Citrus Bowl-bound Hawkeyes resurrect fan charter flight

IOWA CITY — After nixing the fan-favorite chartered flight to last year’s bowl game — due to a nationwide pilot shortage — University of Iowa Athletics is back in the chartered air game this time, although only one fan-specific plane is scheduled to fly to Orlando for the Hawkeyes’ third New Year’s Day appearance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

With three-night air and land packages starting to sell minutes after the Hawkeye’s bowl invitation was unveiled Sunday, the Cedar Rapids-based travel agency Destinations Unlimited as of noon Monday had sold more than 150 — with seats still left on the plane.

“We anticipate the plane will be sold out in the next day or so,” Destinations Unlimited owner and Chief Executive Officer Duane Jasper told The Gazette, noting the agency operating under contract with the university doesn’t plan to add a second jet “as planes and flight crews have been difficult to schedule since the pandemic due to early retirements.”

The 17th-ranked Hawkeyes’ face off against the 21st-ranked University of Tennessee Volunteers in the Citrus Bowl — which has changed its sponsorship and branding 10 times since debuting as the Tangerine Bowl in 1947. The contest will mark UI’s 36th bowl game appearance.

The Hawkeyes are 1-1 all time at the Citrus Bowl, and 1-2 all time against the Volunteers — losing their last meeting 45-28 in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville.

The Iowa State Cyclones also are bowl-bound, snagging an invitation to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis against the University of Memphis Tigers. It marks Iowa State’s sixth bowl game in the last seven seasons, and its 18th overall bowl appearance.

The Cyclones won their only matchup against the Tigers 21-20 in the 2017 version of the same AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Unlike the Hawkeyes, the Cyclones are offering only land-only travel packages — including hotel accommodations, game transportation, concierge services and various parties and pep rallies.

“This is one is the closest Big 12 bowl games, so economically it did not make sense to offer a charter air package,” said Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Matt Shoultz, noting the about 10-hour drive and Dec. 29 date could make Cyclone travel more likely.

“We believe there will be a solid showing of Cyclone fans,” he said.

The Hawkeyes, in addition to the charter air package, are offering a three-night land-only package including hotel accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and access to Hawkeye parties, souvenirs and event credentials.

While the Hawkeye packages include game tickets, the Cyclone packages don’t — indicating seats can be bought directly through Cyclone Athletics. Iowa State prioritizes its ticket allotment to season-ticket holders and donors, as does the UI.

The UI Athletics ticket office is accepting requests through Sunday from season ticket holders, donors and UI alumni. “If tickets remain after the priority process, they will be made available for the public on Wednesday, Dec. 13,” according to UI Athletics.

UI Athletics didn’t immediately provide The Gazette with its ticket allotment.

Iowa State has been allotted 8,000 tickets for its game — with about 1,200 reserved for guests of student-athlete, coaches and staff. The remainder, prioritized for season-ticket holders, went on sale starting at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Cyclone travel packages range in price from $825 per person for two nights to $935 for three nights. The Hawkeye air packages cost between $1,899 for kids to $3,099 per person depending on room accommodations. Its land-only package prices range from $499 for children to $1,699 for an adult wanting a single room.

Last year, when the Hawkeyes didn’t offer a chartered flight to its appearance at the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Destinations Unlimited CEO Jasper said he couldn’t recall a time in his company’s 25 years offering Hawkeye Fan Travel Packages that a charter wasn’t included.

This year, with the flight again among the options, Jasper said interest is trending “on par with previous years,” and he’ll know more as sales progress this week.

Seats to the games — not including travel — also can be bought through the bowl websites or Ticketmaster. Seat prices to the Citrus Bowl range from $78 to $1,800 at the club level. Tickets to the Liberty Bowl range from $70 to $280.

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