Why is airfare to Charleston, SC so expensive?
 

Our vacation destination this summer is Isle of Palms. I am trying to get airfare from Chicago to Charleston with no luck at finding reasonable prices or convenient times. I am trying nearby city combinations, one-stops etc. There are slightly lower prices for inconvenient travel times, long flight times (might as well drive)not worth the savings.Travel date is mid July. I understand this is peak travel time. Anyone know if there is any chance the $412 Nonstop RT on United will go down? The plane is empty right now.

We came across the same problem. We ended up flying into Atlanta ($149), renting a car ($99 plus tax a week) and driving to Savannah to Charleston back to Atlanta. A little more driving, but we get to see more of the South. I'll write a trip report when we get back and let you know how it turned out.

Try Independence Air via Washington-Dulles. There are fares <$200 on Tuesday & Wednesday; ~$250 on other days.

It is a small airport.

How far are you from Gary, Indiana? Hooters Air (don't laugh, great airline) flies from there to Myrtle Beach which is about an hour and 10 minute drive to Isle of Palms.

Spirit Air flies from Detroit (again, don't know how far you are from there) to Myrtle Beach.

Doubt the $412 price will drop much.

Agree about trying Myrtle Beach. The United flight probably goes through Charlotte and it will always be expensive.

Actually Gretchen, I've taken the United flight from Charleston to O'Hare and it is direct but it is on a regional jet. Ugh. 2 1/2 hour flight and you can't really walk around. I was clausterphobic to say the least.

I just ran this through ITA and found a $277 roundtrip O'Hare to Savannah. It's a late arrival, near midnight, but this would work, and save a lot of money.

I agree on the Charleston big ticket problem. We go at least once a year from Houston and always fly SW to Jacksonville and drive up. This year we booked early and will go via Continental direct.

You might consider the Atlanta idea, or Savannah, or Raleigh-Durham via Southwest.

Good luck!

Jim

The reason Charleston is so expensive to fly into is the fact that there is little competition into or out of that airport; why Atlanta would be cheaper; Savannah has a discount (Independence) flying in and out. I'd opt for that and renting a car..you could see both great cities and the wonderful places such as the Low Country and Beaufort inbetween.

You might also check into Columbia, SC (about 2 hrs) a straight shot down 1-26 and Charlotte, NC - which I think would be more like 3 hrs and Greenville, SC - 3 hrs. Definitely check into independence air (flyi.com) as they are running all sorts of specials now.

We fly Boston-Savannah quite frequently - Savannah is sometimes quite a bit cheaper than Charleston. Not sure about out of Chicago, but options we have used to get cheaper fare include Independence Air (via Dulles - have very good experiences on Independence). Jet Blue flies into Jacksonville, which is about a 2 hour drive.

We have found drive from Atlanta to be not worth it, but if you could find cheaper air you would have to make that decision.

I am wondering why July would be peak travel time to that area - the heat is oppressive.

Independence Air just announced $99 sale to their destinations.

You can fly Independence Air for maybe $184 to Charleston.

Try Southwest Airlines to Jacksonville then a nice drive up the coast...