Driving versus Flying - A REAL Comparison

[consultant]

Ya we hate the feeling of being hostage to the resort transportation and thereby hostage to their restaurants. That's why we always get a rental car, usually find a good deal on a mid-size to full-size for $150-$200 for the week.

I'd admit though if we were within an easy days drive to Disneyland (maybe as much as 8 hours on the road - Southern Oregon/North California) and the drive was interesting, we'd probably drive even if flying didn't cost much more. But that would be some place around 300-500 miles from the park, not 1000 miles. No way we're gonna spend that much time in a car not matter what.

One thing no one has mentioned here is that with many people the airport could be over an hour drive from they're house! With the parking costs, and check-in hastle, might as well just drive. But I personally would still drive an hour to the airport to avoid more than 20 hours total on the Interstate.

We get tons of paid vacation time, so we don't lose anything taking an extra day on each end of the vacation to drive.

We flew in last Oct. I figured the break even point for my family was $180 r/t and I was able to beat that by a little. Boy was my math off. We are used to the car being avaliable so we did not realize we would get stuck with no way back to our resort if we had a late dinner somewhere (on site, like Cali Grill). We spent about $150 in cab fare.

Not being able to run to Target cost us another $100 in snacks we had to buy.

We can not get a ride to the airport so we have to add another $140 to the total cost for flying. We also have our oldest child (who lives in another city) fly in and meet us for a long weekend while we are there so add another $100 for his transfer costs.

An extra night on site if we fly, maybe an extra night on each end- that costs us way more than a night on the road.

My kids don't bicker, we do not allow that. We really do enjoy the time together on the road and we get to see lots of interesting things we would otherwise have missed. On the other hand they do argue about who gets the window seat on a plane, and flying makes my daughters ears hurt too.

We got there around 6pm the day we left home, when we drive we arrive mid morning the second day. So at most we gain maybe 4 useable hours by flying.

It all depends on your situation.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

All though I will admit that taking care of 3 kids on a plane is probably a little more challenging than 2.

That's what my DH calls the "man to man" defensive strategy with kids, when you have two. We have three, we utilize "Zone" defense

 

[katerkat]

Even with the 3rd row seats down in our Honda Pilot, the back would be full up the top of the backs of the second row seats. Granted techically it would only be half full but then the rear window is blocked and I don't like to do that.

We have a Honda Pilot too and managed to fit everything DH had for five weeks, everything Russ and I had for 10 days, plus a stroller, plus a bike on an outside rack, with no blocking the back window (other than the handlebars of the bike.) Frugal packers.

 

[Belle2667]

We drive all the time and love it ! It's all in your attitude. We do not look at our travel days as travel days. We look at them as extensions of our vacation! We leave a day earlier than our "vacation" and we come home a day later!

Heck, we even drove to Disneyland! We added 3 days to the beginning AND end of that vacation !! The memories, the pictures, the family time together....you can't get that on a plane. If there are weather or traffic delays, we can detour. You can't do that on a plane!

 

[disneymom3]

Our situation is this--we are the dreaded family of 5 . We also live in Mpls area, home of Northwest Airlines major hub which gets us out of luck when it comes to all these cheap airfares you folks on the east coast get. Anything under $200 we think is a steal and a half. So a reasonable budget for airfare is $300 pp. We also have to rent a van when we get to FL as we cannot fit in an economy car. Makes it pricier. We also almost always stay offsite for either the entire vacation or most of it. So, no choice on the car.

And the biggest thing for us is we like to drive. I know, we are not only the horrid family of 5, we are also crazy. Our kids even like to drive. One trip when we flew down, DS 5 at the time, looked at me while we waited for our plane and said, "Next time, can't we just take our car." (Those weather delayed flights are really a pain! The mechanical ones are even worse.) We have driven to FL 4 times. We have also driven to Canada and this last summer drove to Yellowstone/Grand Teton. The only time our kids have ever really been difficult were on one trip to FL when youngest DS then a baby, came down with a cold and everyone had to hear him cry(but better my family than an entire planeload of strangers) and when we were on day 7 of driving through WY. I am sorry, but other than the mountains that state just gets BORING! The one time we have used our built in DVD player while it was light outside! We talk, we listen to books on tape, we look out the windows and point out stuff to each other, the kids ask questions about stuff that occurs to them, we rotate people around as there is a spare backseat so I go back there sometimes, DD moves forward, then DS, everyone has a turn with a row to themselves, we play madlibs, I read aloud, etc. We keep very busy, are in control of our own time and just enjoy it.

