Driving versus Flying - A REAL Comparison

[ducklite]

Don't know if it's been mentioned b/c I haven't read all the replies, but once you figure in you can't work the extra days before and after vacation, it makes driving less of a bargain.

DH has so much vacation time that he didn't even use it all last year. He donated three days to the vacation bank (used to assist co-workers with devastating illness/family emergency/etc. who have used up thier vacation time)

Even with that he still had to take a few days off in December just to use them up, and rilled over the max of ten days into this year.

Anne

 

[tinaluis]

We're a family of 5 (soon to be 6) and our situation is a bit unique. We have almost unlimited vacation time so we don't mind spending a few extra days driving back and forth. We even stop along the way if there is something that interests us. Our trips also average two weeks so, if we fly, car rental for two weeks adds substantially to our overall cost. That said, we have flown in the past and we have driven in the past. We plan a trip by first selecting where we'll stay -- usually a condo thru Skyauction for a specific time. Then I watch Southwest for cheap airfare. If cheap ($59 or less each way) fares come out for our travel dates, we fly. If not, we drive. Either way, we make it to WDW.

 

[consultant]

Don't know if it's been mentioned b/c I haven't read all the replies, but once you figure in you can't work the extra days before and after vacation, it makes driving less of a bargain.

For example, if we fly, dh can work that day (or a 1/2 day) and make money instead of taking a 1 1/2 days to drive. Same with the way home. If we fly he can start working the day after we leave WDW. Driving means he can't work the next day b/c he's still in the car.

So lost wages factor in big for us here.

That's an exellent real-world example of what I'm referring to as the lost opportunity cost. I suggest people value the lost time at half what they make an hour. But if the time you are losing would otherwise be spent working, the lost opportunity cost is the actual hourly wage you make. Or if swimming in the hotel pool instead of sitting in the car is MUCH prefered, then maybe the opportunity costs is as much or more than you make an hour?

My parents drove us to Disneyland. But that was 25 years ago when gas was a lot cheaper and flying was (relative to the value of the dollar back then) more expensive. Plus we stopped at water slide parks along the way so the drive was part of the vacation, etc. But we also had are arguements and mishaps, crappy meals, etc. We flew back one year and my Dad (the tightwad he is drove). That was my first plane flight and boy would I have prefered to do it that way (the water slide parks weren't THAT fun. But I'd say my Dad probably did like most and didn't consider some of the less obvious costs, like the depreciation and lost opportunity cost. It was probably more of a break even on paper but a big savings in his mind.

The problem is people look at how much money is in their pockets. Whatever money they don't have to shell out up-front or in the short-term is considered money saved. The less obvious long term costs, such as the depreciation of their car and lost opportunity cost are not considered because when they sell their car, and like most, are shocked out how much it is (not) worth, especially if they bought the car brand new, they say oh well and don't attribute that loss to any one event, like a trip to Disneyland (because it isn't caused by one even but a combination of driving).

If you bought a $30K Ford Explorer, and 4 years later traded it in for $15K, that's a loss of $15K. The estimate here with the example driving from DC is saying you lose $380 for putting 1,700 miles on your car that you wouldn't have otherwise put on it had you flown. I'd say that 1,700 less miles might get you even more than $380 better of a sales price when it was time to get rid of the car. That's why depreciation must be factored in.

Realistically for me, I have a 5 and 7-year old. They are well behaved but they WOULD spend a portion of that time bickering and whining. Combined with the additional risk factor, even being a self-proclaimed "great" driver (statistically what do you think is the most likely way your kid will die before the age of 16?) I would rather not go on the trip at all if the difference between going or not going on the trip was just a few hundered bucks on a trip that would cost close to $2,500-$4,000 total when you added *everything* up.

 

[consultant]

Great perspective. The food costs in driving are attributed to the extra time spent eating because it takes longer to get there (and the flight is only 3 hours so you don't need to eat on the plane.) So maybe I should take 1/3 of the Denny's costs to account for the differnce between eating at Dennys all the time versus eating at home most of the time.

My point is, the estimate isn't meant to (and cannot) represent everyone's situation. It is meant to represent a fairly common and plausible set of circumstances. Besides, the food is only a minor portion of the total cost.

For example, Driving a Prius and not eating for 17 hours is an example of one extreme.

Great comment though.

Food. You must remove the food cost from the equation completely. If I spend the day driving, at Disney, or at home, I'm still gonna eat. I can buy at the grocery store and eat it at home, pack it up and ship it to eat in Disney, or pack it and eat it on the road. Or, I could stay home the extra day, but that doesn't mean I won't eat at a restaraunt. If I'm already at Disney because I flew, you guessed it, I'll still need to eat!

