Consider ALL Transportation Costs, not just cheap airfare.

[clkelley]

My last trip, I bagged a cheap airfare out of Nashville on Southwest ($75 and change) round trip. On the surface that seemed like a really good deal.

However, after the fact, I could have driven for less and only lost about 1 day total, and it would have been a lot less hassle. (Yes, it would have meant more miles on the truck, and at 42 cents a mile, flying is less, but I plan on keeping my truck till at least 200,000 miles or until I have to drag it to the junkyard, so 1400 miles is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things

I was flying and camping at Ft. Wilderness this trip, so I was carrying 3 50lb checked bags, a rolling bag carry on, a backpack with computer and other odds and ends, and transporting an ECV.

I was flying Southwest, so couldn't use Resort Airline Check-In.

Total cost of $75. RT ticket.

$75.00 Airline Ticket
$23.00 Gas to Nashville and back home (I live in Huntsville) (About 1/2 tank)
$53.00 parking at Nashville airport long term
$05.00 tip to long term shuttle driver from lot to curbside
$05.00 tip to curbside check-in
$05.00 tip to Magical Express driver to Ft. Wilderness(I had carry-ons and the ECV that they helped load)
$05.00 tip to Ft. Wilderness Bell Services to take my luggage from campsite to storage at checkout
$05.00 tip to Ft. Wilderness Bell Services to bring my luggage out to Magical Express bus at departure
$10.00 tip to Magical Express driver for loading and unloading all my luggage and ECV under the Magical Express bus
$5.00 tip to MCO Skycap to bring my stuff from Magical Express unload area to Southwest checkin
$5.00 tip to Nashville Skycap to bring my stuff from baggage claim to long term shuttle
$5.00 tip to long term shuttle driver for loading and unloading stuff in shuttle.

Total $201.00

Total travel time from office to Ft. Wilderness - 8 hours
Total travel time from Ft. Wilderness to home - 6 hours


If I were to drive it would take 3.5 tanks of gas at approximately 2.10 a gallon (mid-grade) = $165 + $3.00 in tolls.

Travel time from home approximately 11 hours each way. A lot less hassle as I could have packed differently. I could have brought my own snacks and drinks for the drive and at camp. (Although I did buy my drinks at the Hess station across from PI, and they are VERY reasonable). $5.50 for 2 12-packs of Coke products.

So big lesson learned here.

Carol

 

[TDC Nala]

Hey Carol!

I would have jumped on that $75 airfare...I don't drive to the airport (paid $4 total to ride Metro), I don't use curbside checkin (just carryons), I don't have that many bags, and I don't use bell services...so for me that would have been down to the tip for the ME driver...and I don't tip them that much.

My next trip this weekend (yeah, THIS weekend) is on DVC points so the whole thing will cost 5 bucks for the charge to book the frequent flier ticket, $9 for bus and Metro, and the tip for the ME driver...and whatever I want to spend on food and kungalooshes.

 

[AllyBri]

Carol
You get to the point in life, where time is much more valuable them money.

Especially time spent enjoying oneself.

 

[ducklite]

AllyBri--I couldn't agree more.

And Carol, you won't find mid-grade gas for $2.10 around here--it's hanging at around $2.15 for regular right now. Not that it makes a huge impact, but it does bring your cost up.

Anne

 

[bicker]

I'm not sure. It depends on what you're doing during that time. I'd always rather spend six or seven hours in a car than one hour in an airplane. Always. Besides the fact that one hour in an airplane invariably turns into four hours dealing with getting to the airport, sitting around in the airport, flying, and getting from the airport, the car is a much more comfortable place to spend that time. Now once you get beyond the six or seven hour point, the car becomes a little tedious.

 

[Mkaz]

Twenty three hours in a minivan with two cranky kids = 251.00 gas & tolls

VS.

Three hours on a plane with two happy kids = PRICELESS!


Seriously, I do get your point though. Sometimes it may seem like you are getting a great deal until you add in all of the extras.

 

[clkelley]

The luggage handling part of the whole thing is what bothered me the most. I usually travel really light, but when you have 150 lbs + of stuff that you have to keep with you at all times, you have to use bell services and/or skycaps. It really was a lot of work for only a few hours saved.

In October, I had an 85 RT out of Birmingham and that was a breeze. 1 bag that I rolled myself.

If I ever fly and camp again, it will be on Delta from my home airport where family can drop me at the airport, and it will be at times where I can use resort check-in.

Carol

 

[CarolA]

Also, you really should look into other parking options. Not sure how long you were gone, but I think there were probably cheaper options. Nashville airport is fairly expensive IMHO. (Plus to be honest I have never found them that helpful! I like the offsite guys much better. Car is ready and waiting!)

 

[clkelley]

I actually did check into other parking options, but I was guaranteed to have a shuttle with a wheelchair lift in the economy lot at BNA. It was $6.00 a day there. Most of the offsite lots I found online were only a couple dollars less overall and didn't have information about a lift for my ECV.

Overall, more than the cost it was just a lot of work. I guess I'm not as young as I used to be . I kept thinking I could be rolling down the road listening to my tunes instead of constantly hunting for someone to schlep this stuff for me and paying them to boot.

Carol

 

[safetymom]

I would much rather pay for the tickets and fly then drive there. My time is valuable also.

I find most of my flights go smoothly and I enjoy spending time in airports so it isn't a problem.

 

[tlbwriter]

I'm not sure. It depends on what you're doing during that time. I'd always rather spend six or seven hours in a car than one hour in an airplane. Always. Besides the fact that one hour in an airplane invariably turns into four hours dealing with getting to the airport, sitting around in the airport, flying, and getting from the airport, the car is a much more comfortable place to spend that time. Now once you get beyond the six or seven hour point, the car becomes a little tedious.

I agree. For me, it's a one-hour drive to the airport, and inevitably a one-hour wait at the airport, and then transportation from the other airport to your end destination. For a trip shorter than eight hours, I'd just as soon drive.