Best I can find is $141 to Detroit via American, and $139 from Chicago via Virgin, for a total of $280.
one day later
FUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! The price of the outbound American ticket I wanted increased by $60 overnight. Hurricane Isaac?
Hmm… I can get negate the $60 if I fly into Chicago via Virgin and then ride a Megabus to Detroit. Arrive in Chicago at 11:55pm, depart for Detroit at 7:30am, for a total travel time of 18h 25m.
Oh! A 20% off Virgin promo code. $114 from Chicago with promo code. If I fly into Chicago too, I can save… 280 – 228 = $52.
one day later
FUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! The price of the inbound Virgin ticket I wanted increased by $25 overnight.
[purchases inbound Virgin ticket » $138 with promo code]
Saved one dollar, but fuck, I could've saved $25.
If I'm gonna spend an additional $60 on an outbound flight, I should book this $200, 6h 43m Delta flight.
one day later
Oh! An 8h 54m outbound Delta flight that's $141.
[purchases outbound Delta ticket » $141]
one day later
Oh! An 8h 40m outbound American flight that's $141. I can save even more and arrive earlier with that 5% off American promo code I found.
[cancels outbound Delta ticket, purchases outbound American ticket with promo code » $134]
one day later
FUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! That $200, 6h 43m outbound Delta flight is now $141, but I can't cancel my outbound American ticket without incurring a $150 fee, which is more than what I paid for it.
one day later
FUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! A 7h 50m outbound American flight is now the same price as the 8h 40m American flight I booked, but I can't change flights without incurring a $150 fee.
one day later
FUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! The $138 inbound Virgin flight I booked is now available for $124, but I can't cancel my existing Virgin ticket without incurring a $100 fee.
What could have been: $255, 11h 23m round-trip.
What is: $279, 13h 20m round-trip.
The $24 I could have saved is driving me mental. Sooo irritated…