In our case, a family of five, we travel in our motorhome... a whole new set of costs and savings. Depreciation vs. tax deduction etc. Oh, and I'll argue we have a ball traveling like this and it will definitely be a family bonding time. Sure, my kids will bicker over what movie or game should be next but, that's just what they would be doing at home

 

[ohiominnie]

DH has so much vacation time that he didn't even use it all last year. He donated three days to the vacation bank (used to assist co-workers with devastating illness/family emergency/etc. who have used up thier vacation time)

Even with that he still had to take a few days off in December just to use them up, and rilled over the max of ten days into this year.

Anne

Well, yes. In that case, it's different. Dh is a physician and he only gets paid to see patients. For those days he doesn't see patients, that's lost opportunity to make money. He can take 32 weeks vacation a year if he wants, but still has to cover his share of expenses, etc even when he's not working. So, considering he can see 40 patients a day, billed out to insurance, then screwed over by insurance, he at least makes money.

One of his partners takes about a week of vacation total a year. He says he cannot stand the thought of BEING ON vacation (and therefore spending money) and knowing the whole time that he's LOSING money by not working. Luckily my dh isn't like that. He's willing to lose *some* income in order to have fun.

 

[DiznEeyore]

You seem very determined to *convince* everyone to fly vs. drive. Why does it matter so much to you? I'm curious...

For us, we bought our vehicle to drive it. Not have it sitting around, hoping it doesn't depreciate.

We plan our trips for a certain number of days; not driving wouldn't mean we'd add nights to our stay. And as long as our driving is done on weekends, then my husband isn't missing work.

Sometimes we fly to FL, sometimes we drive. It depends on which is cheaper. And yes, sometimes driving IS cheaper.

 

[katerkat]

Personally, I don't figure depreciation of the vehicle, because we drive our vehicles into the ground. My husband's car is currently worth about $400 - another thousand miles isn't going to make a different anymore.

And while some people don't appreciate the family time...I was raised on road trips and I think they're fun. We've already done two 10-day road trips with Russ, and one 4-day road trip. WITHOUT a dvd player! I remember reading in the way back of the family station wagon, because neither of my sisters could face backwards. And really - the time one of my sisters stabbed me with a straw in a McDonalds in Abilene is a way better story than the time one of my sisters puked orange juice on Dad's pants on a plane.

When driving, we also take food from home, so eating costs are down - and we do eat in the airport, which brings the price up.

Plus, you've got to figure what you're doing the extra day, given two days to drive vs. one to fly. We'd still probably take the same amount of vacation time, so an extra day means more $$ for tickets, meals, hotel in WDW, etc.

Plus, a 13 hour drive? And a hotel? Wimps! We'd drive it in one day. Like Anne's husband, we've done 17 hours to Jersey, 11 hours from Mississippi, and 15 hours from San Fran to Washington.

Of course, this is all a moot point, since we live in Washington and flying is the only option. For WDW.

 

[TENIA66]

You don't factor in cost of lost opportunity spent doing something else for those 28 hours other than sitting in a car, but that's okay.

What's important is you touched on what is one of the key factors that effect the equation. It's not MPG or the cost of gas as many would initially think. It's how many plane tickets you have to buy. Your example is a family of five. In my example I could have used a family of three which really makes flying the way to go. That's why I used a family of four which still points to flying being the best way unless you live close to the park. But when you get up into 5 or 6 tickets, and you live very far away, flying gets expensive.

Even so, with your own example, the total for driving is $985, and your flying total is $1,600. Taking a family of 5 to Disney (unless you are staying in a motel 6, eating McDonalds, and only buying a 2-day ticket) is expensive. I'd venture to guess to go to Disney 3 days and maybe Universal for a day (are you really going to drive all that way for just 3 days at Disney? I hope not.), so at least a 4-night stay, for 5 people, lodging, meals, tickets, a few souvenirs, you are looking at, at least $2,000 when eveything is said and done (taxes, tips, the whole shabang) and that would be going low budget, again, only 4 nights. I'd say on average you are looking at more closer $3,000 if you added everything little thing up and weren't staying at the Roach Motel, more if you are staying more than 4 nights. If you stayed and ate at a Disney Resort, much higher than that. Then add your $1,000 driving costs to that. So we are talking minimum $3K, probably closer to $4K, and if you go in style, closer to $6K for only 4 or 5 nights.

So then you start thinking about putting a value on spending 7-8 hours traveling (mostly while reading or watching a movie on an airplane) as opposed to 28 hours in the car, the $615 you saved driving *may* not really be worth it. I'm saying if $615 makes that big of a difference on a vacation that is probably going to cost you close to $4K, then you might be too stressed out over how much eveything costs while you are there to really enjoy yourself.

