Leaving on a jet plane or train?
Posted on August 27th, 2008 – 2:54 PMBy Kara McGuire
What does it say about me that I’m already trying to plan for Christmas when it’s the tail end of summer?
So here’s the deal. My family is heading out east for Christmas this year. We’re looking forward to the large family Christmas, but the getting there part is frankly, a pain. And frighteningly expensive this year.
I’ve tapped away at an assortment of online travel sites. I’ve tried one-way tickets and multiple destination tickets. I’ve tried flying on off days and off hours (if there is such a thing around the holidays). I’ve tried flying into nearby airports. Nothing seems to get these plane tickets below $300. Yes, it’s a pipe dream probably to think I can get a flight for that price. But as a young family, paying $700 per ticket to fly nonstop into the most convenient airport when we used to do so for $279 per ticket is just not an option.
One question I have is whether it pays to plan ahead this year, or given uncertainty with gas prices, it pays to wait? Then again, if I wait, airlines might impose a ticketing fee for using the bathrooms if we don’t buy now.
And then there’s the train. Is it worth saving $800 to spend 27 hours each way en route on the rails? We could drive, but the cost of fuel added to the cost of hotel rooms would make it pricier than Amtrak.
Any advice from veteran travelers? Are you worried about the expense of your holiday travel plans this year?
7 Responses to "Leaving on a jet plane or train?"
I’ve traveled to New York by Amtrak before. If you want to do it that way, you need to be able to see the train trip itself as part of the adventure, not something you’re suffering through to save money. The latter sounds like a sure path to misery to me, especially with a whole family. I usually enjoy it though, good unwinding time.
Have you tried signing up for Airfarewatchdog.com ? Great website that updates you on airfare deals. But remember to act fast once it is posted.
I looked into tickets to go to Chicago this fall. I tried 3 different weekends, couldn’t find anything for less than $375. Even tried different days. Ugh. It’s my turn to visit my friend, and I hate that drive…
I’ve already planned my annual August trip back to Minnesota. As soon as Frontier will let me book it, I’m going to be booking my flights using miles.
Really 6 months in advance is by no means crazy.
27 hours seems long, but remember a 4 hour flight at the holidays is never a 4 hours flight…you have to be there early for lines, boarding, delays, etc.
Not to say the train couldn’t have similar delays, but flying that time of year surely is not going to be simple. And if you make a layover to save money, you might be taking up the better part of a day anyway to fly. So think of comparing 27 hours to 12 hours…makes it easier to think about in my mind. I’m considering train to MT next year for a wedding…
Riding on AMTRAK is an exprience in itself. I have criss-crossed the country on trains, and frequently noticed children who are being mesmerized by the experience. Unlike flying, where you are effectively chained to your seat, on a train you can get up, walk around, go to the sightseer car, etc. Kids seem to really enjoy this form of travel because it is so different from the ways they are used to when traveling (unless your kids lived in Europe or Japan, of course).
My wife and I took our 6 yo daughter and 2.5 yo son on a trip to NJ this past summer. I priced everything - planes, trains and automobiles. Cost was significantly lower, including depreciation on our vehicle, to drive.
It was 20 hours to NJ, and between the two of us, with an assist from books and movies for the kids, were able to drive non-stop. It may not be the way you want to start a vacation, but I would rather have an extra day of stress on the vacation rather than several months worth of stress figuring out how I was going to get the CC bill paid for.
