Flying this summer, not so budget friendly

[DIS B]

Okay, my husband and I need some advice. We have 3 options to fly to see some family. First, let me say that we will be flying with a 16 month-old and only want a non-stop flight. With that said, our choices are the following:

1. Drive a few hours to another airport that happens to be near a place we could definitely spend a little vacation the day before and after our flight and get a non-stop flight for $354 on Southwest.

2. Drive about 45 minutes to an airport and get a direct flight on Airtran for $318, but that does not include choosing your seat or all the luggage we will need.

3. Drive about 45 minutes to an airport and get a direct flight on Spirit Airlines for about $130 to fly into a smaller airport 45-60 minutes away from our destination city. From what we have read, Spirit has a lot of hidden fees, which could be really hard for us since we are traveling with a small child.

Please give any advice or feedback on these airlines and your thoughts on their convenience when it comes to traveling with a toddler. This is our first time flying with her.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

are the amounts you have listed total or for each person?
I would pick the second option. Try to get packed in 1 checked bag and then you each get a carry on. That won't be too much more and pick your seat depending on where you sit is only $6 per person.
You have to think about the trip back. Are you going to want to drive a few hours back home on your return day? Or stay another day in a hotel? And then drive a few hours?
I know when we come back from vacation we just want to get home.

Sarah

 

[ssawka]

I agree with sarah. Go with the second option. Also, if you will have a car at your destination, consider buying the things you'll need there rather than packing it and paying the baggage fees.

 

[dhardawa]

I would do option 2.

Also, google about Spirit before you fly them. I have talked to a couple of people who have used them and were very unhappy and online looks like they are a nightmare. It's a shame because they fly out of my local airport for very reasonable rates, but I won't chance it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You need to drop option 3 - don't even consider flying Spirit!

I would also go with #2, if by direct flight you really mean non-stop. You probably don't need to bring as much luggage as you think if you will be visiting family.

I'm not sure that you factored in all the extra costs for option #1 - gas, hotel, food costs, long drive (especially going home).

 

[zoo2tycoon]

You do know with Airtran you can pay extra and get your seat assignment ahead of the 24 hour mark where it is free. If it is important to sit together than it might be worth it (IDK if you are going to Disney or where but if it is a popular family destination than it might be worth it). The airlines won't ask people to move around.

It is so hard to get away from the hidden costs on airlines and they nickle and dime us! Good luck and enjoy the trip.

 

[Donnask8pro]

You need to drop option 3 - don't even consider flying Spirit!
.

Completely agree...

 

[DIS B]

You do know with Airtran you can pay extra and get your seat assignment ahead of the 24 hour mark where it is free. If it is important to sit together than it might be worth it (IDK if you are going to Disney or where but if it is a popular family destination than it might be worth it). The airlines won't ask people to move around.

It is so hard to get away from the hidden costs on airlines and they nickle and dime us! Good luck and enjoy the trip.

No, the destination city isn't Orlando. In fact, that is the place that would be a few hours away that we could spend a night before and after the flight and make a little vacation out of it. Do you know if you can leave your car at the hotel and take their buses back and forth?

The issue is this-the family up there does not have a very kid-friendly place for her to play (ie-they are pretty much hoarders), so we thought the option of Disney before and after may be fun and make it seem a little more vacation-esq. We are paying for hotels and a rental car once we are at the destination city and will only be there for less than 4 days.

Also, those prices were per person.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The issue is this-the family up there does not have a very kid-friendly place for her to play (ie-they are pretty much hoarders), so we thought the option of Disney before and after may be fun and make it seem a little more vacation-esq.....

That sounds so mysterious. Is their house so full of junk that you can't move? Why even visit? Doesn't sound very vacation-esq (what does that mean, anyway?) Just curious.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would not leave my car at the Disney resort. Your parking pass will be for one day and what if security would happen to notice it, they may think the car is abandoned and have it towed. Not sure if this is something that security would do but I would hate to risk it. Then have to pay to get my car out of the impound lot which could cost more than just paying to park it at the airport. Not to mention you would then have take a cab to the impound lot to get your car.
Plus if you have to get it out of an impound lot you will need documentation that you are the owner of the car.