Now, I know that is not the point--the point is money savings. But it is a factor for us that we do not consider the drive lost vacation time. It is part of the vacation. Getting there is important too!

 

[consultant]

Frugal packers.

That, my wife is NOT.

Pilot is pretty roomy. You would need a lot of stuff to TOTALLY block the back window. Closest we came was on a camping trip.

 

[azgal81]

That's fine.. I am just saying b/c in your other post you said:
"I don't care if it is more expensive to fly I can't imagine driving when I could fly!"

And, i am just saying for some people, flying might not be an option.. And that there is nothing wrong with that.. It just seemed like you were thinking we were crazy for driving anywhere.. But, i totally apologize if i read you wrong.. That's how i took the one line. And that was your whole statement, so i didn't know how to read it.. So, again, I aplogize.

Oh -- btw.. I always fly to WDW. But, if it meant going or not going due to saving money -- i would drive in a second!

Well I did say "I" in my statement so I was mainly refering to myself. That I couldn't really imagine driving when I had the option to fly. I wasn't saying others were crazy for diving. Just for me personally since being in a car for that long is horrible I fly. No right or wrong here just what works for you and your family.

 

[kandb]

I don't buy the depreciation on the car calculations. We bought a brand new 2004 Toyota Sienna LE for $30,000, 2 years and 5 months ago. We don't use it a lot and therefore only have 11,000 miles on it. My husband was looking at new cars and the dealer said he would give him $13,500 as a trade in. I don't believe they take into consideration the mileage that much considering the car is worth less then half of what we paid for it and it only has 11,000 miles on it. Linda

 

[dawnball]

I skipped a couple of pages here. We live around 650 miles from WDW. Low-low plane fares are a $39 ding, and it's just my daughter and I flying. Total airfare is $191.20. I can make the numbers come out so either driving or flying is the "better" option and we've done both.

I'll do flying first.
Airfare: $191.20
Food in the airport (I pack food from home, but the kiddo usually gets an ice cream, and there's bottled water to buy now): $10
Parking: $0 - DH drops us and fetches us
Total door to door time (using ME): 6 hours.

Total cost: $201.20 and 6 hours

Driving:
Gas: 18.5 gal (35 mpg average) ~ $41 * 2 (both ways) ~82
Food: (I usually call this $0, since I pack food from home - but I do pick up a 6 pack of diet coke to keep me moving, and I usually get the kiddo a candybar along the way) $3
Depreciation/Maintenance: I drive a 99 saturn that gets driven less than 12K/yr and has a lot of miles on it. Depreciation is pretty close to 0 for the extra miles. However, there is an extra third of an oil change in there - call it equivalent to gas, which is one of the standard ways to compute car expenses (although, I think we've decided internally that it's much less than that) - $82
Lodging - none
Total time (door to door) 11.5 hours

Total costs: $167 and 11.5 hours.

5.5 hours vs $35.50. If you figure more food one way or the other, or a hotel room, or parking at the airport, or a rental car.. you can make it swing whichever way you'd like.

It's a matter of value of time. However, I value my time differently based on how I would use it. For example - if my other option was to do billable work, I value that time at post-tax billable rates. If my other option was to entertain a toddler in an airport - I'd rather drive, thanks! When I flew to WDW, I spent those three hours: eating, wandering around DTD and waiting impatiently for my room to be ready because my toddler *seriously* needed a nap. Oh, and eating.

However, there are additional issues that don't apply to everyone. I would probably have to pay for extra baggage if I flew. I have allergies and have to bring my own cookware for the condo for example. I frequently bring perishable items that I can't purchase there (dairy free margarine, curry paste, frozen allergen free foods, etc). They are unobtainable on disney property and at least an hour's drive (round trip) to buy off property - of course, that store my not actually stock what I want, making it a wasted hour. I bring my own pillow because I like *my* pillow. I bring the kid's mickey sheets, etc. It's a lot to haul around.

If I have my own car I don't have to participate in the cattle call that getting back to the airport was when I used ME. I leave when I want to leave and if I want to stay an extra day or half day - I can do it.

