{"response": {"Key": "HOU-MSP", "orig": {"code": "HOU", "type": "airport", "city": "Houston", "fullCity": "Houston, Texas", "airport": "William P Hobby Airport"}, "dest": {"code": "MSP", "type": "airport", "city": "Minneapolis", "fullCity": "Minneapolis, Minnesota", "airport": "Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport"}, "faq": {"q0": {"question": "What is the typical flight duration from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "The flight from Houston to Minneapolis is about 1,060 miles and typically takes 2 hours and 43 minutes nonstop. The return leg is slightly longer at 2 hours and 54 minutes due to prevailing winds.", "methodology": "Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.", "toolsUsed": ["flight_schedule"]}, "q1": {"question": "Are there any direct flights from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "Yes, Sun Country Airlines flies nonstop from Houston Hobby (HOU) to Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. There are about 9 weekly flights with departures in the morning around 8:00 AM and in the evening between 6:05 and 6:42 PM. The flight takes roughly 2 hours and 43 minutes.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines", "flight_schedule"]}, "q3": {"question": "What are the ground transportation options in Minneapolis?", "answer": "At MSP, the light-rail Blue Line is the most efficient and popular way to reach both downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America, with trains running frequently from the terminal. Taxis, ride-share services like Uber and Lyft, and rental cars are readily available, with rideshares often being the quickest door-to-door option. Several hotels also offer complimentary shuttle services. The light rail is generally the most used for downtown access due to its low cost and reliability, while private vehicles are common for broader metro travel.", "toolsUsed": ["article_lookup"], "references": [{"url": "https://mspairport.com/about-msp/visiting-the-area", "title": "Visiting the Area | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.mspairport.com/hi/node/1001", "title": "Visiting the Area", "time_published": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%E2%80%93Saint_Paul_International_Airport", "title": "Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-18T07:37:10Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20transit%20routes%20in%20Minneapolis%E2%80%93Saint%20Paul", "title": "List of transit routes in Minneapolis–Saint Paul", "time_published": "2026-04-27T22:48:13Z"}, {"url": "https://www.mspairport.com/it/node/1101", "title": "Hotel Shuttles | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q4": {"question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "The cheapest months to fly from Houston to Minneapolis are September and August, with average fares around $315 and $323 respectively, while October is the most expensive at $408 on average, followed by June at $384 and May at $359.", "methodology": "This 'good deal' estimate shows a representative best price for each departure date across roughly a 12-month window (about 3 months back and 9 months forward). It is built from real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, accumulated into a price history for each departure date. Rather than weighting all of that history equally, we apply exponential time decay so recent prices dominate — a price seen yesterday counts almost in full, one from about a month ago roughly a third, and prices from a few months back very little — giving a figure that tracks today's market instead of a stale long-run average. Clear price outliers are removed before any calculation, departure dates with no observations are filled in from nearby dates, and the resulting curve is lightly smoothed so it reads as a clean seasonal trend rather than day-to-day noise.", "toolsUsed": ["seasonal_prices"]}, "q5": {"question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "Booking 6 to 9 weeks ahead typically yields the best fares on this route, averaging around $228, with the single cheapest day 65 days out at $220. During summer and holiday peaks, prices tend to rise faster closer to departure, so aiming for the early side of that window is wise.", "methodology": "This booking-window guidance is built from the same real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, re-grouped by how many days before departure each price was seen (from the departure day out to about 180 days ahead) across the route's price history. At each booking lead time we report the 25th-percentile price — the cheaper end of what travelers were quoted, rather than the rock-bottom minimum (which can be a fluke) or the average (which is pulled up by expensive last-minute fares). The buy-or-wait advice then applies a risk premium that grows as departure approaches, since seat availability shrinks and prices become less predictable; using that adjusted curve we flag windows where waiting is likely to save a meaningful amount (at least $20 or 5%) versus windows where booking now is the better call. Isolated single-day recommendations are filtered out, so the advice only reflects a window that holds for several days in a row.", "toolsUsed": ["booking_timing"]}, "q6": {"question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "No overnight (red‑eye) flights operate from Houston Hobby to Minneapolis–St. Paul — neither nonstop nor connecting with an overnight long leg. The schedule shows only daytime and early‑evening departures on this route.", "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": ["redeye_flights"]}, "q8": {"question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Houston and Minneapolis?", "answer": "Common layovers include Dallas, Denver, Chicago, and Atlanta, which offer frequent flights and efficient connections while keeping total travel time competitive."