I have an appointment next week at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. What is the best airport to fly into.

Thank you for your help.

Well you basically have two options...
CAK or CLE, Burke Lakefront is for private a/c

CAK these days is starting to be dominated by FL. If you don't mind flying an LCC go for CAK as I've heard that it's nicer, easier to get around, and not that terribly far from CLE. I've also heard that FL's biz. class is a pretty good deal as well.

CLE isn't all that nice, it is comparable to airports like MEM and STL's D concourse. CO is the main carrier out of CLE along with a token presence by WN (apparently struggling there), along with small presences by most majors. More than likely you will be flying an RJ on CO because even though it is a hub, it is only served by some 50 flights a day w/ mainline a/c (I think).

I would fly into Cleveland Hopkins Int'l (CLE). 25-minute drive to the Clinic versus over an hour from CAK (Akron-Canton).

Ord747Cle

I am having a hard time finding a good fare for next Thursday (the 22nd),

Any advice?

Where U flying from???
Hopkins for sure it the best way into Cleveland, altough not the best airport around.
Went from JFK to CLE(hopkins) for 125,00/return trip with American Eagle.
By that time, Jan 2003, I read that CKA´d have a flight from NYC for 70,00/return trip, it´s worth check it.
But I guess was a promotion that probably ended

Where are you originating your trip?

Either from BOS, PVD, or BDL.

Is flying into CMH a good idea?

No, CMH is not really a good idea. Now you are looking at a 2.4 hour drive from CMH to downtown Cleveland.

Consider the logisitix: You can get a non-stop (on CO) from CLE to any of your three BOS-area airports and it is the closest. CLE is closest to your destination, security is pretty quick, and if you get close enough to the CO president's club, you can get free Wi-Fi.  

But CMH is $500 cheaper.

Try this if your flexible...SW flys into PVD...try PVD to MDW and backtrack to CLE. Its a crummy way but It may be cheap...just an idea

CMH is about 2 and a half hours to downtown, even closer to 3 depending on time of day. CAK is a little over an hour to downtown, I'd say about an hour and 15 or so. CLE is about 25 minutes away via the rapid (1.50 fare I think) or about 20 minutes with a cab.

CLE is not at all a bad airport, people on A.net are just spoiled. Concourse C is actually not half bad. I was just in Boston and I found their terminals much more like a bus station than Cleveland's, though I admit the duct tape at CLE is a bit ridiculous. BOS-CLE is probably your best bet as it is flown with 737-500 and -700 equipment.

Don't think Air Tran has initiated in BOS/CAK service yet(but check anyway). But they DO have LGA/CAK flights. If you could catch a train (not sure about the logistics on this one) from either one of your originating cities to NYC and catch Air Tran out of LGA you'll save some BIG BIG bucks as compared to flying into CLE. Getting from CAK to the Cleveland Clinic is a snap - just under an hour via I-77 North all the way.

How about PVD-BWI-CLE on Southwest? Shouldn't be too painful. Otherwise, LGA-CAK on Airtran is around $149 one way for a biz class seat on a new 717. Hopkins limo can take you right into CLE, or rent a car.

Not sure if Hopkins Limo will transport to downtown - I believe they terminate at CLE. However, rental cars at CAK (especially Hertz and Avis) are parked right outside the door at the south end of the terminal (adjacent to the Air Tran baggage carousel). BTW, the non-stop route is I-77 North to the Carnegie exit (downtown). Turn right on Carnegie and proceed about two or three miles to the Cleveland Clinic. CAN'T MISS IT !!! I also wonder if the Clinic transportation service will assist in the transportation?

For your comfort you should choose CLE or CAK. CLE is, as someone already said, only 25 minutes from the Cleveland Clinic. CAK is just over an hour up the highway, but if you're having some sort of procedure that could be an uncomfortable drive (I'm thinking as a former surgical patient.) I really wouldn't do CMH, as weather can be bad this time of year and oh, yeah, the construction on I-71 is nasty.

There are a few CAK shuttles around...
Shuttle One Services
Zona Limo
Airport Transportation was offering a $49.00 flat rate at the July 2003 publication of the local yellow pages
Also "Amazing Airport Transportation" was showing $50.00 flat rate at the same time, (216) 481-8384 or (216) 322-6002

I got the first two off the CAK website
http://www.akroncantonairport.com

You could always call the Cleveland Clinic and ask them for advice.
Here's their website for driving directions:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/maptour/directions.htm
Here's their medical concierge service (I don't know how $$$ it is):
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/services/Medicalconcierge.htm

I just looked at the WN website and it looks like you're pretty much out of luck if your appt. is early in the week... Nothing on Monday or Tuesday out of BDL or PVD... Your best bet is probably BOS.

However... you could also try TOL, PIT, or DTW if you're really desperate. All three of those airports are as close or closer than CMH.

redngold

If you want to be technical, DTW is about 20 miles further from CLE than CMH. I would NEVER choose DTW over CMH.

DTW is a good 3 hour drive around the lake. I wouldn't take that over CMH. But, like I said, I don't recommend anything other than CLE or CAK.

What about TOL or PIT?

TOL is close to 2 hours, PIT is about 2 hrs 20 mins. I highly suggest just going with CLE. It's not anywhere near as bad as people here make it out to be and it is much much easier to get to downtown this way. PVD-BWI-CLE on WN would probably the cheapest as LGA-CLE or BOS-CLE on CO is around 700 dollars.

Not to hijack this thread, but how long a drive is it to that big amusement park in Sandusky from CLE?

You are thinking of Cedar Point. From CLE, 90 mins is about average.

www.cedarpoint.com

The problem with WN is that it is all booked.

I think I will go with CO.

Thanks so much for your help guys.

Cedar point takes me just over an hour and I live about 10 miles south of Hopkins. Good luck with the booking Concordeloss. I think the convenience of CLE will prove itself, though. Let us know what you thought though, ok?

[Edited 2004-04-15 22:39:57]

I sure will N766UA.

Thank You