I have to say - after trying to find flights into OKC on Monday morning and out on Thursday evening - OKC has to have to worst scheduling and highest prices I have ever seen anywhere. Now I know why people drive to/from DFW because I am seriously thinking about doing that. I'll get here at the same time and pay half the price.

I'm shocked you'd rather spend 6 hours in a CAR to save some money, but sacrifice that time and miserableness.

I flew to SAN from Lawton once, round trip was $366. Round trip from OKC on the same dates were close to $600. I'll gladly drive an hour to save over $200. Also, security took less than 2 minutes to get through.

I flew to SAN from Lawton once, round trip was $366. Round trip from OKC on the same dates were close to $600. I'll gladly drive an hour to save over $200. Also, security took less than 2 minutes to get through.

Driving to Lawton is a lot different than fighting 3 hours and traffic to DFW. That's insane though.

That's interesting. What kind of commercial is available in Lawton?

Pretty sure it's just American Eagle.

Gotcha.

I'm shocked you'd rather spend 6 hours in a CAR to save some money, but sacrifice that time and miserableness.

When you are footing the bill instead of a company, it begins to add up. I am taking three trips from Dallas this year instead of OKC - two at DFW and one at DAL. Granted, they're all miles/points, but there is absolutely no way I'd be able to afford these trips (with my wife, 1 paid child and 1 lap infant) by flying from OKC. That's including driving/transit (parking is free at my in-laws', on the DART Orange Line).

When you are footing the bill instead of a company, it begins to add up. I am taking three trips from Dallas this year instead of OKC - two at DFW and one at DAL. Granted, they're all miles/points, but there is absolutely no way I'd be able to afford these trips (with my wife, 1 paid child and 1 lap infant) by flying from OKC. That's including driving/transit (parking is free at my in-laws', on the DART Orange Line).

If you're making multiple trips with the family in tow, I can see the benefits. I think I just loathe driving after traveling like that.

I did it recently flying to MCO. It's was just way cheaper flying out of DFW.

a lot of it has to do with times than prices. The wife and I like traveling to the Caribbean once a year. The last couple of times we've driven to DFW. The reason? Times. We like to get there early in the day and leave later. It does save a little on money, not much though. Plus, having a early flight out of dfw means very little traffic in Dallas on the way down. Best thing to do is start looking months in advance. Flights fluctuate every day.

I'm shocked you'd rather spend 6 hours in a CAR to save some money, but sacrifice that time and miserableness.

To echo outhunder's comment, it's not just a few hours - in my case it is having to fly in a day early and stay a day later. Then in addition to the fare difference (which is huge), I have two more nights in a hotel.

I have to say - after trying to find flights into OKC on Monday morning and out on Thursday evening - OKC has to have to worst scheduling and highest prices I have ever seen anywhere. Now I know why people drive to/from DFW because I am seriously thinking about doing that. I'll get here at the same time and pay half the price.

Might I ask when you're looking to take the trip?

Not knowing how soon you're trying to fly. But if the prices are high and the scheduling is "bad" than in most cases that is a good thing. OKC has a lot of flights through DFW in the morning and on respectable size aircraft too. That means if the prices are high then the demand has been high. And if the schedules are bad then that means the flights are sold out.

I'd be more concerned if the planes were empty and the flights were cheap.

I just flew to MCO on AA two weeks ago. $318 R/T and tons of options. AA has such a plethora of flights to/from OKC these days I don't see how anyone could say there are no convenient times.

I paid something like 230+ out of DFW. Seemed worth the price. Maybe not for you.

Yeah, paying what ends up being about $50 more (when considering fuel costs and parking at DFW) to avoid putting 360+ miles on my vehicle and 6 hours driving does indeed seem worth it.

Yeah, paying what ends up being about $50 more (when considering fuel costs and parking at DFW) to avoid putting 360+ miles on my vehicle and 6 hours driving does indeed seem worth it.

I'm totally flabbergasted that people here drive to DFW to fly. I would get it if it was an hour away like what you see between Youngstown and Pittsburgh, Toledo and Detroit, Akron and Cleveland, etc. They'll go to DFW to grab a cheap fare (not including the other costs/time involved), but then complain about either not enough flights here or fares being too high from here. Use it or lose it is the lesson the other cities have been taught the hard way. Of course hubs have more options to dump capacity with cheaper fares when needed, but it is traffic they really don't want to begin with. Unless you are Spirit. :)

Most of OKC's traffic and demand for flights is likely driven by business traffic paid for by companies and they aren't going to send their employees to DFW to fly out. In the grand scheme of things the amount of traffic OKC is losing to DFW by people driving down there is probably minimal. I think a good question is if the demand for the flights is here, why aren't there more of them and why aren't rates more competitive? It's pretty much free market 101.