}, "q10": {"question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to Minneapolis?", "answer": "May, June, and September offer pleasant weather and fewer tourists than the peak summer months."}, "q11": {"question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "For this domestic U.S. flight, bring a Real ID-compliant driver's license or passport, have a payment method for baggage fees, and carry any required health documents."}, "q12": {"question": "Which airport should I use in Minneapolis?", "answer": "Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is the only commercial airport serving the Twin Cities. It is located about 10 miles south of downtown Minneapolis and is a major hub for Delta Air Lines."}, "q13": {"question": "How do I get to William P Hobby Airport from the city center?", "answer": "From downtown Houston, the most popular and fastest way to reach William P. Hobby Airport is a ride‑share or taxi, taking about 20–30 minutes via I‑45 with costs in the mid‑range. Public transit is limited, but METRO bus 40 runs from downtown to the airport roughly every 30 minutes, offering the lowest cost option at the expense of a longer travel time. Shuttle services are also available from many hotels and private operators. Driving yourself and parking at the airport is straightforward, with on‑site garages and economy lots available at moderate daily rates.", "toolsUsed": ["article_lookup"], "references": [{"url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/ground-transportation", "title": "HOU Ground Transportation | Airport Shuttle, Taxi, Uber, Lyft & Rent Car Houston"}, {"url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou", "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby", "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport", "title": "William P. Hobby Airport", "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport", "title": "William P. Hobby Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"}, {"url": "https://faa.gov/flight_deck/hef", "title": "Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field (HEF) | Federal Aviation Administration", "time_published": "2026-03-10T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q14": {"question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at Minneapolis airport?", "answer": "Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has the on-site InterContinental Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hotel connected directly to Terminal 1 via a skybridge near Gate C25, with a 24-hour complimentary shuttle to both terminals. There are no capsule hotels or sleeping pods inside the airport, but nearby hotels with shuttle service are available.", "toolsUsed": ["article_lookup"], "references": [{"url": "http://www.sleepinginairports.net/usa/minneapolis.htm", "title": "Minneapolis Airport Guide (MSP) - Sleeping in Airports", "time_published": "2026-04-13T19:33:12Z"}, {"url": "https://www.mspairport.com/airport/site-hotel", "title": "On-site Hotel | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%E2%80%93Saint%20Paul%20International%20Airport", "title": "Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-30T16:56:38Z"}, {"url": "http://mspairport.com/zh-hans/node/1016", "title": "Contact & FAQ | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://sleepinginairports.net/guides/minneapolis-airport-guide.htm", "title": "Minneapolis Airport Guide (MSP) - Sleeping in Airports", "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png", "time_published": "2018-08-08T21:16:18Z"}, {"url": "https://www.mspairport.com/it/node/1726", "title": "On-site Hotel", "time_published": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q15": {"question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport?", "answer": "Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has two quiet seating areas in Terminal 1, located on the Mezzanine Level overlooking the Airport Mall, which are suitable for meditation or prayer. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout both terminals, though specific details on currency exchange offices are not listed among the airport's published amenities.", "toolsUsed": ["article_lookup"], "references": [{"url": "http://www.mspairport.com/airport/service-amenities", "title": "Service Amenities | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.mspairport.com/airport/site-hotel", "title": "On-site Hotel | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%E2%80%93Saint%20Paul%20International%20Airport", "title": "Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-30T16:56:38Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%E2%80%93Saint_Paul_International_Airport", "title": "Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-18T07:37:10Z"}, {"url": "http://mspairport.com/zh-hans/node/1016", "title": "Contact & FAQ | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q16": {"question": "Are there accessible services or children's facilities at the Houston and Minneapolis airports?", "answer": "At Houston Hobby (HOU), wheelchair and mobility assistance is arranged through your airline—request it at least 48 hours in advance—and the airport offers accessible shuttles, tactile signage, ADA‑compliant restrooms, companion care facilities, and TSA Cares support. Minneapolis‑Saint Paul (MSP) provides similar airline‑arranged wheelchair services, accessible parking and ground transportation, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, a Navigating MSP practice‑run program for travelers with autism, and Travelers Assistance volunteers who can offer