Travel for Championship Qualifying Teams

[Kims Robot]

As a rookie team, we are trying to figure out how we book travel to Atlanta if we qualify at one of the regionals, since we can't preregister. It seems like it would be a lot more expensive, and difficult to schedule.

How many teams had to do this last year or the year before? Is there any way to get the team on the same plane? Does FIRST save package deals for teams in this situation? Is there any way to get reasonably priced flights? Will we be able to get blocks of rooms, or will everyone be scattered?

Is there anything we can do ahead of time? (other than fundraising of course... we are raising with the goal of having enough to go, so that we can always save it for next year if we dont).

Any ideas/suggestions? Im sure this has come up before, but I wasnt able to find what I was looking for in a search.