The bog-standard mortality risk of a roundtrip to WDW is a bit less than 1 in 52,000. That assumes perfectly average driving conditions. However, the trip is significantly safer than average. There are three primary killers for auto accidents - fatigue (wrapping yourself around a tree), drunks (wrapping you around a tree), and traffic (who needs a tree, we'll knock you into another car). I mitigate risk because I avoid major cities during rush hour (to the point of getting off the road and waiting for it to clear), don't drive tired and don't drive when folks are likely to have had too much to drink. I also take a lot of steps to prevent highway hypnosis. In theory, I could do the drive in 9.5 hours. Instead I get some exercise everytime we stop for a rest area, we stop for a long lunch, look for landmarks, etc.

 

[consultant]

Toyota, Acura, BMW, and Honda have the by far the best resale value. But even so, by your own figures, you bought it for $30,000, put 11,000 miles on it and admit the value is now $13,500. That is a depreciation of $16,500 over 11,000 miles or $1.50/mile on average. A 2,000 mile round-trip road trip would have cost you $3,000 if you did it in that first 11,000 miles. That's an extreme though. The depreciation is an exponential curve more or less. The most depreciation per mile happens when you drive it off the lot. The dealer is jerking you around. A Toyota (in good condition) is worth well more than 50% with only 11,000 miles on it. Run it through the Kelley Blue Book Site. You'll see. And the difference in price between a car (all other things equal) with 11,000 miles and 8,000 may not be a full $3,000 but we are in a discussion here where most people don't even give a cent to depreciation. With a newer car like that, that difference in mileage will at least represent $1,500 in depreciation on a car of $30K. I used to sell used cars about 14 years ago.

I don't buy the depreciation on the car calculations. We bought a brand new 2004 Toyota Sienna LE for $30,000, 2 years and 5 months ago. We don't use it a lot and therefore only have 11,000 miles on it. My husband was looking at new cars and the dealer said he would give him $13,500 as a trade in. I don't believe they take into consideration the mileage that much considering the car is worth less then half of what we paid for it and it only has 11,000 miles on it. Linda

 

[Mari annie]

Seems like with all the answers that are negative, you obviously don't drive long distances!

We are going on our 18th year (next month) we go from MA-MCO via a few stops (lol) and it's very enjoyable for us, lots of quality family time.

My son will be going to college outside MCO in the Fall! So there will be even more!
Probably fly to see him. As we have a place to stay there.

Consultant, if I had to go anywhere with you, I wouldn't!!!! Too much business on the brain! Enjoy life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got a headache reading your business vs pleasure theories.......my dh got a great laugh=after all he does most of the driving, and LOVES it! He thanks you for it!

For those of you that are so confused? about the drive, you should try it sometime.
People who work with my dh couldn't believe we do this and when my dh told him what we do and how many stops we do, etc and the places we stop at and visit, there are now 5 families at his employment who drive rather than fly.............in this age of let's hurry up and run and get there and both parents (most) are working, this is a great way to spend quality time with your families.
People that usually crank over this, I am sure you are the same home buddies who only go out and use your cars (for work or when you have to)*
I have family members exactly like you! Sad, I have pity for you! Yes, we also drive to Canada in the Summer as well=and Hershey for the kids-All the wonderful memories we have and we have taught our kids that travelling is fun/exciting and we have passed this on to them! Never mind about mileage/etc etc.
Children are only young ONCE!!!!


Enjoy your trips-==========no matter what route you take!!!!LOL!


28 days and counting.............................

 

[vanyel]

We've debated this also. Considering that we go north to the airport and last time we did the sleep, park & fly, we could have been almost there by the time we flew there. After the 2 hr wait at the airport, 2 hr flight, and a 2.5 hr drive home in Chicago rush hour, we've started to rethink flying.

I guess I'll start thinking about that when we start planning out next trip.

 

[consultant]

I'm not going to quote you Mari Annie - I'm still halucinating on all your smilies.

But points well taken. That's the point of these discussion forums, to exchange different points of view and opinions.

One thing I can say is I've been on both sides of the fence, not just once or twice, but many times. Driven 2,200 miles roundtrip to DL or LA in genreal (or ridden) five times, numerous trips to Lake Tahoe by car from Seattle (at least 7 times). I've also flown to places only 4 hours drive from my house.

To each their own. For ME, I don't need to be couped up in a car for hours on end to have quality time with my kids. I'd prefer to be spending the time snorkeling with them in Hawaii or hanging out body surfing at Manhattan Beach in California. Or even performing that long overdue cleaning of my garage! But that's just ME. But I'd say my point of view isn't that weird.

