How is the current fuel prices affecting your plans?

[Coach Rick]

Even with DVC, the pricing of airfare has gone up substantially this year. In the past 10 years I have never paid these kind of prices for airfare. While it is not going to deter me at the moment, I am not sure how much more our budget can take. We went from $500-$600 for round trip tickets, to $1600-$2000 just in the past year. One thing that has changed for us is the length of stay. Instead of shorter multiple trips, I think I will prefer longer single trips.

 

[bwvBound]

We booked 3 nights at DLR (Grand Californian) for late May over making a fall trip to WDW.

Other than that -- we've taken to leaving my car "quiet" for 2 days each week by choosing carpooling, walking and other forms of transportation. We continue our efforts of using only one car on the weekends. (This is a tough one for us!)

We still plan to enjoy our road trip this June (San Diego to Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore) -- 2 weeks of driving -- but will spend more of our budget on fuel than originally forecast. Perhaps we'll do more cooking in the condos along the way to offset ... ?

I'm glad both our condo and flights to HI this July were already covered. Nice to have things "prepaid" beforehand!

 

[daisyduck123]

We've got a Disney trip planned for July 27 - August 6. We're still go (of course!!), but how we get there is becoming an issue.

We always drive, but the other day, DH suggested that we might fly. He said that the gas cost alone will cost us about $600.00 if we drive. I really love driving & having our SUV down there. It makes going to our dinner ADRs each night VERY easy. I also like to buy a LOT of souvenirs, including breakable ones.

I told DH we'd talk about it later. I REALLY want to drive.

 

[eporter66]

I brought the topic up in a post a week or so ago. I was surprised at how many people said it would not change their Disney Plans.

Based on how DVC works, you have to go once every 3 years or lose points if I am not mistaken (ex. bank all 2007 to 2008 and borrow all 2009 as an example). I am not sure that we would go to that extreme, but if prices continue their climb, I am not sure what will ultimately happen to our vacation planning. The airlines are merging or going under, it just seems like a bad time.

In our situation, we have always flown to WDW. After going over prices, our latest round trip cost (3 Adults) was a little over $852 Round Trip. It is only about $100 bucks more total than the cost for our trip this past Feb (2008) that was booked in October of 2007. I ended up being surprised that it was not much more. My initial searches were much higher until Southwest added their lower fares.

I hope we dont have to change, but I would go for the longer vacation, less trips. Our current rate has been at least 1 trip a year, sometimes 2. I doubt we will do twice a year again at these prices.

 

[marvali]

For right now, we have a trip planned for July to Vero and WDW. The word is that prices will increase a good bit more between now and then. As one poster already said, it may mean we have to find ways to cut back in other areas, such as more meals in our "home" kitchen to help offset the extra cost to drive.

At current prices we would probably plan less trips for a longer period of time if possible. Depending on how much prices continue to climb, it may mean doing some banking and borrowing and not going every year, or using our points closer to home at HHIR or through II. It will also depend on what ticket prices do as the price of gas continues to go up.

I said it is tough to answer this question because it is hard to know what the future will bring so it will be an ever changing situation (at least for the foreseeable future) we have to factor in to our plans.

 

[Claire L]

No effect at all when the surcharge is minimal considering our initial outlay for flights.

Claire

 

[castleri]

Our cost for Sept flights is $182 each. I seem to remember that when I took my first trips back in the early 80s I paid $200 each so am not that unhappy although we have had a number of trips over the last few years where the cost was only a little over $100 each. I just count myself lucky that I had those trips. We will just cut costs in other areas such as dining and we no longer buy souvenirs by the suitcase full either.

 

[castleri]

sorry duplicate post

 

[Coach Rick]

Our cost for Sept flights is $182 each. I seem to remember that when I took my first trips back in the early 80s I paid $200 each so am not that unhappy although we have had a number of trips over the last few years where the cost was only a little over $100 each. I just count myself lucky that I had those trips. We will just cut costs in other areas such as dining and we no longer buy souvenirs by the suitcase full either.

I will assume by each you mean each way? It was only a few years ago I used to get a Ding alert from Southwest at least once a week with specials to Orlando at $49 each way. I used to laugh that it cost me more to drive to the airport from Woonsocket, and park than a round trip ticket to Orlando..(it took longer too - -it's a Rhode Island thing ) This whole question was prompted because we are doing a trip in July, and one in August. I booked the August one as soon as that part of the schedule opened up. However, we intended on staying till the 24th, but the schedule was only opened till the 22nd, so I booked the 22nd as a precaution to make sure we could get home. I went in the very day the schedule opened to October and was going to change the three tickets I have to that Sunday, knowing full well, Sunday would cost more. What I found was shocking, well at least to me. It would have cost me an additional $350 to change that one flight for two days later. Economics prevailed and we are coming home on Friday night.

Of course it does make DVC membership more valuable than ever, IMO. Now I will have to find a way to burn those 455 points I have.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We'll just bite the bullet and go anyway. I have to have something to do, so searching for the best airfare is a great pastime, I guess!

 

[Coach Rick]

I said it is tough to answer this question because it is hard to know what the future will bring so it will be an ever changing situation (at least for the foreseeable future) we have to factor in to our plans.

Oh I agree in the more distant future, but what I meant more was in the immediate, perhaps next year ahead future.

