What airport do we use?

PFN (Bay County International Airport - Panama City, FL)
VPS (Okaloosa Regional Airport - Valparaiso, FL - aka- Niceville)

Each are about the same distance and time travel to Grayton Beach.

Smiling JOe is right, but lately we've had the most luck with VPS. We also occasionally use Pensacola due to great deals now and then on Air Tran and other airlines - not sure if they go to your airports. Pensacola is about 1.5 - 1.75 hours from the west end of 30A as long as there isn't traffic.

We tend to find the best deals flying from Pensacola (PNS) to Midway, but occasionally you can get a good enough deal flying into Valparaiso (VPS).
I don't know if any airline goes from Midway to VPS. Our best deals have always been Midway to PNS or O'Hare to VPS

AirTran and Delta are the best airlines to start your search with.

We're from Chicago area too. We use VPS, PFN, and sometimes PNS.
We've never flown out of Midway, only ORD. And almost always Delta thru Atlanta. Occasionally NW Air from Ord/Mem/VPS.

I've never flown into Midway, however; I fly to Lambert (St. Louis) and always have to catch a connecting either at Memphis or Atlanta depending on who has the best deals, but I always fly out of Panama City (PFN). Also just for the record I found some great deals on Hotwire the last time I had to fly, which was on short notice.

You can also check out Atlanta. Kind of a pretty drive to Sowal if you don't mind driving 6 hours or so. It's usually $50-$100 cheaper per ticket than other options (for us from Boston), and since there's five of us flying, it's a significant savings.

VPS is great - not busy - usually on time -clean, etc...and I can usually find some deals going from there toward the west...

From O'Hare to VPS you have Delta - NW and now as of about a year ago American. Lately American has been having the best prices - but you have to fly through Dallas. Prices are usually around 300 RT. My son just booked tickets on NW for the end of November for 279. RT.

If you're looking to book a Delta flight, check the flight numbers carefully. The area airports are served by a mix of Delta- the parent company proper (pretty much midpack in terms of large airline quality) and Delta's commuter service (at one time named Satan's Commuter Airline by a major American custmer service survey)

As you might guess, I'd suggest avioding Delta's commuter flights altogether. Delta's also prone to more flight delays than other area carriers, probably because of congestion problems at their Atlanta hub.

If you're looking to book a Delta flight, check the flight numbers carefully. The area airports are served by a mix of Delta- the parent company proper (pretty much midpack in terms of large airline quality) and Delta's commuter service (at one time named Satan's Commuter Airline by a major American custmer service survey)

As you might guess, I'd suggest avioding Delta's commuter flights altogether. Delta's also prone to more flight delays than other area carriers, probably because of congestion problems at their Atlanta hub.

Well there's not a lot of other choices. I will say this tho, when I fly Delta, I NEVER check my luggage. Always carry on. I've missed too many connecting flights because of flight delays, or my luggage has been lost.

We're from Chicago area too. We use VPS, PFN, and sometimes PNS.
We've never flown out of Midway, only ORD. And almost always Delta thru Atlanta. Occasionally NW Air from Ord/Mem/VPS.

This makes me wonder...when was the last time you were here, Johnrudy? Shouldn't you be making reservations?

This makes me wonder...when was the last time you were here, Johnrudy? Shouldn't you be making reservations?

There just aren't enough months in the year. No free time for ME.

There just aren't enough months in the year. No free time for ME.

Bring the family!!!

Well there's not a lot of other choices. I will say this tho, when I fly Delta, I NEVER check my luggage. Always carry on. I've missed too many connecting flights because of flight delays, or my luggage has been lost.

Delta's luggage problem usually happens when you connect through Atlanta and one flight is Delta Connection (commuter) and the other is Delta proper. More than one Delta baggage service agent has told me, after I lost a bag, that they don't do a good job of getting bags back and forth between commuters and big Delta. My formerly chronic bag problem with them got much better after I started making sure my connections through Atlanta were at least 90 minutes.

Delta's luggage problem usually happens when you connect through Atlanta and one flight is Delta Connection (commuter) and the other is Delta proper. More than one Delta baggage service agent has told me, after I lost a bag, that they don't do a good job of getting bags back and forth between commuters and big Delta. My formerly chronic bag problem with them got much better after I started making sure my connections through Atlanta were at least 90 minutes.

Yes, I book a minimum of 90 min. between flights in Atlanta. Sometimes it still dosen't help.

There just aren't enough months in the year. No free time for ME.

JohnRudy, I am shocked to my very core! Please tell me that I am reading you wrong. Are you saying that you no longer have any free time for SoWal? You've turned into an armchair SoWaller? No time for the real thing? Don't you love the feel of SoWal sand between your toes any more?

JohnRudy, tell me, please tell me that SoWal will be in your 2007 plans. Otherwise I shall be disallusioned about you.

JohnRudy, I am shocked to my very core! Please tell me that I am reading you wrong. Are you saying that you no longer have any free time for SoWal? You've turned into an armchair SoWaller? No time for the real thing? Don't you love the feel of SoWal sand between your toes any more?

JohnRudy, tell me, please tell me that SoWal will be in your 2007 plans. Otherwise I shall be disallusioned about you.

Oh, it's always in my plans. I DREAM of the beach. It's my "quiet place" as Dr. Phil would say. We always try to plan something. Now, it's college visits on a lot of upcoming 3 day holidays. However, I have blocked off time on all of our calendars for the first week that school is out for summer. Before band camps, music camps.

Not to mention I just got an email from my boss about 2 minutes ago wondering where some of the work is (hey, I chose to NOT work over the weekend!) and I'm about to quit my friggin' job in the next 2 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy sh*t I'm pi$$ed