Just one perspective. $615 is $615. I realize that. But there's also the big picture.

Now I feel attacked:
You know, I just love it when people who really have no idea of our family's preferences and abilitites theorize about my family, the travel habits, practicies, and budgets.

Anyway, here it is:

$985 road costs
$600 hotel, on site 5 nites
$400 tickets, as 2 yr old is free and we bought ten day park hopper passes years ago, $25 a person a day.....
$150 per day for food, total $600

Total vacation: $2585......

"lost opportunity" is time spent together as a family, watching family videos, watching for landmarks...the drive is one of our favorite parts of the trip..

Driving or flying shouldn't be a fight-just a fully considered decision.......

 

[debdot]

for my family one of the biggest advantages to driving is all the EXTRA things you can take -

cases of water, gatorade, unlimited snacks, paper towels, toiletries - you name it and we can bring it

and, of course, all the EXTRA goodies you can bring home

plus my husband refuses to fly so for us its drive or stay home

 

[runwad]

My family of 5 drives because it is cheaper for us. We go straight thru bring our own food and drinks and only stop for gas, and do bathroom breaks while we're at gas stations. Down and back 15 hours straight thru, no problems with work vacations we have tons to use, plus me and DD get air sick, no fun puking on a plane no matter how cheap the flight is, we'll stick to driving any day. Plus I like having my own car in this day and age, if there is a reason I need to get out I can. We'd need to get $39 flights in order for flying to be cheaper than driving and since I use a work laptop and can't download ding, I don't see that happening.

 

[ducklite]

for my family one of the biggest advantages to driving is all the EXTRA things you can take -

cases of water, gatorade, unlimited snacks, paper towels, toiletries - you name it and we can bring it

and, of course, all the EXTRA goodies you can bring home

plus my husband refuses to fly so for us its drive or stay home

On his last trip DH brough us 30 2 liter bottles of W-Pop, the Wegmans' market brand of soda. We LOVE it, and it's on 50 cents a bottle!

Try getting that on a plane!

Anne

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

The food costs in driving are attributed to the extra time spent eating because it takes longer to get there .

I'm not sure I understand your response "extra time spent eating because it takes longer to get there" ?

I eat three meals a day, whether I'm at home, on the road, or at Disney. It takes me the same amount of time to eat those meals whether I'm at home, on the road or at Disney. I'll spend the exact same amount on the food that I bought at the grocery store it whether I eat it at home, on the road, or at Disney.

Now, am I as likely to eat "grocery store" food at grocery store prices on the road as I am at home? (in my case, absolutely but for argument sake...) No. Am I as likely to eat grocery store food at Disney (on my extra day that I gained by flying)? No. But, if I am interested in what is most cost effective I certainly could eat my grocery store food no matter where I am.

Therefore, you must remove the food costs from the equation.

 

[Darcy03231]

Well as we live about 26 hours away I can honestly say I will never drive it. Nevermind the kids, I can't stand being in the car for more than 6 hours!

 

[consultant]

You said you enjoy road trips and had a great 10-day road trip. WDW is only 5 days from Washington I believe. Yet you say WDW isn't an option for driving. Why not? You could still get 3 days in at the park and then another 5 days back so it would be just 3 more days than your 10-day trip?

Personally, I don't figure depreciation of the vehicle, because we drive our vehicles into the ground. My husband's car is currently worth about $400 - another thousand miles isn't going to make a different anymore.

And while some people don't appreciate the family time...I was raised on road trips and I think they're fun. We've already done two 10-day road trips with Russ, and one 4-day road trip. WITHOUT a dvd player! I remember reading in the way back of the family station wagon, because neither of my sisters could face backwards. And really - the time one of my sisters stabbed me with a straw in a McDonalds in Abilene is a way better story than the time one of my sisters puked orange juice on Dad's pants on a plane.

When driving, we also take food from home, so eating costs are down - and we do eat in the airport, which brings the price up.

Plus, you've got to figure what you're doing the extra day, given two days to drive vs. one to fly. We'd still probably take the same amount of vacation time, so an extra day means more $$ for tickets, meals, hotel in WDW, etc.

Plus, a 13 hour drive? And a hotel? Wimps! We'd drive it in one day. Like Anne's husband, we've done 17 hours to Jersey, 11 hours from Mississippi, and 15 hours from San Fran to Washington.

Of course, this is all a moot point, since we live in Washington and flying is the only option. For WDW.

