Gas Prices affecting anyone's trip plans?

minniemickeyfan

minniemickeyfan

Well-Known Member
We are leaving Memorial Day weekend and planning on driving, even with $5 a gallon it would still be cheaper for us to drive than fly right now. So we are still planning on going, even though it might be more to budget.
But I was wondering if anyone is thinking of changing their trip plans due to gas prices? Or you willing to just pay more?
 
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ddbowdoin

ddbowdoin

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Gas prices tend to far more influence 'weekend trips' and other discretionary travel. Disney is not short-term thinking travel for people. It's something most people book well in advance and lock into.. not go 'hrmm.. should we goto Disney next week??'

The point you made and I responded to was your claim that gas prices make EVERYTHING go up. Yes they do, but not in the short term. Consumer prices are very insulated from commodities fluctuations. The produce table and gas pump are typically where you see the greatest volatility and speed in reacting to market conditions.

Coca-Cola isn't going to raise the price of your 2L bottle of soda today because gas went up .30 cents yesterday.

So again to the topic of the thread - the cost of gas going up shouldn't scare anyone off their trip. It will have marginal impact. But what it does influence is consumer sentiment. That is what will cause people to cancel trips - not increased cost. It's fear of future costs.
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but it isn't the price of gas per se, it is the price of crude oil per barrell... which affects air travel significantly when dealing with flight prices. There are a handful of people here who would have no problem looking at a long weekend down at WDW maybe a month out before travel time. when the price of crude is low, you can find flights from Logan to MCO for as low as 89 bucks each way (direct) as little as 2 weeks from travel dates.
 
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minniemickeyfan

minniemickeyfan

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I just refigured my trip costs versus buying airline tickets today, not bad at Southwest, versus driving at $5 a gallon, and its still way cheaper to drive. So, we will be sticking with driving as our plan. I'm figuring $170 more in gas at the $5 a gallon. So, we will just cut something else if need too.
 
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flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
ddbowdoin said:
but it isn't the price of gas per se, it is the price of crude oil per barrell... which affects air travel significantly when dealing with flight prices. There are a handful of people here who would have no problem looking at a long weekend down at WDW maybe a month out before travel time. when the price of crude is low, you can find flights from Logan to MCO for as low as 89 bucks each way (direct) as little as 2 weeks from travel dates.
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Is that really true after the last airline industry self-destruct that cooincided with the last major spike in gas prices?

Airlines are one of the most exposed industries to fuel prices because of their low margins and the high percentage of cost tied to fuel. Airlines that didn't hedge fuel prices prior to the last major jump were very strained and it caused several to go under. Most have tightened their belts with lower capacity since than and has pretty much dried up a lot of the budget seats that used to be common. The budget market is pretty much solely left to Southwest and Airtran now. Jetblue I wouldn't even say has budget rates anymore.

Is your $89 example true in the last two years? I haven't seen prices like that myself since like '06 in our area (and that was Southwest)
 
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ddbowdoin

ddbowdoin

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Is that really true after the last airline industry self-destruct that cooincided with the last major spike in gas prices?

Airlines are one of the most exposed industries to fuel prices because of their low margins and the high percentage of cost tied to fuel. Airlines that didn't hedge fuel prices prior to the last major jump were very strained and it caused several to go under. Most have tightened their belts with lower capacity since than and has pretty much dried up a lot of the budget seats that used to be common. The budget market is pretty much solely left to Southwest and Airtran now. Jetblue I wouldn't even say has budget rates anymore.

Is your $89 example true in the last two years? I haven't seen prices like that myself since like '06 in our area (and that was Southwest)
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yes, my father has been out of work for the last two years (union carpenter for 35 years) and he has been flying to Orlando for the last two years several times a year to work. My mom was finding 89-109 rates pretty consistently...
 
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Rasvar

Rasvar

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
Is that really true after the last airline industry self-destruct that cooincided with the last major spike in gas prices?

