Most you’d spend on airfare?

[Dakota731]

I’m so bummed about the flight costs right now and wondering if it’s worth it for a large family?

 

[sheilafri]

I just spent $2500 per person for DH and I to fly to Europe in economy plus (he’s talll, can’t stand the cramped economy seats, and we can afford it). Anyway, we were lamenting that our notion of what things should cost is stuck at prices from a decade ago when we could have both traveled and stayed a week for that per person price. We have missed out on some opportunities to buy things thinking they were too expensive but the price has continued to rise. Look at the price, look at your budget, and decide if it works for your family. To be honest, we have never regretted travel and after a few years I can’t tell you how much we paid, unless it was an extraordinarily great low price. Our children have gone on to travel a great deal, one lives abroad permanently, all studied abroad, and all appreciate the opportunities they had as children to learn about different cultures.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’m so bummed about the flight costs right now and wondering if it’s worth it for a large family?

It really depends.
Are we talking "just" a vacation or is it something "special" (a wedding, a graduation, a funeral)?
Are there other transportation options? How long do those take?
How far in advance is the trip?
Can you book on an airline that will refund the difference if the price drops (SW, Delta, and one other I believe)?

 

[Stratman50th]

$0. We drive everyplace now.

 

[ZerasPride]

I wish driving was an option for us! Last year I paid $605 to fly to Orlando for an annual girls Disney trip. I thought it was a bit excessive but hey first class. This year, so far, I have seen first class be as high as $1400 per person. Last week the price dipped to $800 so I snagged my seat and when my friend went to grab hers it changed from 5 seats available to no more seats available at this price. The fare is holding at a little over $1,000 so she is waiting and hoping the fare comes down a bit. As I said, this is for first class but it is only a 2.5 hour flight! Truly a first world problem I know but it is frustrating nonetheless!

 

[beccasmom]

We haven’t purchased airfare for our September trip yet, but I’ve checked it occasionally. On American economy was a shade under $400, first class was about $1400 (this is from PHL). We sometimes treat ourselves to first class, but not usually for a quick 2-hour flight. We would save that for a longer flight. $400 is right about our limit and so far we haven’t had to pay more for an MCO flight. I well remember booking a trip around a $99 one-way flight (and not on SWA) with no luggage fees and something a little more substantial than a bag of pretzels (although admittedly nothing all that great). Now that I’ve aged myself….

 

[FreeTime]

Domestically $1800 pp 1st class. Flights longer than a couple of hours we prefer first. I’m considering $6200 pp internationally to get Delta One.

As I have gotten older the the excitement of flying has changed from, “oh I get to go on a plane,” to “oh I get to go on a plane and not have to worry about carryon room, rushing to get the best seat (SW), take my to get on or get on early and settle in with a book and drink in hand.” So now I get excited knowing I don’t have to deal with the cattle call rush.

 

[Dakota731]

I hate driving anywhere more then four or five hours, and we can afford. However it goes against my frugal nature to spend double what we paid just two or three years ago! I keep stalking every airline under the sun and just keep being disappointed.

 

[TikiRob]

Depends on where we are going. If flights to MCO (with bags) are under $400 per person, we will probably fly. Otherwise we will take the 13 hour car ride.

 

[Jnjtrio]

Booked RT first class non stop from PDX to MCO 2 weeks ago for $1200 each. So I guess at least that for a 6 hour flight.

 

[Tenkawa]

I just spend $500USD each on economy round trip from Seattle to Orlando (direct, but even with layovers it only saved $25 each). I'll have to pay baggage on top of that.

I used to see flights like this for $300 USD in the pre- times.

 

[1420Elexismc]

We don't typically do further than Florida from CT and I like to stay around $300/pp roundtrip...We came in at $267.55 this upcoming trip so I'm happy.

 

[easyas123]

I suppose it all depends on where I'm traveling, what for, how long the flight is and other variables.

 

[DebbieB]

A friend and I decided a couple weeks ago to go to the Tron preview next month. Paid around $475, which was the most I ever paid, PIT/MCO. Luckily the fare went down and I have $79 in SW credits.

 

[Dakota731]

Unfortunately we don’t have the Southwest option so we won’t get any credits if prices go down. We may have to drive this year ugh.

 

[jimmymc]

Coming from Detroit to Orlando, $500 is about my limit if I'm on Delta direct, and it would have to be under $350 for me to fly with connections or on another airline. Unfortunately Delta, Spirit, and Frontier are the only direct flights, and at this point I have status with Delta so I tend to favor them anyway.

 

[EACarlson]

For a large family it's probably not if you've got the time to drive. I looked at prices for a business trip to MCO in October and am reconsidering it depending on what SW comes out with next week. For me it's looking like $800 RT from my small airport on Delta, $500 for Allegient, and $600 on Delta if I drive 90 minutes to a larger airport. The last week that SW has flights right now, it looks like $400. I think $400 is about my limit for this trip, anything beyond that isn't feasible to me.

 

[Tink3815]

How far is your drive and would you need to purchase hotel rooms on the drive? We are fortunate to have a lot of choices of low fare airlines at our airport. A lot of flyers travel 5 hours to fly out. How far is the drive to the nearest airport that has Southwest? is a combination of flying and driving passible? Another thing to factor in if needed is the cost of a rental car when you arrive. The cheapest I can find for a week at MCO is 500.00 .

 

[EACarlson]

Another thing to factor in if needed is the cost of a rental car when you arrive. The cheapest I can find for a week at MCO is 500.00 .

Where and when are you looking for? I just had Autoslash run a check for me for a trip I'm taking on October and I've got Avis for $400, Budget, Thrifty and Dollar for around $450 and Hertz for $500.
Offsite companies as low as $250

 

[Tink3815]

Where and when are you looking for? I just had Autoslash run a check for me for a trip I'm taking on October and I've got Avis for $400, Budget, Thrifty and Dollar for around $450 and Hertz for $500.
Offsite companies as low as $250

Looking for last week in March= Spring Break time