I need to see my Illinois family which I have done in the summer and my college friends want me to come to a reunion. I can't believe some airlines are asking $400 to go to Illinois. I've checked all over but I am picky and want a nonstop trip which is tricky.
If that were all I could take it but I need to rent a nice hotel, car,ect. I could go to Europe for what it will cost me. I think maybe they should all come here but my sister can't make the trip and my friends, well, that would be too many at one time.

Isn't it awful??? I checked to Dallas when I thought I was going to have to go when my DIL was in the hospital and it was over $800 from Phoenix to Dallas!!! I can drive cheaper even with the price of gas now.

Can you drive it in a day? I think when I drove up here from Orlando I overnighted in Knoxville, then made it to the Soo by the next night. I-75 the whole way!

Wow, it's awful. I don't want to drive since Mr. Bud does not want to go to Illinois. He says he has nothing to do there. I guess he's right. If I drove, it might be a longggg trip.
From Phoenix to Dallas is about the same time isn't it? That's worse than what I am seeing right now.
A couple of my friends would keep me but they live in the middle of Chicago and work full time.

Phoenix to Dallas is about 1100. When I drove out here, I stopped in Carlsbad NM (a little out of my way) to see David's dad. He was ill at the time and I was afraid I might not see him again...and I was right. It takes about 22 hours of straight driving which I couldn't do if I was alone but David and I together could do it. Alone, I'd stop. If I flew, I'd still have to rent a car so I wasn't at the mercy of one of my children. So add that cost to the price of airfare and it's pretty cost prohibitive.

I'm disgusted with air travel in general. Crowded, overbooked flights, all the stupid fees they tack on for everything, long lines at the airports and the homeland security nonsense - I've had it. No more flying for me. I'll drive or stay home.

While my Dad was alive I had to buy 3 coach seats nonstop from LA to Fla which always cost me over $1000 usually $1200 and had to make the tickets 3 to 4 weeks in advance to get that price and all seats together with armrests that would go up so I could lie down on the flights. First class was too expensive and seats don't recline enough for me to lie flat so hence the 3 coach seats together. In fact anything over 1-2 hours I have to book 3 coach seats.

I used to always say as well I could go to Europe and so many other places on what I paid for these tickets tho at least that was before the big increases ~ now it's really bad.

Sure hope you can manage somehow. It does really get to be crazy with how expensive things can get

I drove to Florida myself but I am getting too old for that and I'd end up in trouble. It took us 2 days, stopping in Georgia for the night. Either way, driving or flying is almost the same when you add up car rental, hotels,ect. I am still checking but I want my own way, the non stop and I'd like to fly into the airport that is south of Chicago, but they don't do those flights this year. It's costing them too much money. Anyone, except those who get free miles is crazy if they say flying is cheaper.
But it's the only way I want to go right now.

my trip to Minnesota last year was expensive, 500+ round trip. no direct flights there, they told me the tickets were high because few people fly there. I have always flown United . Stacy, got our tickets for our trip in Sept. on Jet Bluie for under 200 round trip... direct flight. I have never flown Jet Blue but they started using them 4 years ago, never had a problem with them or their flights.. Ellie, did you check prices for all airports near by , hope you find a way.. good luck.