Airline Has Just the Ticket for Blahs in Indianapolis

Anywhere but here.

That was the sentiment among the more than 1,500 people who lined up Wednesday hoping to leave Indianapolis this weekend with one of Northwest Airlines’ “Mystery Fares.”

“I don’t really care where I go, I just need a break,” said Diana Whitsett of Indianapolis.

The round-trip tickets for one-day trips to various cities went on sale at 11 a.m. for $59 each or $99 per couple, on a first-come, first-served basis. The catch is that travelers won’t learn which cities they will visit until they arrive at Indianapolis International Airport on Saturday morning.

Pam Abner of Edinburgh, about 25 miles south of the airport, set up camp at 3 a.m. to be first in line. The eight-hour wait paid off with six tickets to somewhere.

“No matter where we go, we’ll take it and we’ll enjoy it,” Abner said.

The 300 tickets, which could be bought in blocks of up to six, sold out in an hour and 45 minutes, said Northwest spokesman Jim Faulkner.

Customers were given vouchers to bring with them when they return to the airport at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Most of the travelers will return to Indianapolis by 11 p.m.

The travelers’ mystery destinations include Northwest’s three domestic hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis and Memphis, Tenn. Flights to the remaining 12 cities connect at the hubs.

Northwest wouldn’t reveal the 15 destinations, but the airline said New Orleans, Philadelphia and Buffalo are among them.

Northwest passed out coupons worth $35, or $50 off future ticket purchases, to those who waited in line but didn’t receive one of the tickets.

It was obvious to late arrivals that the tickets would be gone long before they worked their way through the line, which snaked its way from the ticket counter down an escalator and around a baggage area.

Once they saw the line, some turned and left. One hopeful traveler, Jason Wright, lurked near the front of the line trying to strike a deal with early arrivals to give up their seats.

“I just have to get out of Indianapolis for one day,” said Wright, who eventually purchased four vouchers for $290 from a couple who had arrived at 7 a.m.