 

[consultant]

You need to remove the food costs from the equation for you. M3 personally, I can tell you I won't be bringing grocery store food in the car if I drive, at least not enough for 4-5 meals, and I will be eating at a place more expensive than a Denny's. My example is targeted at the most common scenario. When someone is on a nearly 2-day road trip, I'd contend it is safe to say they will be eating out for most if not all the trip. Not everyone, like yourself, but most will.

I'm not sure I understand your response "extra time spent eating because it takes longer to get there" ?

I eat three meals a day, whether I'm at home, on the road, or at Disney. It takes me the same amount of time to eat those meals whether I'm at home, on the road or at Disney. I'll spend the exact same amount on the food that I bought at the grocery store it whether I eat it at home, on the road, or at Disney.

Now, am I as likely to eat "grocery store" food at grocery store prices on the road as I am at home? (in my case, absolutely but for argument sake...) No. Am I as likely to eat grocery store food at Disney (on my extra day that I gained by flying)? No. But, if I am interested in what is most cost effective I certainly could eat my grocery store food no matter where I am.

Therefore, you must remove the food costs from the equation.

 

[consultant]

15 hours straight in a car? The term 'Road Warrior' comes to mind.

I'm curious how big is the family, how old are the kids, where are you leaving from and what year and model is your car? Just trying to get insight on where you came up with $39.

If you want to go the cheapest route, I don't think you can get any cheaper than driving straight thru with your own food. That's pretty determined.

I'm surprised you are the first to mention about having your own car. If we fly, we rent a car so we can explore the area which is an additional cost. But if Disney is the only purpose of the trip, then it really isn't necessary which is why I didn't include it. That sucks that you get air sick. Car definitely sounds like the best route in your case. Does that mean you won't ever leave the continent?

My family of 5 drives because it is cheaper for us. We go straight thru bring our own food and drinks and only stop for gas, and do bathroom breaks while we're at gas stations. Down and back 15 hours straight thru, no problems with work vacations we have tons to use, plus me and DD get air sick, no fun puking on a plane no matter how cheap the flight is, we'll stick to driving any day. Plus I like having my own car in this day and age, if there is a reason I need to get out I can. We'd need to get $39 flights in order for flying to be cheaper than driving and since I use a work laptop and can't download ding, I don't see that happening.

 

[consultant]

Ya it is a pain to try to pack all that stuff back - we buy a lot of stuff too. It may require a trip to the UPS Store!

We're discussing the comparison in modes of travel from a cost savings standpoing though and all that stuff whether it is paper towels or Mickey Sweatshirts ate free though.

for my family one of the biggest advantages to driving is all the EXTRA things you can take -

cases of water, gatorade, unlimited snacks, paper towels, toiletries - you name it and we can bring it

and, of course, all the EXTRA goodies you can bring home

plus my husband refuses to fly so for us its drive or stay home

 

[katerkat]

You said you enjoy road trips and had a great 10-day road trip. WDW is only 5 days from Washington I believe. Yet you say WDW isn't an option for driving. Why not? You could still get 3 days in at the park and then another 5 days back so it would be just 3 more days than your 10-day trip?

I don't drive ten days just for three days in a park. On our road trips, we stopped often and saw lots of different places - one was around the West Coast from Oregon to Vancouver, Canada, and the other was from Oklahoma to Washington via the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, etc.

Oh, and also, we tend to do WDW in the winter and there's really no good way to drive across the mountains/plains in the winter.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I think the numbers are too high for driving and too low for flying.

The food costs are too high, many bring food from the cupboards at home. Others stop at Subway, McDonalds, etc.

We do not have depreciation on the vehicle as we rent-the cost to rent a full size car for a week here is $115.00 a week. Most vehicles get more than 20 mpg per highway, and gas is cheaper than 2.50 nationwide now. I just paid 1.89 here. We have no hotel costs as we drive straight through (850 miles, just under 13 hours).

For us to fly out of Lexington, it would be close to 400 per person, and a strong prayer that the pilot takes off from the correct runway. We could fly out of Louisville or Cincinnati-but why drive an hour plus, get to security 2 hours early as recommended, plus pay for parking for a week. 3 hours are wasted minimum just before we depart.

As a test a few years ago while living in Ohio, we departed our home while driving to Disney, my parents flew out of Akron Canton. We lived 3 miles apart at the time. They had a layover in Atlanta, we drove straight through. We hit Disney property first.

Granted, when airlines run specials, it may be cheaper to fly then drive. As a whole, at least for us, it's a no brainer to drive.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned yet that the IRS mileage rate for 2007 has increased to .485 per mile---making flying an even BETTER deal!