Many major cities are served by more than one airport, and the airport can really make a difference. New York is served by JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, Chicago has O'Hare and Midway, London has four Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and London City.
My home town of Washington DC is served by three major airports. Washington Dulles International (IAD) is nearly 30 miles west of the city, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is literally across the river from the City, and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is almost 40 miles northeast of the City. Both Dulles and National are connected to the subway system, while National is a 10-minute ride from the City center, Dulles is closer to an hour ride from the City center. Clearly if you have a choice, National is the airport you want to fly into if you are visiting Washington DC. BWI has a bus, to a train, to DC. Well over an hour, and depending on the train as much as $40 each way. BWI is not connected to the subway system for Washington DC, after all it is the airport for Baltimore.
I have used all three. Dulles is the primary airport for direct international flights (international flights from National are limited to Canada and the Bahamas.) I have flown from BWI when it was simply so much less expensive that it was worth driving out there and paying for parking.
Many discount airlines fly to "alternate" airports in major cities. This can mean ending up 30-40 miles from where you really want to be. You need to factor in time and travel cost to get where you really want to be, to determine if the cheaper fare, actually saves you money when all is said and done. I have had people flying in to DC for meetings, who flew into Dulles to save $20 on airfare, only to spend $75 on a taxi into the city (and then get caught in city traffic and be late for the meeting.)
Airports matter, look at time and ground transportation when deciding which airport to fly in and out of.
If you have the time to spare, check if a slower and possibly much cheaper train would suit. I looking at you, Heathrow.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall the local tube line is about 1/3 the cost of the airport express.
DeleteGood advice; you often see another airport and flights are cheaper, but when you factor in the travel to your destination, it might not be a bargain.
ReplyDeleteTime and transportation costs need to be condsidered.
DeleteThats just it. Everything comes out in the wash somewhere. Where you save money, you're often spending more in another part of the trip. Mt friend is an excellent travel planner much like yourself.
ReplyDeletePlanning can be fun
DeleteI've only flown into National when going to DC and I've always flown to Newark when going to New York except when I was working in Chicago when I flew to JFK once. If I remember correctly, Newark was quicker to get into the city but I have to admit, I really do hate Newark. The drive into the city is so depressing. I envy you. You can take the train.
ReplyDeleteFrom Newark you can take a monorail shuttle to the PATH trains, and then into NYC.
DeleteBurbank is a cute little airport, but the ground transportation at LAX has historically been better with more options to connect to outlying areas. BTW write down the name of anybody who offers to drive through the terminal loop road at Burbank to pick you up. They would probably donate a kidney to you with far less aggravation and effort.
ReplyDeleteWill Jay
I have flown into John Wayne a couple of times, LAX only once.
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