Having flown the route from Michigan to our place in Florida multiple
times using both commercial jet, and my moth eaten, battered, refugee
from a junk yard airplane, I have actual comparison numbers...
Flying the commercial jets we have landed at both Tampa, and Fort
Myers, with the cottage being 90 miles from Tampa and 50 miles from Ft.
Myers.... Of course, I have to rent a car both to get to the cottage,
and to have transportation while there(~$120.00)...
The average time for either landing point: 8.5 hours portal to
portal...
Tickets ~$600.00 to $700.00 round trip (two people more or less
comfortably)

Flying ourselves, I land at Venice and rent a car... It is 16 miles to
the cottage...
The average time: 8.5 hours portal to portal...
Fuel cost ~$870.00, round trip (5 seats comfortably)

Obviously, if we are going to Florida for a long weekend, or we are on
a business trip with appointments in certain cities at a certain time,
the airlines have the distinct edge on dealing with inclement weather
and meeting schedules, and that is the method we usually choose under
those circumstances... If we have more days and a flexible schedule,
we fly ourselves...

For comparison Mapquest shows that if we drive it is 1350 miles and 22
driving hours... Fuel cost ~$180.00 round trip (4 seats comfortably if
a bit numb in the butt) and I don't have a ~$120 car rental bill -
clearly the cost effective method... Still, I haven't driven the trip
since the 1960's and don't intend to...


Denny