H Bomb

We haven't even landed in NYC yet but are starting to plan our first USA excursion (to Richmond VA for the 2014 GWAR-B-Q )

I was always under the impression internal USA flights were cheap - and thought this is only 500 miles from NY to Richmond its going to be $100 each - but Expedia is coming back with $450 each economy flying out Friday night back Sunday afternoon.

Is there a better site for booking flights that Americans use - or have I been incorrectly thinking internal USA flights are cheap as chips?

Orangepants

Not cheap when you fly at peak times! Monday through Thursday will be much better.

H Bomb

Should have mentioned - that was my first thought!
So I tried Thursday to Monday and other combinations - made no difference to the price. Maybe I am just looking too early? The show isnt til August.

Bob

Flights aren't cheap, not in peak times, not in big hub airports.

Go out of a podunk airport will be better.

Watch out for the extras like bag fee's...

Hotscot

Wouldn't you enjoy a road trip? See the country

H Bomb

Absolutely - and I am sure that will happen often. But this is more of wanting to get there quickly, party, get back quickly, recover type of trip.

I guess I could look into overnight trains - if such things exist!?

Hotscot

I would avoid trains...you might catch something

H Bomb

I get the London Underground every day - I think I have already caught everything!

yellowroom

I live in Richmond, the airlines that fly to ny are American, delta and united. Check their websites directly. Otherwise, look at the train. Door to door it's not that much longer when you take into account all the security faffing about. Trains are clean and comfortable, run 24 hours but are not as fast as UK intercity trains. More trains stop at Staples Mill Road station than Richmond Central, so look at those.

Englishmum

Did you know that the UK bus company (Stagecoach) operates in the US too? You may have seen the Megabus buses/coaches in the UK which typically serve university cities.

Well.....Megabus also operates in parts of the US and Canada. I've often seem them in the vicinity of Penn Station, NYC and they often do really cheap deals to places like Washington DC, Boston, Philly etc. ( Bear in mind that they're typically far safer than the cheapo Chinatown buses which have often been involved in fatal crashes). They are considered to be very much a cut above the grotty Greyhound buses. Tickets can be really inexpensive.....even just $1 if you are lucky!

Another similar coach company is Boltbus which also picks up/sets down in the Penn Station vicinity. Vamoose travels to/from NYC to Maryland and Virginia:

https://us.megabus.com/

https://www.boltbus.com/default.aspx

http://www.vamoosebus.com/

Hope this helps!

PS; it does seem that the Chinatown buses go from NYC to Richmond, VA.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown_bus_lines

rpjs

Not Amtrak. I love Amtrak - may take ages but you get to see great scenery (New Haven - DC excepted) and the trains are much comfier than in the UK.

Englishmum

If you go by train, you will need to take Amtrak from New York Penn Station (underneath Madison Square Garden). Journey times are s-l-o-w

http://www.amtrak.com/home

Hotscot

I too an Amtrak from NY to Dallas. 48 hours one way. Never again
Much rather drive than fly too.

Noorah101

That sounds about right to me, for round trip price. I would think each 1-way would run around $200 plus taxes and fees.

Flying domestic isn't all that cheap unless you happen to stumble on a fare special or something.

Rene

Guindalf

Bag fee's what?

Oh I see, you mean bag fees!

Sometimes a smaller airport can be cheaper, others not. I have seen flights to the UK from GSP (Greenville/Spartanburg) changing in ATL that are cheaper than the flight directly from ATL!

Kayak.com is a good search engine - and also southwest.com as they now include AirTran.