Most of OKC's traffic and demand for flights is likely driven by business traffic paid for by companies and they aren't going to send their employees to DFW to fly out. In the grand scheme of things the amount of traffic OKC is losing to DFW by people driving down there is probably minimal. I think a good question is if the demand for the flights is here, why aren't there more of them and why aren't rates more competitive? It's pretty much free market 101.

Who do you want to fly more flights? There has been so much consolidation in the industry, there really aren't many left. I'm working on the market numbers for 2014 to post soon to should help shed light on how well specific markets are performing. You can have plenty of demand for flights, but airlines are also in a position of strength at this time so they can control WHO they want as a customer. They are going to take a $300 customer over a $150 value customer any day.

That's absolutely correct. The consumer currently is basically at the mercy of whatever the airlines want to provide. Take it or leave it.

Well I fly out of OKC every two weeks when prices don't matter and my company pays for it. When I'm already paying for an expensive trip to Disney sure, I will drive 6 hours total to save 100 dollars. Not to mention, we were going to Disney so we wanted to get there as early as possible on Friday morning, so we stayed in a hotel thursday night and took the first flight out. If we would have done that at OKC we would have wasted time connecting somewhere. So like I said, if I can save both time AND money, why wouldn't I do it?

I'm totally flabbergasted that people here drive to DFW to fly...
I guess I understand it for family travel, but I don't get it for individuals or for a couple, even if it saves a few hundred bucks. I think it's probably the same people who will drive to the other side of OKC to save $5 on a TV or a lawn mower. I'm sorry, but there is a dollar value for my time and convenience, too.

I guess I understand it for family travel, but I don't get it for individuals or for a couple, even if it saves a few hundred bucks. I think it's probably the same people who will drive to the other side of OKC to save $5 on a TV or a lawn mower. I'm sorry, but there is a dollar value for my time and convenience, too.

Well I definitely don't do that and I am specifically the person/couple you are talking about.

I'm shocked you'd rather spend 6 hours in a CAR to save some money, but sacrifice that time and miserableness.

How slow must one be driving to make OKC to Dallas (or vice versa) a 6 hour drive? It should be 4 tops.

When you figure in showing up early to the airport, the hassle of TSA, checking bags, claiming bags etc., it's about a wash as far as time is concerned.

Well I definitely don't do that and I am specifically the person/couple you are talking about.
LOL well, somebody has to be the exception to the rule!

For me, if you add up the cost gasoline for the drive plus a value for my time, the savings would have to be a pretty big number for me to justify it.

How slow must one be driving to make OKC to Dallas (or vice versa) a 6 hour drive? It should be 4 tops.

When you figure in showing up early to the airport, the hassle of TSA, checking bags, claiming bags etc., it's about a wash as far as time is concerned.

round trip brother, you still gotta drive back after you fly into DFW after a vacation or trip. that's the part that i struggled with, after a long weekend of vacationing the last thing i want to do is be in a car for 3 hours after a 2+ hour flight. i just want to be home

^^^^^^
There is a dollar value for that.

Wait, so people are counting TSA Time in OKC, but not counting it in DFW? That is purposefully skewing the data.

You say it's 3 hours plus the flight to the connecting city AND checkin and TSA times?

I've never spent more than 15 minutes in an OKC line. Usually it's 15 minutes from the time my car turns off to the time I am clear of security.

Try that in DFW.

When you have TSA precheck, TSA time doesn't matter anywhere. :)

I wish that were true, however every day more and more people have Pre-Check. Those pre check lines will continue to expand.

I flew out of LAX once last year and, one line was PreCheck.. One line was Airline Priority (so if you're an elite mileage status)... And one line was for the standard line. Pre check had about 25 people in line, priority had about 15 and the standard line was empty. I walked right past everyone who was too proud to not stand in their special lanes, and was through security in just a matter of minutes.

How slow must one be driving to make OKC to Dallas (or vice versa) a 6 hour drive? It should be 4 tops.

When you figure in showing up early to the airport, the hassle of TSA, checking bags, claiming bags etc., it's about a wash as far as time is concerned.if you do about 100, it sheds off about 30-40 minutes straight there.

I drive to Dallas all the time and have timed different speeds. If you drive safe and haul ass, you can get there pretty quick. Only problem is in this state, you stick out like a sore thumb. When you drive from Dallas to Houston on 45, you are likely to be passed a couple times.

