Last-Minute Ideas For Getting To The 2014 Super Bowl

Superbowl Sunday is coming right up on February 2 and though it's bound to be a busy weekend in New Jersey where the game is being held, there are still opportunities to get there using points and miles - especially if you're a Broncos or Seahawks fan and want to see your hometown team play.

In fact, American Airlines just announced that US Airways would be operating two additional direct flights on A321's from Seattle to Newark on Friday, January 31, and three additional returns on Monday, February 3. They're only available for purchase via US Airways, not American.

Unfortunately, there's not award space via USAirways.com those days:

However, there are still plenty of options to snag awards to the big game! I kept my searches to NYC area airports, but you should also have some luck looking into Philadelphia, Hartford and even Washington DC if you are willing to hop on a train to get to the game. The one problem I did have was finding Delta saver availability to any nearby cities, but you never know what might open up at the last minute with Delta, and you can save money by booking last-minute awards through them because they don't charge last-minute booking fees. In the meantime, here are some of the other options.

DENVER

Outbound from Denver to New York on Friday, January 31 - there are plenty of options in business class on US Airways:

And if you just want to shave it a little closer and fly on Saturday, February 1, you'll have even more options including these:

Then if you want to return on Monday, February 3, there are a lot of flights with Saver Economy availability on United:

And in business/first on US Airways:

I also did a quick search through American Airlines as well, and in addition to the US Airways flights, it also turned up a few more options including economy saver awards on January 31:

And quite a few returns on February 3 on American flights via DFW and Miami:

Including flights out of LaGuardia and Westchester on American in business class:

While they're not the most direct itineraries - they're still an option.

SEATTLE

On January 30 you can get from Seattle to the New York area in either economy or business/first at the saver level on both United and US Airways (some of the awards listed are mixed because you would transit through Philadelphia - so you could consider just booking through there and taking the train up to Newark or New York):

And then there is plenty of business/first availability on US Airways on Friday, January 31:

Then for the return, there's a business class award via Houston available on Monday, February 3:

And a lot more options on both United and US Airways on Tuesday, February 4:

Although the returns are a bit limited for now and it's bound to be a busy travel time, but I suspect even more last-minute availability will open up if you were willing to chance it.

Meanwhile, on American, there are also some options to/from Seattle departing on January 31 with a leg on Alaska:

But there are no saver economy awards on the 3rd at this time. However, on the 4th there are mixed award options on American, US Airways and Alaska:

The business class options on January 4 are all on US Airways, and those on the 3rd all include US Airways flights from various area airports including Islip and Westchester as well as Newark and LaGuardia:

ACCOMMODATIONS

There are also opportunities to use your points to stay nearby in New York City, Jersey City and Hoboken. I searched for rates/awards from January 31-February 3 - so three nights - and kept my searches to New York City since I figure most folks would want to stay in the city but shuttle out to the stadium for the game, just to see what was available. Though room rates are high, there is plenty of award availability.

Carlson

Club Carlson has a few available properties in the area including this Manhattan hotel:

And the Country Inn & Suites in Newark:

Hilton

Both the Hilton Times Square and the one Midtown have both paid and award stays available (though look at those points rates!):

As do several other Manhattan properties:

Hyatt

Every Hyatt hotel in Manhattan has both paid and award nights available those dates. The Andaz 5th Avenue is a particularly good deal with points redemptions at 25,000 points for rooms that would cost $905 otherwise!

IHG Rewards

All the IHG properties I found in Manhattan were offering both paid and award stays at this time including the Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza near Times Square and the Hotel Indigo in Chelsea.

Marriott

Marriott has a ton of hotels in the area with rooms available for both paid and award stays including the Marriott Marquis:

The two Renaissance properties in the city:

And both Ritz-Carltons in the city (though that will run you quite a few points!):

Starwood

In New York City alone, many of Starwood's properties still have rooms available at both paid rates and for points including the Chatwal, the St. Regis, the Westin Times Square and the W Union Square:

The W Hoboken has rooms for a whopping $832 a night - or 16,000 points:

So...there are still plenty of options and though hotel rooms will cost a fortune, there seems to be a preponderance of award rooms available and if you're a diehard football fan who has been hoarding those hotel points, it might just be time to put them to use.

Any of you plan on going to the Superbowl? Tell us about the awards you book and send in your pictures - I'd love to see shots from the game!
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