Conference Travel: Flying Versus Driving
A student is invited to a five-day conference that runs Monday through Friday. Early registration is $285; after the deadline it is $360. A round-trip flight costs $410, and ride shares to and from the airport cost $35 each way. The hotel is $142 per night for four nights, and the conference per diem is $48 per day for five days. Airport parking costs $18 per day for five days. Driving instead is 480 miles each way; the car gets 31 miles per gallon and gasoline costs $3.60 per gallon. The hotel charges $22 per night for self-parking, and driving adds about eight hours each way. The student has $950 saved and earns $22 per hour tutoring, with up to 15 hours available each week for three weeks. The student wants to compare the cash cost of flying versus driving, determine the minimum tutoring hours needed for each, and decide whether the time saved by flying is worth the extra cash.
1. Calculate the total cash cost of flying and of driving, including registration, lodging, meals, and local transport/parking. State which is cheaper and by how much.
Read the worked answer
Fly: registration 285 + flight 410 + hotel 4×142 = 568 + per diem 5×48 = 240 + airport parking 5×18 = 90 + ride shares 2×35 = 70. Total = 285 + 410 + 568 + 240 + 90 + 70 = $1663. Drive: registration 285 + hotel 568 + per diem 240 + hotel parking 4×22 = 88 + gas. Gas: round trip 960 miles / 31 mpg = 30.97 gal; 30.97 × $3.60 = $111.48. Total = 285 + 568 + 240 + 88 + 111.48 = $1292.48. Driving is cheaper by 1663 − 1292.48 = $370.52, about $371. This ignores wear, tolls, and the value of time.
2. The student has $950 saved. How many tutoring hours are needed for each option, and is the three-week availability enough?
Read the worked answer
Fly shortfall = 1663 − 950 = 713; 713/22 = 32.41, so 33 hours (round up because partial hours must be paid). Drive shortfall = 1292.48 − 950 = 342.48; 342.48/22 = 15.57, so 16 hours. Availability is 15 hr/week × 3 weeks = 45 hr, so both are feasible. Flying requires 33 − 16 = 17 more tutoring hours than driving. If the student can work only 15 hr/week, the fly option needs at least three weeks of work (33/15 = 2.2 weeks), and driving needs just over one week.
3. Driving adds about 16 hours of travel time. If the student values time at the $22 tutoring wage, which option is more attractive? Discuss assumptions.
Read the worked answer
Value the extra 16 hours at $22/hr = $352. Driving's cash cost plus time cost = 1292.48 + 352 = $1644.48, compared with flying at $1663. The two are within about $19, so the decision is nearly a tie under this assumption. Flying avoids fatigue and arrives faster; driving may be preferable if the student can use the time for something worth less than $22/hr, enjoys the drive, or needs a car at the conference. The comparison also ignores wear and tear, tolls, weather risk, and the possibility that tutoring hours are not perfectly flexible. If the student can work only 15 hr/week, flying requires 33 hours, feasible but tighter.