JUN 13, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT

Operation: get to the game

KNICKSin5

Two people, two cities, one tip-off in San Antonio. You fly in from Albuquerque, she flies in from NYC. Ranked for what actually matters here: price, no insane backtracking for you, and the most direct routing that exists. Flying together is optional.

YOU Albuquerque
at
SAT San Antonio
meet
HER New York

Clock is ticking: the 30% Chase to Southwest transfer bonus ends June 5 at 11:59 PM ET. Price the award on southwest.com, then transfer the points before the cutoff.

!

There are no nonstops to San Antonio. From anywhere.

Not from NYC, not from Albuquerque. Every way in connects once, usually through Dallas, Charlotte, Denver, or Atlanta. So a direct flight down is off the table for both of you. The good news: the way home can be nonstop. United flies SAT to Newark direct for $399, and Delta flies SAT to JFK direct for $434. So you book the cheapest one-stop down, then fly home in a straight line.

On the board

The options

Sort

The Points Play, leg by leg

All four legs on Southwest, paid with Chase points. You skip the red-eye and the backtrack, you both land San Antonio at 4:45 PM Saturday with time before tip, and you fly home together Monday. Free cancellation the whole way, so a moved game date costs you nothing.

YOU Southwest, on points
Sat Jun 13 · sleep in, no red-eye
ABQ 1 stop via DEN SAT
9:55 AMlands 4:45 PM
Southwest · about 27k points
Mon Jun 15 · home together
SAT 1 stop via DEN LGA
12:25 PMlands 8:50 PM
Southwest · same flight as her
HER Southwest, on points
Sat Jun 13
LGA 1 stop via DEN SAT
7:15 AMlands 4:45 PM
Southwest · lands the same minute as you
Mon Jun 15 · home together
SAT 1 stop via DEN LGA
12:25 PMlands 8:50 PM
Southwest · same flight as you

Whole trip for two lands near 78,000 Chase UR after the 30% bonus, plus about $25 in taxes. Price the exact points on southwest.com first, transfer that many UR plus a buffer before the June 5 cutoff, then book. Transfers are one way, so do not overshoot by much. Prefer cash and a nonstop home? Option 02 is your plan.