Nonstop flights to Tampa from Dallas to fill Packers games
ASHWAUBENON — Tickets to Green Bay Packers games are in high demand, but they’re not the only type of ticket Packers (and Cowboys and Buccaneers) fans are looking for.
American Airlines added two nonstop flights to its schedule in mid-July, tied to two of the Packers’ marquee matchups this season: against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa on Sept. 25 and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Sept. 13. november
Seats for flights in and out of Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport have sold well, according to Marty Piette, the airport manager. American also plans to use larger planes, with more than 120 seats, on its Chicago-Green Bay flights on weekends when the Packers play at Lambeau to accommodate increased demand.
“These schedule changes and larger aircraft allow fans the best options when connecting to the game or their home airport,” Piette said in a press release. “It’s good for the fans and good for our local economy.”
About half the seats have already been sold on American’s four announced flights, and United Airlines has also added nonstop flights between Dallas and Green Bay to its November schedule.
It also turns out that there are four more flights on the Green Bay schedule beyond the flights aimed at Packers fans.
With two weeks until Tampa, the Green Bay flight is about half sold
The Packers travel to Tampa for a matchup on Sept. 25, and with about two weeks to go, about 50 percent of seats are sold on American’s 7 a.m. Sept. 24 flight from Green Bay arriving at 11:04 am at Tampa International Airport. .
Seat sales are about the same on the nonstop return flight that leaves Tampa at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26 and arrives in Green Bay at 11:37 a.m.
Available round-trip tickets start at $500, according to American’s online booking system.
Now that the Packers’ season is in full swing and game day is approaching, Piette expects demand for the remaining seats to increase.
“Fifty percent isn’t too bad,” Piette said. “It’s not a route we usually have, so it’s a surprise for people.”
Dallas to Green Bay fills up fast; United is also adding nonstop flights
Fans haven’t waited that long to book their plane ticket to the Nov. 13 Packers-Cowboys game at Lambeau Field.
Only 13 seats remain on American’s nonstop flight departing Dallas Fort Worth International Airport at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 12 and arriving in Green Bay at 1 p.m. First class seats are have sold out The return flight, which leaves Green Bay at 11:25 a.m. Nov. 14 and arrives in Dallas at 2:05 a.m., still has about 31 seats available.
Available round-trip tickets start at $1,800, according to American’s online booking system.
Piette said the difference in sales between inbound and outbound flights from Dallas could be a sign that visitors are extending their stay beyond the game.
“While they’re up here, maybe they plan to take advantage of some of the other things that Green Bay has to offer,” Piette said.
United Airlines also scheduled nonstop service between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport for this same weekend.
The United flight departs Dallas at 2:10 PM on November 12 and arrives in Green Bay at 4:49 PM. The return flight on November 14 departs Green Bay at 10:55 a.m. and arrives in Dallas at 1:47 p.m.
More than half of the seats have already been sold on both United flights. Round-trip tickets for United flights start at $1,002, according to United’s online booking system.
For those not interested in football, other nonstop flights start at $125
If you’ve been counting, four American flights have been added to the Green Bay Austin Strabuel International Airport schedule. But really, Piette said, American added eight flights
Game day flights require American to find an additional jet and crew to operate the flights. It turns out, Piette said, that the airline will fly the plane out of Green Bay after each of American’s four announced flights.
Details were not announced in July, but you can reserve seats on all four nonstop flights through American’s online reservation system. Please note that these flights will sometimes do this no get to town in time for the game.
Additional one-way flights are:
- Friday, September 23: Departs Tampa at 9:10 PM and arrives Green Bay at 11:32 PM. Rates start at $280.
- Monday, September 26: Departs Green Bay at 12:23 PM and arrives at Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 1:33 PM. Rates start at $254.
- Saturday, November 12: Departs Green Bay at 1:45 PM and arrives in Dallas at 4:25 PM Fares start at $124.
- Sunday, November 13: Departs Dallas at 6:30 PM and arrives in Green Bay at 9:00 PM. Rates start at $124.
Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.