United to Begin Charging Extra for Second Bag!

[HowardE]

Now run the numbers with a buddy in the car going with you. Airfare doubles, car costs remain virtually the same. For really dramatic savings, consider the case of 4 buddies (or a family of 4 or more) in a van that gets 25mpg.

Don't forget to factor in the rental car or taxi costs you'll have if you fly.

Of course, that's an exceptionally long drive and that is a subjective factor. If it's too much driving for someone then no amount of savings matters. If I were doing it I'd make a stop in Pensacola for the Oriskany and maybe another for Ginnie or other springs. Can't do that flying.

Doesn't a person's time spent in a car have a cost?

Hotels?

Food?

 

[HowardE]

:11: Speak for yourself! Two years ago I flew round-trip, direct flight to St. Maarten...7 days lodging plus airfare was $550. In september I flew to Fort Lauderdale round trip for around $150. A week ago I had to pay over $300 just to fly to Puerto Rico in March. I was also looking at prices to fly to Freeport to do a liveaboard and the cheapest flight (with transfers even) is $400.

The point here is? Airtravel is pretty cheap?

 

[Gombessa]

The point here is? Airtravel is pretty cheap?

Add to that the natural volatility of air fares. Random anecdotal evidence to 3 different locations doesn't say anything, even before you take into account season, purchase timing, stopovers, and whole slew of other factors.

I can get a RT coach ticket to Hawaii for under $200 or over $1500, depending on when I want to go and when I book the ticket. Saying it cost me $1800 to get a ticket the week before Spring Break doesn't mean prices have gone up.

 

[ReefHound]

Doesn't a person's time spent in a car have a cost?

So what's the cost? You were using precise numbers before. Don't stop now.

Food? I presume you would have been eating anyway? Hotels? Sure but a few cheap rooms isn't going to make a dent in the economic comparison involving 2 or more people in the car.

Hey, I'm not saying it's better to drive from Denver to Miami but not everyone is faced with that extreme of a trip. If you are simply not up to that amount of driving it's really not an issue of economics anyway. When you get down to a 10 hour drive though you are really going to have to hate driving to make flying a competitive choice.

 

[HowardE]

So what's the cost? You were using precise numbers before. Don't stop now.

Food? I presume you would have been eating anyway? Hotels? Sure but a few cheap rooms isn't going to make a dent in the economic comparison involving 2 or more people in the car.

Hey, I'm not saying it's better to drive from Denver to Miami but not everyone is faced with that extreme of a trip. If you are simply not up to that amount of driving it's really not an issue of economics anyway. When you get down to a 10 hour drive though you are really going to have to hate driving to make flying a competitive choice.

I used to tour with a band as a sound engineer... I used to drive over 300,000 miles a year. I prefer flying now. Also, I'm a premier member of United's FF Program, so this whole thing doesn't effect me anyway.

 

[ReefHound]

Just as I thought, the economic comparison was a red herring because you had already made your mind up regardless of the outcome.

 

[DiverBeth]

The airlines are going to nickel and dime us to death. Once one airline gets away with something sooner or later they'll all follow suit.

I live in Chicago and I rarely fly United. I just don't like them. For the last 10 years I usually do better on American (but they're not much better).

But if I have been reading the thread correctly United is not charging golfers for golf bags. Then I say we contact United and make some noise that if golf bags are not considered an extra bag than neither should our gear bags.

 

[ReefHound]

Or just pack your gear in a golf bag.

 

[HowardE]

Just as I thought, the economic comparison was a red herring because you had already made your mind up regardless of the outcome.

Well... also I fly from Denver to Ft Lauderdale about 10-12 times a year. This would be 24 days of driving, or almost a month of my life.

Honestly, I'd rather pay $50 - $100 more to fly direct than have to make stops. But that's just me.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Now run the numbers with a buddy in the car going with you. Airfare doubles, car costs remain virtually the same. For really dramatic savings, consider the case of 4 buddies (or a family of 4 or more) in a van that gets 25mpg.

Don't forget to factor in the rental car or taxi costs you'll have if you fly.

Of course, that's an exceptionally long drive and that is a subjective factor. If it's too much driving for someone then no amount of savings matters. If I were doing it I'd make a stop in Pensacola for the Oriskany and maybe another for Ginnie or other springs. Can't do that flying.

So how do you go places like Bonaire, Hawaii, Australia??? I think Boat rides are even more expensive.