Flying these days

[Uncleromulus]

They seem to be doing their level best to make flying a nightmare these days--an expensive one at that! But having driven to WDW many times, we still prefer not having to take 2 extra days of valuable vacation time and wrestle with the nightmare of traffic on I95.
Driving, we leave extra early on Friday morning and aren't at OKW in WDW until 10:30 or so on Saturday. Flying, we leave extra early on Saturday morning and are at WDW by 10:30 the same morning.

IF flying costs continue to escalte, we may have to rethink. But for right now, an hour and 50 minutes on a plane to WDW beats 16 hours in a car...

 

[TDC Nala]

Strangely we have been getting great fares out of Wash. Dulles lately. I booked my April 2008 trip at $116 roundtrip out of Dulles. My August trip is also $116 (Airtran) roundtrip. I booked my October trip with jetblue for $129 roundtrip and am looking at my MLK/January trip with Airtran also at $129 roundtrip. These are some of the cheapest flights I've gotten in years and not sure why....but it's OK with me. I have alot of FF miles with United that I could use, but as long as my fares are staying under $150, I'll happily pay them.

My December one is $103 rt (Airtran).

 

[jarestel]

What's your situation/view?

For us, we need to save time more than money so we'll continue to fly. Driving from our part of the country (or other non-air transportation options) simply use up more time than we can realistically budget without impacting other vacation options.

 

[Alexander]

magpie, the auto train does sound great but I don't think there's a route from the mid West. Driving to VA would take us 12 hours vs. 18 to FL from the Chicago area according to mapquest.

But I'm envious of those for whom it's a viable option.

Envious here too! We would have about a 9-10 hour drive just to get to the train. Since that is just shy of 1/2 way to WDW for us, it's just not worth the $1200 or so.

Have looked at Amtrak several times, but from Upstate NY it's over 28 hours and just as expensive as flying, even more if you want a room.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Was that USAir? I've flown them 3 x for business and twice I have run into mechanical problems. Luckily out of DTW I can avoid them.

GO 99!!

YES!! How did you know! #99 escaped the mega crash!! Go #99!

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

We got our airfare out of Phila for $179. rt. We are flying AirTran. Gas is not $4.00 a gallon and only going to continue to rise. Plus on a good day we get 17 mpg.

 

[n2mm]

My December one is $103 rt (Airtran).

Looks like you used 2 of the coupons. I would've but I had already booked one way tickets home because the flight down was not working for me. Then they offered the $25 coupons, so we changed our day to find an "OK" flight down. (Wanted to leave Sunday, but changed it to Monday for a better price). This is why I posted I'm "watching" my January fare, because I'm hoping they offer the $25 coupons again (since the last time was Mother's day I was hoping for Father's day--seems fair!) Gotta love a $54 one way fare out of Wash/Dulles lately. I'm sure our bubble will pop soon, so I'm really enjoying it right now!!

 

[itsreally4mommy]

How do you get the Air Tran coupons?

 

[KirstenB]

We drive. There are 4 of us, with one still in diapers. I like being able to pack whatever we want/need. We leave Richmond around 9 am, and stay at one of the Savannah/95 exits that night. Then about 5 hrs the next day, and we're at our resort. We had been booking suites to try to give our toddler a separate place to lay down, but this trip has convinced me that was a waste of money.

We just returned yesterday. The newer suites are geared really well toward the single business traveler, not so much toward the family of vacationers. Both the suite on teh way down, and the way back were small, with no division between living and sleeping space. Next time we'll just book a standard room, and save some money.

When our older dd was a toddler, we got stuck at the airport twice with several hour delays. That swore me off from flying!! Poor dh loves flying. Even though I did almost all the driving this trip, he was talking about flying next year. I guess we'll see what gas prices do to the cost of both modes of travel.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok,now after cancelling my DH flight this morining, he boards US Air at 5:45p and they STOP THE PLANE ON THE RUNWAY! Weather is ok here in MD, but bad weather crossing over into the Carolinas. He is probably gonna miss the connecting flight at 8:00p to Charleston from Charlotte...he is calling US Air to change the flight from the runway!! Been sitting there for 45 Min!! Never again US Air.

 

[Starr W.]

My December one is $103 rt (Airtran).

Doing Thanksgiving for $204 and $192 for MLK weekend on Airtran. Those are pretty good fares for DTW and direct flights to boot.

 

[TDC Nala]

Looks like you used 2 of the coupons.

Nope, one. 1 way flight for $39 with coupon, one for $64 (sale price). These prices include the fees and taxes.

 

[jamstew]

I don't go if I can't fly. I do well to drive 4-5 hours at a stretch, and I'm in central Texas. It would cost a fortune in hotels & meals to get me there

 

[buzz5985]

It depends on what type of trip we have planned. If it is just a DisneyWorld trip - we fly. But if we are combining DisneyWorld and Hilton Head we drive. My sister lives in Richmond VA so we stay with her our first night, then from there we get as close to Disney as we can. We pack our own food and have picnics along the way. My car gets about 28 mpg on the highway and I don't worry about wear and tear since I drive my cars into the ground. This year my 76 yo DF is tagging along. On the way we are going to stop to see the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC - his older brother was KIA during Korea.

So if we drive - we make it worth our while. Visiting different places along the way back to make that trip seem shorter.

Janis

 

[rigsby25]

I know airlines expect to earn revenue from this $15 per bag charge, but I wonder if it will be worth it? First of all it will chase A LOT of buyers away, and I can't begin to think of the headaches it's going to cause in the carry on search line.

Yes - and we all know that if a company is not making enough money, they should up the prices and fees and downgrade the service. That will get the people flocking back to the airlines.

 

[rsinj]

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[Josh125]

I have mentioned this before a fair amount of people know about it but it bears repeating.

Always always check airfares in to Tampa vs. Orlando. It's a short drive and I have done it twice now have have saved 200 net after paying for the one way rental each time.

Also, look around for other airports in your area to leave out of...even those that you might have to drive a distance to.

 

[DeeCee735]

When does Southwest come out with fares for January 09? TIA

 

[DVC Jen]

we drive - we are a family of 4 and it is much cheaper for us to drive versus fly. we use my DHs frequent flyer miles and convert them to hilton honor points so we get free hotels for the trip there and back.

we usually stay at places were we get breakfast - picnic for lunch and buy a fairly inexpensive dinner.

works for us.

gas is going to be a lot more painful for us this year - but when all is said and done it will only increase our vacation cost by a few hundred dollars and that is certainly not enough for us to cancel.

 

[rsinj]

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