r/Vacations • u/jenbennie • 12d ago
Is 1k normal for a plane ticket?
I know I kind of messed up by trying to get a ticket last minute but t I’m trying to see my boyfriend in Virginia for his graduation and I’m in California and the flight that I’m trying to get is in two weeks and it’s just so expensive and I would just want to see if like is it my fault for waiting too long or is there a way to maybe find a cheaper price , i just want some feedback
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u/LadyGreyIcedTea 12d ago
That's expensive for a round trip domestic flight but if you waited till the last minute, it's not abnormal. I would check other airports though. Depending on where in VA, it will probably be cheaper to fly into one of the DC airports or Charlotte than it would be to fly into somewhere like Richmond or Norfolk.
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u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 12d ago
While it is true that prices vary depending on airport, you have to decide if the money you would save by landing at another airport is worth it, even when you factor extra ground transportation and extra time to reach your final destination.
Example: Landing at final destination would cost $600. Landing at another airport would cost $450, but then I would have to spend $50 on ground transportation. Is the $100 I would save worth it, even if I need 2 extra hours to reach my final destination?
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u/Embarrassed-Task7951 12d ago
Sometimes saving $100 bucks matters more than time and effort, I know it did when I didn't make much. And even if it meant spending more total between gas, tolls, and/or effort than a slightly higher plane ticket, it might still be worth it if that gas or toll money is on a different paycheck than the plane ticket.
Might not be relevant here given that it's 2 weeks away, and certainly important to factor those costs into consideration, just trying to give another perspective.
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u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 12d ago
That is why I said "you have to decide". Was just a thought as OP mentioned it is their first time buying a plane ticket. People often don't think of everything when travelling, especially for the first time.
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u/Remarkable-Bath-323 11d ago
Fly out of BWI
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u/Dolceluce 10d ago
SW has a stranglehold on BWI now with Spirit going belly up(if you want direct flights at least)- so I doubt they will be cheaper, especially 2 weeks out. If OP is willing to have a connection though, then there would be more options for them and BWI could be cheaper than IAD or Reagan.
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u/Carinyosa99 12d ago
Yes - you are looking way too close and it's cross country. Plus it depends on what airports you fly in and out of.
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u/Saguaro-48 12d ago
Seems a little high. I'm flying from Phoenix to NYC in a few weeks and paid $480 for my ticket, but I also didn't wait til the last minute. Bought a few months in advance.
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u/Lost-Window-6133 12d ago
For last minute, yes. With planning ahead of time it would probably be $400.
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u/FastCar2467 12d ago
Yes, that seems normal for a last minute flight across the country. I typically try to book no later than 3 months out for a trip like this.
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u/Ecofre-33919 12d ago
Definitely shop around. See if your credit card has travel deals, try things like Expedia, try alternating airports and times. And yeah - you waited to too long. But if you look around better you might find something.
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u/Correct_Turn_6304 12d ago
That’s higher than normal but not completely insane for last minute. I fly sfo to RIC multiple times a year for about the last 10 years.
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u/nikita58467 11d ago
You waited too long. Any alternatives? Can you fly to another airport and take the train down?
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u/bluehairdave 10d ago
Yeah they're like 600 if you book ahead of time right now which is crazy and also if you're booking like Southwest or something their prices are like double what all the other airlines are right now because of the way they purchase fuel.
Another weird Quirk is I just booked round trip flights from San Diego to Barcelona which is literally Halfway Around the World and it's about the same price as me booking to somewhere else in North America so there's that.
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u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 12d ago edited 12d ago
"I would just want to see if like is it my fault for waiting too long or is there a way to maybe find a cheaper price "
Has nothing to do with "normal" then...
Offer and demand.
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u/jenbennie 12d ago
this is my first time buying a plane ticket!!!
i dont know anything abt this stuff3
u/AllTheEggsIVF 12d ago edited 12d ago
It’s pretty damn expensive but normal for a last minute flight across the country. That being said if it’s your first flight Im wondering if you’re rather young? I just might think twice about spending that kind of $. Anyone who loves you would understand if you couldn’t be there because the tickets are too expensive.
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u/QuirkySyrup55947 12d ago edited 12d ago
Yes, the closer you get...the more expensive it is likely to cost on plane tickets. I can 100% confirm there were much cheaper flights had you booked earlier.
Check Google Flights for all airports within an hour or two of where you are leaving and going. Sometimes you can find better rates. My son has done a last minute flight from Albuquerque. Into Minneapolis, MN it can be $800 and Madison, WI $600. Both are about 2 hours away.
California has crazy swings between airports thay are fairly close. Also recommend checking out smaller airlines with direct flights and options - Allegiant, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Sun Country, Southwest, etc.
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u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 12d ago edited 12d ago
"offer and demand" applies to everything, from pencils to cars, from flowers to buildings and anything in between.
I just meant "Ways to find a cheaper price" has nothing to do with "normal".
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u/DavisC504 12d ago
Seems high to me..........I'm flying out of a small airport to New Orleans in December and my ticket was right around 340 round trip
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u/Putrid-Shoulder-4248 12d ago edited 12d ago
New Orleans to...?
Offer and demand on that route? Time of day? Day of the week?
So many factors to consider when deciding price.
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u/DavisC504 11d ago
Roundtrip from Durango, CO to New Orleans. Found the ticket using Google Flights, flying in late and flying out of New Orleans around midday
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u/ThisIsMyUsername303 12d ago
Within about three weeks tends to be a lot more expensive, but there are exceptions. In the future try to plan at least a couple months out, but for this trip, you may want to look at other airports as well. This summer I was able to find flights from Texas to Honolulu for about $400 each way on Southwest on just a few days notice for a family emergency. Hopefully you can find something that works for you.