I know there is a history of ups and downs in every industry, and travel is no different. I am hoping this is more of a correction in pricing, and will eventually correct back to meet demand. If demand drops, the consumption of oil will drop and the prices should drop some and stabilize for a bit. (I hope)

 

[lovinthemouse]

We will definitely still go. Our trips will just be longer and that is ok with me.

 

[Brian Noble]

It hasn't really affected our annual Florida-in-February trip, and I had already grabbed frequent flyer tickets for a bonus trip down for Memorial day.

But, airfares have been significantly higher for our 2/09 trip than in past years, so we're in a wait-and-see mode before locking in any other have-to-fly-to trips. For example, we've pretty much ruled out the Alaska cruise we were thinking about for summer '09, and our current thoughts are drive-to destinations for that summer: Smoky mountains, Williamsburg, the Wisconsin Dells, maybe mid-atlantic beach.

At least we'll be driving in our Prius.

 

[DeeCee735]

While it is not detering us from visiting, it is effecting our "spending money" while there. I am budgeting and spending more for travel and less for spending, so technically our spending money is going to the gas station and we are buying less when there. I guess that's the way it'll have to be until we hit the lottery

 

[RLRDA]

I voted that we'd probably take longer, less frequent trips. That being said...we are leaving on Sunday for 5 nights and have booked another 5 night trip for late September. I don't think that travel schedule will continue for us. As a family of 5 airfare does get expensive although for this trip the fares were $245 per person R/T and for September they are slightly less - just around $200 pp R/T (both on SWA - nonstops can't beat them!!) In 2009, we only expect to do one 8 night trip to AKV in August.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Our return flight home was cancelled out of the blue for my trip last week, apparently months ago. No email, nothin. Had to take the only flight out of Orlando at 9:00a that haf 4 seats left. This was a month ago (made my ressies in Nov.) Well, going home last Sat, they overbooked the flight by one person. The whole boarding time they were asking for volunteers for a later flight. We got on, don't know if there were any takers. But this was very stressful. The airlines are cancelling flights to save fuel. I do have to book for my May 2009 trip, but after that we are gonna drive. Too much hassle and fees are getting rediculess.

 

[SandyCA]

I voted trips closer to home. Having said that, I have two trips already planned this year to WDW and have already bought airfare for them. My September trip is with ff miles on SW (can't beat the $10 ticket ). My trip in November, we paid $498 for my husbands RT ticket , but mine was with FF miles, so I have to look at 2 RT tickets at appox. $250 each, doesn't feel quite as bad! I have to say that if I did not have the FF for November, we would not be going.

 

[Coach Rick]

Our return flight home was cancelled out of the blue for my trip last week, apparently months ago. No email, nothin. Had to take the only flight out of Orlando at 9:00a that haf 4 seats left. This was a month ago (made my ressies in Nov.) Well, going home last Sat, they overbooked the flight by one person. The whole boarding time they were asking for volunteers for a later flight. We got on, don't know if there were any takers. But this was very stressful. The airlines are cancelling flights to save fuel. I do have to book for my May 2009 trip, but after that we are gonna drive. Too much hassle and fees are getting rediculess.

I believe you are right. Looking at the Southwest schedule, Sunday the 24th of August, there are only 5 flights as opposed to the 7 on a Friday and 8 on Saturday. It would seem that Southwest is controlling it's own pricing by cutting it's flights. I can only imagine how much savings goes along with cutting a flight, and jamming all those people in on the remaining flights. You would think there would be more flights on a weekend to a place like Orlando in August than on Wednesday. Well I guess we are at their mercy. Besides, Southwest is always bragging on how they hedged against increased fuel costs by purchasing future fuel inventories 5 years in advance, but their fares have risen with the increased cost out there. All that said they are still less expensive than any other airline flying out of Providence, and still THE only one to offer nonstop service to Orlando. And those multi-grain bars are the best.

 

[marvali]

Oh I agree in the more distant future, but what I meant more was in the immediate, perhaps next year ahead future.

I know there is a history of ups and downs in every industry, and travel is no different. I am hoping this is more of a correction in pricing, and will eventually correct back to meet demand. If demand drops, the consumption of oil will drop and the prices should drop some and stabilize for a bit. (I hope)

I realize what you meant. What I am meaning is that what I'm hearing is by this time next year, $5.00 a gallon may be the norm. That is approx. double what it is now and will certainly have an impact on decisions. Right now we have a trip planned this summer to VBR and OKW, and one at New Year's for AKV. We probably won't be affected on those trips because we have them planned and like some other's said, the gas stations will be getting the money instead of restaurants and souvenir vendors. We will just adjust to keep the budget pretty much the same. However, if the $5.00/gallon comes to fruition, then it will definitely start to impact our decisions about when, where and how much. And IMO, once we let the proverbial gas cat out of the bag and people continue to say what the heck and travel anyway, the chances of it "correcting" will at best mean maybe back to where it is now.

 

[hakepb]

Rising gas prices hurt more on a day-to-day comuting basis than vacation. (day-to-day normally comes out of weekly pocket money, and most drive much more comuting in a year.)

For my ~2300 mile round trip, getting 23MPG, each $1.00 in gas really means $100 extra. Absolutely noticeable, but not yet (at $4 or $5) a complete vacation killer. On MYW passes, just spend one more day at the pool or shopping, or buy less...