Airlines are one of the most exposed industries to fuel prices because of their low margins and the high percentage of cost tied to fuel. Airlines that didn't hedge fuel prices prior to the last major jump were very strained and it caused several to go under. Most have tightened their belts with lower capacity since than and has pretty much dried up a lot of the budget seats that used to be common. The budget market is pretty much solely left to Southwest and Airtran now. Jetblue I wouldn't even say has budget rates anymore.

Is your $89 example true in the last two years? I haven't seen prices like that myself since like '06 in our area (and that was Southwest)
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Don't forget Spirit on the budget side. However, they are not one of my first choices. I keep wondering when they are going to add a fee for adjustable air control and lavatory. ;)
 
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slappy magoo

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
captainkidd said:
You DO realize that when the price of gas goes up, everything else does as well, right?
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It could be an incorrect perception, but it seems like the increase in things like airfare prices skews higher than gas prices when the price of oil increases...

...and then of course when the price of oil goes down, the price of airfare will go up again, because more people won't be feeling the pinch at the pump and have money to go on vacation again, thus increasing demand for flights. They get ya coming and going (literally!) :D
 
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SFMarine

SFMarine

Member
I haven't booked my airfare but I really need to soon. I wish I took care of it a few months ago before the spike. There's always the chance the prices will drop to sell out, but I'm not taking any chances this year. Just going to have to go with the flow and pay the high airfare costs regardless.
 
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L

LuvsTheMouse

Active Member
Is your $89 example true in the last two years? I haven't seen prices like that myself since like '06 in our area (and that was Southwest)[/QUOTE]


Went to Disney Sept/Oct 2011. Flight was 82.00 & 80.00 (162.00 round trip)
that was Southwest out of Providence.

For this year the flight as of now is 135.00 each way.
 
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D

dgm21578

New Member
yes and no

the price of gas gives me a long pause, but I still plan to return in the fall (we were just in Disney 3 weeks ago) since we'll have time to adjust to the price, as long as it doesn't get to crazy numbers like $5 or $6 a gallon, which are the numbers some are throwing around. Besides, gas is a small part of the total cost of a trip to Disney when you consider hotel, tickets and food. We'll just bring more snacks and buy less souvenirs.

I actually hope it causes Disney to continue offering deals on dining and resorts to offset the gas costs.

It definitely is effecting other parts of our lives though!
 
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Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
LuvsTheMouse said:
Is your $89 example true in the last two years? I haven't seen prices like that myself since like '06 in our area (and that was Southwest)
Click to expand...


Went to Disney Sept/Oct 2011. Flight was 82.00 & 80.00 (162.00 round trip)
that was Southwest out of Providence.

For this year the flight as of now is 135.00 each way.
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I think that increase in price is a reflection of the fact that SW has cut back on the number of flights it has to maximize occupancy. Two or three years ago I rarely was on a full flight with SW. After the first real gas spike after the last election, SW reduced the number of flights to some areas as well as opening up new markets. This has resulted in more full flights. Now I rarely am on a flight hat is not full. With higher demand comes higher prices.
 
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gccgrad1996

Active Member
Summer plans

The high gas prices haven't changed our plans for Disney. We are still going in August and will be driving. I checked Orbitz and the cheapest flight I could find would be $1228 for a family of 5. But in order to get a full eight days in Disney, due to the times of the flights, I would need to add two extra nights to my reservation adding in an additional cost to my vacation of at least $400 (room plus quick service dining). So overall about $1700 to fly. We can drive for about $1000.
Instead of affecting our Disney trip, it will affect other possible day trips we decide to make. We will be making sacrifices with our other summer plans, but not with Disney.
I hope things getting better soon, but it sure doesn't look like it. :(
 
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flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
The bigger the family.. the harder it is to fly. I feel your pain!!

I really want to take the kids to DLR instead of WDW for our next trip.. but the overhead of flying for 5 is painful.
 
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JeffnPa

JeffnPa

Member
I guess the interesting question will be is how will the price of gas effect WDW ressies. At this time of year people are starting to plan trips, using tax returns to pay for them so will WDW see this and begin to offer more discounts, Hard to say but I would think you would have to say yes. :goodnevil
 
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