I understand your point of view though.

 

[consultant]

The bog-standard mortality risk of a roundtrip to WDW is a bit less than 1 in 52,000. That assumes perfectly average driving conditions. However, the trip is significantly safer than average. There are three primary killers for auto accidents - fatigue (wrapping yourself around a tree), drunks (wrapping you around a tree), and traffic (who needs a tree, we'll knock you into another car). I mitigate risk because I avoid major cities during rush hour (to the point of getting off the road and waiting for it to clear), don't drive tired and don't drive when folks are likely to have had too much to drink. I also take a lot of steps to prevent highway hypnosis. In theory, I could do the drive in 9.5 hours. Instead I get some exercise everytime we stop for a rest area, we stop for a long lunch, look for landmarks, etc.

Brilliant paragraph. Kudos.

 

[consultant]

We've debated this also. Considering that we go north to the airport and last time we did the sleep, park & fly, we could have been almost there by the time we flew there. After the 2 hr wait at the airport, 2 hr flight, and a 2.5 hr drive home in Chicago rush hour, we've started to rethink flying.

I guess I'll start thinking about that when we start planning out next trip.

I hear you on the Chicago traffic. My sister just moved their a year and a half ago and I thought Seattle traffic was bad. Sheesh!

 

[ducklite]

Toyota, Acura, BMW, and Honda have the by far the best resale value.

Don't discount Saturn in that picture. I bought a 2004 ION Quade Coupe 100% financing, zero down. Made the payments as agreed for a little over two years, and sold the car with 33K miles on it for a profit of several thousand more than I owed this past summer. The monthly payment was lower than a lease would have been. I walked away with cash. The total depreciation was about $4000, or a little over $100 a month--about the same as the makes you mentioned above.

I currently own a "First 1000" SKY, it's got 7K miles on it and I could sell it for more than I paid for it due to the demand. Any current SKY owner sould sell their car for at least what they paid for it.

A lot depends on how you care for your vehicles. The ION was in amazing shape, and DH had completely detailed the car before it was sold so it looked no different than a car that had been on a dealers lot as a demo for a year.

I took a friend used car shopping a few months back. I was appalled at the condition of many of the cars we looked at. Stained upholstery with cigarette holes at dealers, private party sales with filthy windshields and Cheerios all over the car. One had dried buggars on the window next to the car seat! Ick!

Anne

 

[katerkat]

I've also flown to places only 4 hours drive from my house.

Really? I think the drive between Seattle and Spokane, for example, is the most boring thing ever (except I-90 in Montana), but even with $100 plane tickets, we'd have to rent a car, so we drive it.

 

[consultant]

Spokane was one of them for the very reason you state. That's a bit more than 4 hours though. Flown to Portland once. Flown to Kelowna, BC (I think that is more like 6 hours drive??)

Really? I think the drive between Seattle and Spokane, for example, is the most boring thing ever (except I-90 in Montana), but even with $100 plane tickets, we'd have to rent a car, so we drive it.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think the drive between Seattle and Spokane, for example, is the most boring thing ever (except I-90 in Montana) ...

I'm guessing you've never experienced the joy of the stretch of I-55 from Memphis to Brookhaven, MS. Pine trees right up to the shoulder on both sides of the road. Maybe if you're lucky an occasional bird of prey circling overhead. Much nicer if you can take the Natchez Trace, but we seldom have the time.

(And yes, DH is an attorney.)

PS: About the packing. We decided long ago that if we don't need it on a plane, we don't need it on a road trip, either. The exception being things that are automobile specific, like winter survival supplies and spare tires.

 

[LovableGluttons]

We live in the boonies in the middle of Montana. Airfare out of the nearest airport is astronomical. So we drive to a bigger city, usually at least 6 hours by car, then fly out of there.

For our upcoming trip next month, we will drive 15 hours to Vegas, fly from Vegas to Atlanta via Spirit Air ($400 round trip for four people, includes taxes and trip insurance too! WOW) In Atlanta, we'll pick up a rental car and drive to Orlando. We will be gone for 18 days total, including the drives. The $400 for the airfare was worth it for us in the time it saved us. Driving the whole way would have saved us the $400 and the $300 for the two week rental car, but we would have been exhausted for our vacation.

Fatigue is expensive!