When you have TSA precheck, TSA time doesn't matter anywhere. :)

watch out, we got a bad ass over here :)

I saw the word Tudie in that and if I may, that word is pretty funny if I do say so myself.

Just depends on times, money, and what you feel is worth it and what is not. All I know is if I can be in Cancun at 11:30 in the morning vs. 5:00 in the evening, and it basically a wash as far as money. And the only thing is a 3 hour drive there and back, then I'm most likely driving to DFW. If I can leave out of OKC and get to Cancun around the same time, and it not cost anymore than driving down there, then I'm probably flying out of OKC.

Like I said earlier, it all comes down to times. And when we go to the Caribbean I want to get to the beach as quickly in the day as possible, and I want to leave the beach as late as possible. But that's just me.

I've driven to DFW for a flight once. However, I was flying Virgin America, and I didn't want to chance a close flight on American or a baggage mishap. Since I had to leave the house well before sunrise and drive back after the return flights, I don't see it as worth the drive. Unless I'm really bound by schedule or cost, I ain't makin' that drive again. Of course, I greatly prefer flying anyway, so there's that as well.

I've driven to DFW for a flight once. However, I was flying Virgin America, and I didn't want to chance a close flight on American or a baggage mishap. Since I had to leave the house well before sunrise and drive back after the return flights, I don't see it as worth the drive. Unless I'm really bound by schedule or cost, I ain't makin' that drive again. Of course, I greatly prefer flying anyway, so there's that as well.

Did same thing - $200 RT non-stop Virgin America flight to SF (wife and 3 kids). Saved a bundle. It wasnt bad driving to Dallas, but getting back and having to drive back to OKC was ROUGH.

We used to drive down to DFW from Norman to pick up incoming international students. I don't know if it was the extra leg to OKC cost a lot or maybe they had to stay over in Dallas in order to catch the next flight to OKC, but I can see the destination arrival time appeal like mentioned above if you are flying to Mexico/Caribbean,etc.

I know some people up in Minnesota would drive 3+ hours the night before to catch the early flights out of MSP, but again these were going Mexico/Carribbean usually. Some of the other options involved not driving the night before, but then having to stay overnight, maybe it was in Miami, in order to reach some of the little islands off coast of Venezuela which don't have a lot of connecting flight options.

I remember not long after 9/11 there was some kind of executive shuttle operation that would drive to DFW, it must not have lasted too long. I think it was mainly in response to the long security times.

I know some people up in Minnesota would drive 3+ hours the night before to catch the early flights out of MSP, but again these were going Mexico/Carribbean usually.

Would also need to compare similar situations. Most of those airports in Northern MN don't have 70+ flights per day.

Just depends on times, money, and what you feel is worth it and what is not. All I know is if I can be in Cancun at 11:30 in the morning vs. 5:00 in the evening, and it basically a wash as far as money. And the only thing is a 3 hour drive there and back, then I'm most likely driving to DFW. If I can leave out of OKC and get to Cancun around the same time, and it not cost anymore than driving down there, then I'm probably flying out of OKC.

Like I said earlier, it all comes down to times. And when we go to the Caribbean I want to get to the beach as quickly in the day as possible, and I want to leave the beach as late as possible. But that's just me.

You can do the same out of OKC and not pay for hotel in Dallas or more expensive parking. United though Houston gets you to Cancun at 1130. We have done this flight many of times and find decent fares on it if booked early. I think it sells out cheap seats early due to popularity of times. Last flight home leaves late afternoon. Total flight time down is less than 5 hours and coming home is six..... not sure you can fly out of DFW and get there in less time if you add the drive time.



Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) to Cancun, Mexico (CUN)

Depart OKC: 6:30 a.m.

Arrive IAH: 7:56 a.m.
Flight Time: 1 hr 26 mn
Flight distance: 395 m
Flight:UA3977
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175


Change Planes. Connect time in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) is 1 hour 5 minutes.

Depart IAH: 9:01 a.m.

Arrive Cancun: 11:20 a.m.

Flight Time: 2 hr 19 mn
Travel Time: 4 hr 50 mn
Flight distance: 812 m
Total Distance: 1,207 m
Flight: UA1012
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900

Sunday Return| Cancun, Mexico (CUN) to Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)


Depart CUN: 4:25 p.m.

Arrive IAH: 6:52 p.m.
Flight:UA1056
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900

Change Planes. Connect time in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) is 1 hour 23 minutes.

Depart IAH: 8:15 p.m.
Arrive OKC: 9:45 p.m.


Flight: UA3740

Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175

Also you can get to CUN from OKC as early as 10:08AM on AA and 11:28AM on DL. Not getting there early from OKC isn't a reason to go to DFW instead.

