Trains, planes & buses
Taking a plane
If you like low fares, help keep the little airlines in business.
If you like low-cost airlines, there's just one rule: Use it or lose it.
Competition is the only thing that holds down air fares. Why would it cost $699 to fly from the Twin Cities to Kansas City, but only $99 to fly from the Twin Cities to Chicago?
Once, when Northwest Airlines had serious competition on its route to Chicago but not to Kansas City, those were the round-trip fares. Then, in May 2008, AirTran discontinued its flights from the Twin Cities to Chicago because they were "unprofitable,'' meaning that Northwest matched or surpassed its fares. Round-trip fares to Chicago rose to $400.
Taking the train
It's fun, it's easy and it's cheap if you plan ahead.
Sometimes, we forget that Amtrak can be a great way to get around. (For excursion trains, see 5 great/train rides.)
We've all heard stories about late trains. Well, you don't take the train to a business meeting — you take it if you've got the time and a sense of adventure.
If you do that, you can expect some incredible deals.
Taking the bus
With $1 fares, Megabus caught riders' attention fast.
Not long ago, no one wanted to take a bus anywhere.
They took too long. The depots were depressing. They weren't even that cheap; sometimes, you could fly for less.
Then in 2006, Megabus arrived from the United Kingdom with its $1 fares and express service. It doesn't have depots; it picks up passengers on university campuses, in downtowns and at train stations.
© Beth Gauper, 2007 - 2013 all rights reserved
