George,

What is the total time each way, general aviation and airline? Figure
in the value of your time as well, unless it is a pleasure trip, and
sadly, it's almost always cheaper to fly the airlines when you by
yourself....I can only justify general aviation travel when it is to a
remote location where airlines requires a long rental car drive and
the distance is under about 500 miles. When flying on business, I
have to calculate the cost of the travel as well as my time, and I
generally can't justify taking the more expensive route.

If more than one person is involved in the trip, general aviation may
become cheaper. Then, if someone is going with me, it's usually
cheaper to take g.a. aircraft. If two or more are going with me, we
always beat the airline fares by a fairly wide margin, even using a
twin.

With airfares from Grand Rapids to Denver, round trip, of under $300,
I can't even begin to compete with a g.a. airplane. On short notice,
as you pointed out, the airlines get more expensive, but if I'm trying
to rent on short notice, it's rare I can get my hands on an airplane.
Then again, if I can, here in the Great Lakes area, I use a twin when
going over the lakes, so the rental rapidly exceeds the cost of
airline travel, again unless I'm going to someplace out of the way.

All the best,
Rick

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message ...
Rick Durden wrote:

That aside, it will be cheaper for you to travel by airline than by
general aviation airplane, so you will probably not save your clients
any money, unless the value of your time is factored in and you can
somehow do it faster in a light single.

Only maybe. Even in the States, this is only true if you're traveling between
major cities or booking well in advance. I just checked Delta's price for Newark,
NJ to Knoxville, TN, leaving tomorrow and returning three days later. They want
$1,115.90 for coach. United wants $1,013.90. Continental wants $1,038.74. American
flies through Chicago.

By contrast, the loaded cost of my aircraft is about $60/hr and I average about
6 flight hours each way. That's about $720. One of the local airports charges
$78/hr to rent a 180hp Cessna 172. That's a faster airplane than mine, and I'd
guess the cost of the trip would be around $850. Even renting the Archer at
$89/hr would save me money over Delta.

Throw in the fact that I can leave from a local field instead of having to get
transport into Newark (last time I flew out of there, the limo fee was about
$45 each way), and there's not much contest.

George Patterson
A diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that
you look forward to the trip.