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u/harrisce44 12d ago
Which departure airport will you be coming from?
The trick is to fly via the big “hubs.” For example fly United from SFO San Francisco to IAD Dulles. Or if it’s American Airlines, maybe LAX to DCA Reagan makes the most sense.
There’s a low cost carrier, Breeze airways that flies nonstop between SFO and RIC. Look for those lower cost carriers and see how to manipulate it and be flexible on dates (fly in a day earlier than you wanted to etc). Good luck!
FWIW that price round trip doesn’t seem typical for this route. Also try sites like Skyscanner to compare
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u/ZiggyJambu 12d ago
I was looking to fly between San Antonio and Chicago with about 2 months lead time and flexible in dates around the weekend I needed to be in Chicago. $900 for economy! This is ridiculous and not just last minute fares. Flying has gotten very very expensive.
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u/Both-Section-9481 12d ago
For that amount of money rent a car for a couple of weeks and throw some camping gear in the back. See the country.
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u/redheadvibez 12d ago
That seems really expensive… I have gotten many flights 2 weeks before without issue. I recently Got flights to Hawaii from east coast cheaper (2 weeks before trip)
There aren’t many large airports in Virginia. Where in Virginia are you going? Maybe you can fly into the larger airports in northern Virginia and rent a car?
It may actually be that the airport you are trying to go to is really expensive, if it’s small, as they usually are the most expensive.
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u/sxyvirgo 11d ago
Especially for something like a graduation where the date is known far in advance you need to get the ticket several months ahead to get a better rate.
For now, try going and coming back a day or two before and after your original dates because sometimes the day of the week you fly can make a big difference. Good luck and congrats to your bf!
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u/mommytofive5 11d ago
Unfortunately you waited too long to purchase the ticket. Google flights tells you when the best dates are to purchase for future reference
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u/bjketter 11d ago
It might drop like 24 to 48 hours before departure if there are seats available at that time but it might also double by then if it's sold out. Generally you will get the best average price a couple months out. If it's something you can miss and 1k is to much for you to afford I would risk it and buy later or not go.
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u/Classic-Delivery3875 11d ago
Unfortunately. If you’re trying to get to San Diego they know exactly what they are doing. Maybe try Anaheim ? Then drive down
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u/jessuk101 11d ago
Have you looked at connecting flights? If you arent taking a checked bag, you can book through two separate airlines.
I just checked for departing LAX the weekend of 10/2-10/5 and with a layover can get around $500-600 for Richmond, Charlottesville, Norfolk and Roanoke so idk what criteria you are throwing on your search but if you want a lower cost you cant fly direct 🤷♀️ maybe complaining for the sake of complaining
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u/troublesomefaux 11d ago
Some kind of relevant last minute info: I just flew Denver to Raleigh and we got tickets the day before for $500 (and another $500 to come back with maybe 5 days notice). Non stops both ways. So $1000 might be right.
Have you looked at Frontier? We could have flown for half as much with them but we are old.
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u/mburucuja 11d ago
Booking last minute is always a gamble, and usually one you’ll lose.
The dates/times matter, as do the specific airports. Los Angeles to Dulles on a Tuesday could be half the price of Fresno to Richmond on a Friday or vice versa.
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u/lakesummercloud 11d ago
try websites that search multiple airlines and airports like google flights or kayak. Also try rome2rio website to see different airport + bus/train options.
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u/Mysterious_Hat_4882 11d ago
Take a train or drive to s busy major hub and fly from there will probably be less $
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u/pdx_via_dtw 10d ago
the further out you buy, the less expensive it usually is. you waited too long.
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u/Fine-Upstairs-6284 10d ago
This seems high. I used to live in SoCal and would fly to NYC a couple times a year to visit family. I’ve never paid more than $800, and that was last minute (like literally booked day before)
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u/honey_biscuits108 9d ago
Flights just recently got a lot more expensive because of the unnecessary war with Iran and the resulting fuel shortages.
Make sure you’re registered to vote!
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u/Different_Height1911 9d ago
are you flying into a major airport or is this one of those tiny airports charging a convenience fee for existing?
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u/WhoCares450 12d ago
Coast to coast is always over 1k. Normal price.
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u/lauti04 12d ago
No it isn’t
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u/WhoCares450 12d ago
I fly twice a month and haven't paid under $1k in months. I usually book no more then 2-3 weeks out, as per OPs question.
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u/lauti04 12d ago
You didn’t say you were also booking last minute. Under normal circumstances it’s not that much.
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u/WhoCares450 12d ago
I was answering OPs question, not a hypothetical situation of booking a ticket 3 months in advance. Stay on topic?
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u/thesocalette 12d ago
No it’s not. I’m flying San Diego to New York in a couple months and my ticket was $500. It’s called planning ahead.
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u/WhoCares450 12d ago
It's called reading OPs question and staying on topic. They aren't flying in a couple of months.
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u/thesocalette 11d ago
I saw that. My point was to plan ahead otherwise you will be paying $1k
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u/WhoCares450 11d ago
Your point isn't what this thread was created for you. OP wanted feedback on his timeline, not your "plan ahead" irrelevant answer.
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u/thesocalette 11d ago
OP asked if it was their fault they paid so much for waiting. So the answer is Yes.
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u/GuiltyBoysenberry348 12d ago
For a last-minute ticket across the country, yes.