Looking for the flights that will get you there the quickest? here is a tool I came across today.

How To Find The Best Flight To Get You Where You Want To Go (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/fastest-flight-538_n_6849196.html)

Well, this has just taken the lead for best Internet invention of the day.

Fivethirtyeight.com, the wondrous ESPN site from Nate Silver, launched an interactive tool on Wednesday aptly named Which Flight Will Get You There Fastest?

It does exactly what you think it does. The site examines 6 million domestic flights to determine which one will most likely get you to your destination on time.

I'm totally flabbergasted that people here drive to DFW to fly. I would get it if it was an hour away like what you see between Youngstown and Pittsburgh, Toledo and Detroit, Akron and Cleveland, etc. They'll go to DFW to grab a cheap fare (not including the other costs/time involved), but then complain about either not enough flights here or fares being too high from here. Use it or lose it is the lesson the other cities have been taught the hard way. Of course hubs have more options to dump capacity with cheaper fares when needed, but it is traffic they really don't want to begin with. Unless you are Spirit. :)


What about if you are saving 200 dollars each with a family of 4. Thats 800 dollars.

What about if you are saving 200 dollars each with a family of 4. Thats 800 dollars.

According to everyone on this board, you just need to buck up and get over it. Spend the money and don't be cheap.

Looking for the flights that will get you there the quickest? here is a tool I came across today.

How To Find The Best Flight To Get You Where You Want To Go (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/fastest-flight-538_n_6849196.html)

Well, this has just taken the lead for best Internet invention of the day.

Fivethirtyeight.com, the wondrous ESPN site from Nate Silver, launched an interactive tool on Wednesday aptly named Which Flight Will Get You There Fastest?

It does exactly what you think it does. The site examines 6 million domestic flights to determine which one will most likely get you to your destination on time.

I really love what fivethirtyeight (http://www.fivethirtyeight.com) has done to this point. It's definitely a go-to site for me.

According to everyone on this board, you just need to buck up and get over it. Spend the money and don't be cheap.

I'd say that was aimed more at the people who would drive to DFW and then complain when the airlines cut flights from OKC due to lack of demand. I can understand potentially saving $800 on a family vacation. The smaller that dollar amount gets, however, the less sense the sitation makes.

Meh, I already acknowledged that it made some sense for families. As far as me as an individual I can't imagine going through that hassle for any savings of less than $500. And that has to be over and above the fuel expense.

Looking for the flights that will get you there the quickest? here is a tool I came across today.

How To Find The Best Flight To Get You Where You Want To Go (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/fastest-flight-538_n_6849196.html)

Well, this has just taken the lead for best Internet invention of the day.

Fivethirtyeight.com, the wondrous ESPN site from Nate Silver, launched an interactive tool on Wednesday aptly named Which Flight Will Get You There Fastest?

It does exactly what you think it does. The site examines 6 million domestic flights to determine which one will most likely get you to your destination on time.

Getting there the quickest and getting there on time aren't necessarily the same thing unless you're just talking about nonstop flights.

I'd say that was aimed more at the people who would drive to DFW and then complain when the airlines cut flights from OKC due to lack of demand. I can understand potentially saving $800 on a family vacation. The smaller that dollar amount gets, however, the less sense the sitation makes.

This.

You can do the same out of OKC and not pay for hotel in Dallas or more expensive parking. United though Houston gets you to Cancun at 1130. We have done this flight many of times and find decent fares on it if booked early. I think it sells out cheap seats early due to popularity of times. Last flight home leaves late afternoon. Total flight time down is less than 5 hours and coming home is six..... not sure you can fly out of DFW and get there in less time if you add the drive time.



Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) to Cancun, Mexico (CUN)

Depart OKC: 6:30 a.m.

Arrive IAH: 7:56 a.m.
Flight Time: 1 hr 26 mn
Flight distance: 395 m
Flight:UA3977
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175


Change Planes. Connect time in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) is 1 hour 5 minutes.

Depart IAH: 9:01 a.m.

Arrive Cancun: 11:20 a.m.

Flight Time: 2 hr 19 mn
Travel Time: 4 hr 50 mn
Flight distance: 812 m
Total Distance: 1,207 m
Flight: UA1012
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900

Sunday Return| Cancun, Mexico (CUN) to Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)


Depart CUN: 4:25 p.m.

Arrive IAH: 6:52 p.m.
Flight:UA1056
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900

Change Planes. Connect time in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) is 1 hour 23 minutes.

Depart IAH: 8:15 p.m.
Arrive OKC: 9:45 p.m.