American Sign Language interpreting and infant supplies in emergencies. Both airports recommend contacting your airline early to set up mobility help, and MSP’s Travelers Assistance booths and HOU’s companion care restroom near Gate 45 add extra support for families and passengers with disabilities.", "toolsUsed": ["article_lookup"], "references": [{"url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/related-content/airport-assistance-disabled-travelers", "title": "What does airport assistance for disabled travelers include?", "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou", "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby", "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport", "title": "William P. Hobby Airport", "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport", "title": "William P. Hobby Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"}, {"url": "http://faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/procedures/application/index.cfm?directory=2016122829046305004-HOU-NDBR&event=directory&nasrId=HOU&type=ndbr", "title": "Airport Procedures Information Gateway", "time_published": "2025-12-03T16:08:12Z"}, {"url": "https://www.mspairport.com/airport/service-amenities/assistance-and-information", "title": "Assistance and Information | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "http://mspairport.com/airport/accessibility-archive", "title": "Accessibility | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%E2%80%93Saint%20Paul%20International%20Airport", "title": "Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-30T16:56:38Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis-Saint_Paul_International_Airport", "title": "Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport - Wikipedia", "time_published": "2003-07-08T23:54:13Z"}, {"url": "http://mspairport.com/traveling-soon", "title": "Tips for Your Trip | MSP Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q17": {"question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "Nonstop flights from Houston Hobby to Minneapolis are operated by United, most commonly on the Airbus A319 and Embraer 175. On one-stop itineraries, the long leg is typically a Boeing 737-800 or 737 MAX 8 via Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, or Chicago Midway on Southwest and American. The exact aircraft can vary by day and airline, and Wi‑Fi and seatback entertainment are widely available on these routes.", "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": ["route_aircraft"]}, "q18": {"question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "From Houston Hobby (HOU) to Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP), only Sun Country Airlines (SY) operates nonstop service. Sun Country is an independent carrier and does not belong to any of the three major global alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, or SkyTeam), so there are no alliance airlines on this route's nonstop service — other alliances may serve it via connections.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold. Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines", "flight_schedule", "redeye_flights"]}, "q20": {"question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Houston?", "answer": "William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) does not have any traditional airline-branded lounges such as a Delta Sky Club, American Admirals Club, or United Club. The only lounge-like option is a Priority Pass-accessible XpresSpa near Gate 45 in the Central Concourse, offering 25-minute sessions on massage chairs or hydromassage loungers as a lounge visit. There is also a separate spa service available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, though it may not be a full lounge. For a conventional lounge with complimentary food and drinks, you would need to fly from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) instead.", "toolsUsed": ["article_lookup"], "references": [{"url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/related-content/hou-tips-for-first-time-travelers", "title": "Navigating William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): Tips for First-Time Travelers", "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.prioritypass.com/pt-PT/lounges/usa/houston-tx-william-p-hobby/hou2s-xpresspa", "title": "XWELL HOU AIRPORT Houston TX William P. Hobby | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport", "title": "William P. Hobby Airport", "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"}, {"url": "https://prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/william-p-hobby", "title": "William P. Hobby Airport HOU Lounges - HOU Airport Guide and lounges.  | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou", "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby", "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"}]}, "q21": {"question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "On domestic flights from Houston to Minneapolis, Basic Economy fares often exclude a full‑size carry‑on and may not include a checked bag. Standard economy typically allows one carry‑on and a personal item, while checked bags usually incur a fee."}, "q22": {"question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Houston to Minneapolis?", "answer": "On flights from Houston to Minneapolis, you'll typically find Economy and standard recliner First Class, with flat-bed Business being uncommon and Premium Economy generally not available."}, "q23": {"question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?", "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and premium tickets typically allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy rarely does."}}}}