 

[bas71873]

I flew with my DD a lot when she was about that age and honestly, having to change flights with a toddler isn't all that bad and if it might save you some money and a whole lotta time in the car and the nightmare of "logistics", I'd go with a closer airport and a layover. I found that a flight with a layover allowed DD to burn off a little energy between flights by walking around and then she wouldn't be so antsy on a flight. I even bought one of those cute little monkey backpack "leash" things since she wasn't a big hand holder and it gave her the freedom she wanted and the peace of mind I needed.

Just some advice or info to consider from another point of view. I personally would have a VERY hard time paying the prices you quoted per person for a flight and having to drive extra time to get there...ICK. For me, my time (and a little convenience) is worth a little something (mostly my sanity ).

 

[DIS B]

I flew with my DD a lot when she was about that age and honestly, having to change flights with a toddler isn't all that bad and if it might save you some money and a whole lotta time in the car and the nightmare of "logistics", I'd go with a closer airport and a layover. I found that a flight with a layover allowed DD to burn off a little energy between flights by walking around and then she wouldn't be so antsy on a flight. I even bought one of those cute little monkey backpack "leash" things since she wasn't a big hand holder and it gave her the freedom she wanted and the peace of mind I needed.

Just some advice or info to consider from another point of view. I personally would have a VERY hard time paying the prices you quoted per person for a flight and having to drive extra time to get there...ICK. For me, my time (and a little convenience) is worth a little something (mostly my sanity ).

Did you pay for you daughter's own seat or just keep her on your lap? I'm afraid she will freak out because of the whole pressure on your ears for the take off and landing. Not to mention, I'm not the best flyer (I get motion sick), and I know she will want me and not my husband. That is a big reason I want to do one take off and one landing.

All I keep thinking about is that family who got kicked off the plane because their child had a temper tantrum. Watch that happen to us...

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

1. Drive a few hours to another airport that happens to be near a place we could definitely spend a little vacation the day before and after our flight and get a non-stop flight for $354 on Southwest.

Shoot, if you're driving a few hours anyway, why not just keep on driving 'til you get there?

 

[bas71873]

Did you pay for you daughter's own seat or just keep her on your lap? I'm afraid she will freak out because of the whole pressure on your ears for the take off and landing. Not to mention, I'm not the best flyer (I get motion sick), and I know she will want me and not my husband. That is a big reason I want to do one take off and one landing.

All I keep thinking about is that family who got kicked off the plane because their child had a temper tantrum. Watch that happen to us...

Thanks for all the advice.

I always bought my DD her own seat (well worth the money spent IMO). I just made my life much easier for her to have her own space and she would be by the window and I would sit in the aisle seat. I never bothered to drag a car seat either and she would buckle and sit for take off & landing and sometimes during the flight, I would put the seat up between us, loosen her belt and she had enough room to lay down in my lap and sleep.

I also made sure to have lots of things to keep her busy....toys to play with, the color wonder markers & the books that come with them or just crayons & coloring books, playdoh & plenty of wipes....yep, we made playdoh snakes for HOURS, books and of course FOOD! I would bring gummies and little dumb dumb suckers and I would bring her sippy cup and the flight attendants would gladly fill it up with apple juice.


My DD never had an issue with her ears on take off nor landing and one of the times she flew she even had an ear infection (but she's always been an easy going sick kid when she wasn't feeling well). I would have a drink ready for her to suck and some suckers.

I wish you luck. My DD thinks flying is the best thing since sliced bread and we haven't flown anywhere in a while and so this summer, she requested a vacation destination that required flying to get there .

 

[malibuconlee]

Shoot, if you're driving a few hours anyway, why not just keep on driving 'til you get there?

Lots of people have to drive a few hours to an airport and fly much further away.

When we lived in El Paso we had to take two flights then drive three hours to go see family. Nothing direct and an airport much closer would have involved a LOT more money and another flight on a prop plane!