Flight: UA3740

Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175

A quick search of that same flight in late June came to $900 a person.


I don't think anyone has said there aren't any early flights out of okc. Again, it's a personal decision after weighing all the options and the constant changing of airfare rates and times. Nothing against okc at all. Sorry if that upsets some of you.

We're going to Cancun in late July on Southwest. We connect through Atlanta and it is 5 hours down and 6 hours back. We paid 500 a ticket. This is from a Friday through Monday, with arrival at 12:10 pm. We depart at 3:45 so we basically got a lot of extra time for a 4 day trip.

A quick search of that same flight in late June came to $900 a person.


I don't think anyone has said there aren't any early flights out of okc. Again, it's a personal decision after weighing all the options and the constant changing of airfare rates and times. Nothing against okc at all. Sorry if that upsets some of you.

You probably should be more specific on the date. One day was around $900 that I found in late June (22nd), the next day was $700. The same flight in April on the 24th is $490. So all comes down to travel dates and if you want to be flexible.

No one is saying you shouldn't do what is best. What I and most are saying that when you choose to not fly from OKC, for whatever reason, don't come back and bitch that service is being reduced to cities you want to fly to. We've seen how well it has worked in other cities when there is an airport nearby with lower fares or more frequent schedules (granted over 2-3 hours away is pushing it for "nearby"). The home town airport usually starts seeing a draw back of flights when airlines realize they can capture the market still at the alternate airport.

You probably should be more specific on the date. One day was around $900 that I found in late June (22nd), the next day was $700. The same flight in April on the 24th is $490. So all comes down to travel dates and if you want to be flexible.

No one is saying you shouldn't do what is best. What I and most are saying that when you choose to not fly from OKC, for whatever reason, don't come back and bitch that service is being reduced to cities you want to fly to. We've seen how well it has worked in other cities when there is an airport nearby with lower fares or more frequent schedules (granted over 2-3 hours away is pushing it for "nearby"). The home town airport usually starts seeing a draw back of flights when airlines realize they can capture the market still at the alternate airport.

The flight that was posted on the previous page was a Sunday return. So to be consistent, I looked up a sunday return flight. I understand that times/dates are flexible. That's what I've been saying throughout this thread.

Not sure how you think I'm bitching. I've stated it has nothing to do with OKC, DFW, or any other airport. Just comes down to what I feel is worth the drive to DFW, Tulsa, or even Lawton and what is not. It's the Airlines' (or any business) responsibility to adjust to what customers want, not the other way around. But like I said, the drive to DFW is sometimes worth it to me, and other times it's not. I'm not ripping on anyone or any city. I'm not mad or upset. I'm not bitching. Again, for the hundredth time, it simply comes down to what it's worth to me.

It's the Airlines' (or any business) responsibility to adjust to what customers want, not the other way around.

Which they are offering exactly what the market will support. As stated earlier, leakage to DFW is probably minimal at this point so it doesn't really matter. This thread started as a mix of concern regarding schedule and price. The schedule part is pretty much nonsense in most instances. The price part...that's what the market supports. If it didn't, airlines would either be cutting fares to boost demand and cutting capacity. They are staying fairly stagnant outside of a few examples. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of choices anymore, and you can thank the DOJ for rubber stamping every airline merger since 9/11 for that.

I get your point and appreciate it. I should have worded my response better to not come back here and complain down the road if we see a shift to more leaking to DFW and service cuts in OKC.

Going back to the OP, not surprised at all the Mon/Thurs flights are either full or expensive. From what I understand those are the gold mines for the airlines and are almost exclusively business travel (consultants, commuters) at high fares. I'm sure fares Tues-Fri are much more palatable.

When I have been searching for prices I have always found Tue and Wed to be the cheapest. I usually plan my vacations with that in mind.

Does anyone remember if Alaska has released what size plane their going to use for the Seattle flight? I've taken a few trips up there now on different airlines, and it's definitely going to be nice to be direct now, but I'm not going to bother with it if its smaller than a 737.

Edit: Incorrect info on my part. 737 maintenance for Alaska is done in OKC, but the flight to SEA will be an E75 as stated by catch below.

Embraer 175.

Bomber, give that airplane a try. It's better than mainline offerings. Has two lavatories, 2-2 seating instead of cramped 3-3, wifi, and inseat power.

Embraer 175.

Bomber, give that airplane a try. It's better than mainline offerings. Has two lavatories, 2-2 seating instead of cramped 3-3, wifi, and inseat power.

They're an absolute pleasure to fly compared to the ERJ and CRJ models we're normally subjected to.