I decided the other day that it is has been far too long since I’ve journeyed back to Illinois to see my mother. The guilt was starting to wear on me. After all mom is 85 years old and not in the best of health–how would I feel when it had been over 6 months since I’d seen her and something happened? The answer to that one is simple–like a total jerk! So I decided I’d book a trip for June.
I picked a weekend three weeks from now and starting looking at airfares. I’m flying from Southern California to Chicago which is a pretty highly traveled route, but let’s just face it, this summer there are no bargain flights. I refuse to fly a connecting flight to Chicago and fly through Denver as United wanted me to do or Dallas as American suggested for a cheaper fare. Denver at least makes a little sense but Dallas to get to Chicago? I don’t think so–not to save $30 or $40.
With delays these days I don’t want to have that connection which adds another possibility for a travel nightmare, so I book a non-stop on American for $427 for a long weekend. After I book the fare–American announces that they are going to be charging $15 for the first checked bag. So the cost of the trip now goes up to $442. Thank goodness the flight out is before the baggage fee goes into effect. I remember when I used to be able to fly to Chicago for around $200. “Those days are long gone sister,” I tell myself.
On to booking a rental car. I do a search to see the costs of rental cars at O’Hare. Can’t find a car for much less than $50 a day. Okay I have an inspiration, check out rental car costs in Rockford my final destination, instead of O’Hare and jackpot the cost of rental car is $20 a day in Rockford. So I can take the bus from O’Hare into Rockford and pick up my rental car there–saving myself over $120.
So by the time I pay the pet-sitter and all the costs of the trip, it will be a $1000 weekend. Yikes this is with being Internet savvy and searching for alternative deals. Mom is certainly worth it but I guess the days of cheap trip anywhere are long gone! Whether you drive or fly it’s gonna cost you! Bummer!
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3 Comments
That is RIDICULOUS…I can’t believe it!
Yes, I remember being able to jet around the country for a couple hundred bucks too…not so much anymore, eh?
I hear ya - our recent trip to the Gulf Coast cost us a lot of duckets too. We got charged at the airport for not pre-registering with United online before we left. Ok - THAT is a new charge. It didn’t used to be that way. It was an additional $15 to check the bags because we didn’t pre-register and let them know how many bags we were bringing. WTF?
I think that this summer is going to make things even harder on the airlines personally. I know that we aren’t flying unless we absolutely need to. Our only vacation is just a few hours away at the beach this year.
I agree it is ridiculous. When you fly now you get less and less for more money. I understand that the fuel costs are hitting the airlines hard but they forget that for many people flying for vacation is an option. I think the airline industry has forgotten that their customers are guests. When money is tight and you have to cut costs you have to treat people better not worse. You don’t spring things on people at the airport or gate. There are so many automated ways to get a message to a customer there should be no surprises when you show up at the airport. The whole flying experience is just so uncomfortable now many people are just opting out. I know I used to take a lot more short trips and I’ve just kept those trips close to home. Don’t know what the answer is–that’s why this post is under Whine!