Hot take: flying budget airlines is actually worth it for short trips

My buddy told me I was an idiot for paying $80 on a budget airline to go from Chicago to Detroit for a weekend, said I should've just driven. But after I factored in gas, tolls, and 5 hours of driving each way, I actually saved money and time. Anyone here ever done the math and come out ahead on a budget flight?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_west1mo ago

Chicago to Detroit is only about four and a half hours driving, did you really factor in the airport wait times?

angelarivera1mo ago

Oh wow, you got me there. Never thought of it that way lol.

marydavis1mo ago

@amy_west I get what you're saying about airport wait times, but I think you're mixing up Detroit and Chicago distances. Detroit to Chicago is about 280 miles, and factoring in traffic around both cities, it's easily five hours each way, sometimes more. Plus with a budget airline, I can show up an hour before the flight and be at my buddy's place in under three hours total. The time savings alone made it worth it for me.