Cheapest Airlines from DTW or FNT, Michigan?

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

We used to fly Southwest, but they no longer do non-stops...a must for us. We've done Airtran twice now, but with the baggage fees and seats fees...yikes! It doesn't end up being such a great deal. Is there anyone else I'm forgetting??

 

[maxiesmom]

Air Tran is usually the cheapest out of Flint, or Delta. With Delta you don't have to pay for seats, even though you have to pay for bags. And Delta usually has some great deals out of Detroit, if you look for a while.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think Delta may have discontinued their non-stop service out of FNT. AirTran still flies out of there, but it seems their DTW fares are a few dollars lower. From DTW, it's usually between Delta and AirTran, all costs considered. Every once in a while Spirit beats them both, but I would not fly Spirit on a bet.

Ultimately, the cost of flying has gone up, so comparing to what it "used to be" isn't ever going to make you feel great about the total all-in price.

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

We fly Delta out of DTW all the time. They offer the most non-stop flights out of the area. We are flying Delta next month non-stop from DTW to MCO next month...they were THE CHEAPEST, including baggage charges. I often find them to be the least expensive departures from DTW, even factoring in luggage charges.

 

[maxiesmom]

Throwing in some random dates (june 9-16) here is what I came up with:

$282 on Delta out of Flint. Brian you are right, I cannot find a non-stop on Delta out of Flint anymore. And only 1 on AirTran.
$224 on Delta out of Grand Rapids.
$158 on Delta out of Detroit.

Note that those prices do NOT include taxes.

AirTran was a little cheaper out of both Flint and Grand Rapids. But they couldn't beat the Delta price out of DTW. They are at $194.

OP I think Detroit is probably still the cheapest option out there. If you can try changing your dates by one or two days. Sometimes it makes a big difference. Good luck!

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Thanks! I'll definitley look into Delta out of Detroit! We just love flying out of Flint....so small and uncrowded...but this time we need to cut costs where we can...so we will most likely go out of Detroit.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have flown out of Flint a few times, before Air Tran came to Grand Rapids. Flint is such a nice, small airport. But GRR isn't too bad either.

 

[Nadjalu]

I like flying Delta out of DTW. Airtran will be my alternate from now on.

We leave tomorrow and got suckered into a Spirit deal. In the end we pay $30 per person more than if I would've went with the highest Delta price I seen. UGH....

 

[GEB@okw]

We fly out of Grand Rapids or Flint and Detroit. Always on Delta. Remember the $70 week parking fee in Detroit.

 

[Brian Noble]

We just love flying out of Flint....so small and uncrowded.

I did too. It's a shame that Delta dropped that flight. We liked it a lot.

 

[youngb]

We fly out of detroit using delta as well. In response to the one poster about parking you can park at the Qwik park and take th shuttle to the airport and there is usually a coupon online for it.

 

[lilandvisma]

Is it really that bad? I've found the best deal as of right now through spirit out of DTW. We live in Alma so Flint would be much more convenient but the cost is about a $400 difference Delta is right in between the two but are they really better to fly with ? I am so confused, sorry to "hijack" lol.

 

[maxiesmom]

Is it really that bad? I've found the best deal as of right now through spirit out of DTW. We live in Alma so Flint would be much more convenient but the cost is about a $400 difference Delta is right in between the two but are they really better to fly with ? I am so confused, sorry to "hijack" lol.

I have not flown on Spirit, but I really like both Delta and AirTran. Though I usually end up on Delta, as they have the most flights out of my home airport.

 

[mimomlile]

We usually go with Airtran out of FNT. We are closer to FNT, so for the little bit more it ends up being after we save gas $ driving, cheaper parking fees, plus less traffic hassle and busy airport hassle.

Keep in mind that I only fly on the cheapest days, get the tickets as soon as they are released, and only fly non-stop (to avoid an additional airport fee.

I love the Airtran non-stop schedule as well. You get to make the most of your arrival and departure days by arriving early and leaving late.

 

[Poohs Pal]

We usually go with Airtran out of FNT. We are closer to FNT, so for the little bit more it ends up being after we save gas $ driving, cheaper parking fees, plus less traffic hassle and busy airport hassle.

Keep in mind that I only fly on the cheapest days, get the tickets as soon as they are released, and only fly non-stop (to avoid an additional airport fee.

I love the Airtran non-stop schedule as well. You get to make the most of your arrival and departure days by arriving early and leaving late.

My choice for all the same reasons. At FNT you can park, check in and go through security in the amount of time it takes just to park at DTW, lol

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

WE too love FNT for all those reasons. Can someone tell me what is the cheapest they've gotten to MCO?? I'm wondering when we should book? The cheapest I've seen...and what we paid last year was $89 each way.

 

[Starr W.]

WE too love FNT for all those reasons. Can someone tell me what is the cheapest they've gotten to MCO?? I'm wondering when we should book? The cheapest I've seen...and what we paid last year was $89 each way.

I flew Spirit last MLK weekend, got one of the $9 dollar fares on the return. Total cost for the 4 of us with seat fees $550. That was for Friday am returning Monday night.

Delta this year for MLK weekend(Thurs night-Monday night) 161 pp. and no bag fees since I have the Delta Amex.

I get the 4 of us down for Thanksgiving under $1000 total, always on Airtran

 

[Colleen27]

We've flown with every one of the current non-stop options at some point - Airtran from Flint and Airtran, Spirit, and Delta from Detroit. They all have their downsides - Delta's price and having to deal with the big terminal, Spirit's fees for everything, Airtran's habit of changing flight schedules. I just go with whichever is cheapest, including all the nickle & diming, and pack my patience.

All things equal I'd much rather go out of Flint but Airtran's current schedule doesn't work for us and they've been consistantly quite a bit more expensive than going out of Detroit (like double or triple the DTW sale fares). I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with the routes and schedules once the Airtran-Southwest merger is complete, because if they offered a non-stop I'd take SW over all the current options.

 

[Starr W.]

We've flown with every one of the current non-stop options at some point - Airtran from Flint and Airtran, Spirit, and Delta from Detroit. They all have their downsides - Delta's price and having to deal with the big terminal, Spirit's fees for everything, Airtran's habit of changing flight schedules. I just go with whichever is cheapest, including all the nickle & diming, and pack my patience.

All things equal I'd much rather go out of Flint but Airtran's current schedule doesn't work for us and they've been consistantly quite a bit more expensive than going out of Detroit (like double or triple the DTW sale fares). I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with the routes and schedules once the Airtran-Southwest merger is complete, because if they offered a non-stop I'd take SW over all the current options.

I'm just crossing my fingers that SW doesn't cut the AT direct flights. I remember when SW had daily direct flights out of DTW to MCO.

 

[greenclan67]

What about allegiant out of Grand Rapids? I to have booked flights on Airtran for March break this year, at $89, and they went down to $72 at one point, and i got a credit! I booked this back in Sept though!