use it all the time. It is more reliable than mesa in the winter! And summer!

 

[Whine Lover]

Just drive it and find a parking deal of some sort. Cheaper and easier in the long run.

I used to commute ORD/MDW-DTW years ago.

Always faster, easier, and less stressful to drive the 3.5 hours than to dink around with begging for rides.

And that was before 9/11 and the Blue Shirt idiots...


YKW

 

[contrail67]

I guess I coulda been a little more specific. Kalamazoo.

Drive it.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

18 days of parking a month is pricey at ORD, I imagine. It'd have to be a pretty good deal.

No jumpseating with this job. So it's either ZED, or wheels of some sort.

 

[dispatchguy]

Go to sbn and take the coach usa $17 each way for airline discount
takes 3 hrs term to term. I use it all the time. It is more reliable than mesa in the winter! And summer!

I live in this neck o the woods (GSH), and the bad thing about taking Coach to/from SBN is their schedule sucks.

Now, however, if you take them to/from their Hammond/Highland stop, and drive between there and home, its about an hourly scheduled to/from ORD/MDW.

Thats not a bad way to go, and yes, it is usually more reliable then Mesa.

Mesa SUCKS!

 

[Skippy]

they go every two hours-- now unless you mean by them stopping 1000 times before ohare then i agree. ) it's actually 4 or 5- i forget which.-- then you park in that lot that floods and then he's in real trouble-- just get on at sbn and go to sleep- or watch some movies, play online or use your iphone, use the crapper-- and next thing you know you're being raped by security in no time.-- leave the driving to the people who have better work rules and rest requirements 17 bucks- it might be 18 or 19 now b/c fuel is back to near $3 a gallon now but you can barely drive it for that

 

[Whine Lover]

http://www.prideparking.com/

6 bucks /day for 18 days = $108.00

If that's too "pricey" for a typical month....you need a different job or need to start living in a crash pad with parking.

 

[purduej]

You could also take the South Shore Line to downtown Chicago, takes about 2.5 hours and picks up at KSBN. Great since you can take it into Chicago if there's flow and still fly back if you can make a flight the last day.

 

[Jabwmu]

18 days of parking a month is pricey at ORD, I imagine. It'd have to be a pretty good deal.

No jumpseating with this job. So it's either ZED, or wheels of some sort.

How often will you be commuting per week/month? What I mean is will you be gone 18 days in a row? Will you be commuting once a week? I ask because if you drive it often then gas & parking may be too much. Also, only American Eagle flys to Ord now days (no United) and they seem to cancel Azo if they need another aircraft.

Many people drive to Grr (very cheap employee airport parking) and commute out of there (there's more flights too). They have American Eagle and United (737/Airbus) if you go the Zed fare route. Good luck man.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

The sched is 18 on/11 off, so it's once a month for the drive and the car sits the whole time.

Do the bus and train depots charge for parking?

 

[sleeves]

Go to sbn and take the coach usa $17 each way for airline discount
takes 3 hrs term to term. I use it all the time. It is more reliable than mesa in the winter! And summer!

I think Coach USA stopped going to SBN.

 

[Whine Lover]

Kalamazoo charges for parking...But, I believe we have your solution:


AMTRAK Dowagiac
(DOA) 100 Railroad Dr.
Dowagiac, MI 49047 This is an unstaffed station, Enclosed Waiting Area, Restrooms, Payphones, Free Short Term Parking, Free Long Term Parking

Buy your tickets online, or pick them up in Kalamazoo, and hop on the train in Dowagiac. You'll go to Union Station in Chicago and then transfer to the local train to O'Hare. Voila!

More info on stations:

http://www.michiganstartpages.com/michigan/transportation/amtrak.htm#stations

Good luck.

YKMKR

 

[145BOSS]

What airline do you work for? Most airlines provide free parking at your base of ops. I commute out of ORD to EWR and get free parking. I would have to assume that an airline with a Chicago base would offer similar benefits.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

What airline do you work for? Most airlines provide free parking at your base of ops. I commute out of ORD to EWR and get free parking. I would have to assume that an airline with a Chicago base would offer similar benefits.

KAL. I assumed that ORD wouldn't give free parking to KAL, but it's worth a shot.

 

[Skippy]

no they still run-- its very profitable from what i hear