Over Halloween, we saw friends of friends and we discussed our mutual original friend. And how neither of us had visited him in far away New York. I started thinking we should visit New York. Or I should, at least, add it to my travel blogging. We have at least two options – a friend who lives in the city and a friend in the exurbs. Well, near West Point. I started checking the airport nearer them and I saw Peekskill on Google Maps. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have…

Would you have guessed that flying from Milwaukee to Stewart Airport in Newburgh NY would be rather expensive?

The best I could do:

Not a cheap weekend so far.

A hotel to stay at:

Howard Johnson Inn – Newburgh
95 Route 17K
Newburgh, NY 12550-5009 US

Check-in: Fri. June 11
Check-out: Mon. June 14
Guests per room:
2 Adults,  3 Children (0-12)  1 Room

2 Double Beds Room
Non-Smoking Room, Wifi Access/Coffeemaker Hairdryer/Hbo/Iron & Board
Fri. 06/11/10     USD 76.46
Sat. 06/12/10     USD 76.46
Sun. 06/13/10     USD 76.46

3 nights (1 Room): USD 229.37
Taxes: USD 30.12
* Total: USD 259.49

And a car to get around:

Hertz
Toyota Sienna 7 Psgr
Mini Passenger Van Automatic Air

Unlimited Free Miles Included
Rate Details: 3 weekend days at 61.26 USD
Rate Code     MCLE
Additional Items Included In Total Approximate Charge:
Taxes     38.67 USD
airport concession fee recovery     18.38 USD
Discounts:
CDP Name     WAREHOUSE CLUB
CDP Rate     Your rate has been discounted by 05 %
Total Approximate Charge     240.85 USD

For a grand total of
air: $1232
hotel: $259.49
car: $240.85
= $1732.34

I miss you Ross, but that is outrageous for a weekend. I wonder how I would price a car trip version of this idea? There is no price on the sanity and joy lost to my life by trapping my children in the car for days.

Hmmm. Google Maps says that it would take 915 miles ad 14 hours to get to Cornwall-on-Hudson. Realistically, we’d have to stop at least 1 night along the way.

It is 7 hours (457 miles) to Cleveland. Who knew? A chance to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Embassy Suites Cleveland – Downtown
1701 East 12th Street,  Cleveland,  Ohio 44114
1-216-523-8000
Wed 09 Jun 2010 to Fri 11 Jun 2010
1 Room, 2 Adults , 3 Children

Room Type Preferences:
2 ROOM SUITE-2 DOUBLE BEDS-NONSMOKING
BEST AVAILABLE RATE
Rate per Night (USD) $149.00
Total For Stay Rate  (USD)     $298.00
Taxes     $45.45
Total     $343.45

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, $22 / adult. Kids are free.

Then to Newburgh again.

And then the drive home.

Maybe we’d stop in Youngstown, OH. I will confess here I thought the Baseball Hall of Fame was here. When that is in Cooperstown NY. And the Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, nearby.

Hampton Inn Youngstown-West I-80
880 N. Canfield-Niles Road,  Youngstown,  Ohio 44515
Guests per Room:       Mon 14 Jun 2010 to Tue 15 Jun 2010
1 Room, 2 Adults , 3 Children

Room Type Preferences:
Non-Smoking
1 KING W/ REFRIG/ MICROWAVE/SOFABED NONSMOKING

BEST AVAILABLE RATE
Rate per Night (USD) $129.00
Taxes     $16.45
Total     $145.45

And the price of gas for the minivan (neglecting to account for wear and tear). 915 miles x 2 = 1830 miles. The van gets ~20 mpg. So a bare minimum of 91 gallons of gas. If I round up to 100 gallons, that gives us an extra 180 miles. If we assume gas will cost around $2.65/gal = $265 in gas.

My amended cost:

gas: $265
hotel on the way: $343.50
Rock and Roll Museum: $44
hotel there: $259.49
hotel going home: $145.45

Grand total: $1057.44

We could shave that down by skipping the day in Cleveland. And staying at less nice hotels.

I guess this is why we haven’t visited. Sigh.

I feel a bit like Davy Crockett or whoever died at the Alamo, fighting for a misbegotten cause. San Antonio has always been high on my list for a trip. And I wanted to see how Expedia worked on packages. I know there are deals in the packages online. But I haven’t a clue how to get them. I went into tonight’s entry easy and loose. I wasn’t tied to a particular destination. Or dates. Or airlines. And when nothing popped out in the packages, I decided to push toward San Antonio. Expedia popped up a fair airfare in January. And thus, my dates were chosen. Saturday January 9 to Wednesday January 13th.

And I tried. Expedia “picked” hotels. And then Trip Advisor hated them (do the movie review voice from In Living Color). So of the choice they offered me, I picked a hotel. It was a fair price. And then I added the car. The car was full-size, smaller than I think I’d really want with the 3 kids.

Total price: $2,238.75

And that seemed OK. But I am committed to shopping for travel.

Price of the exact same items (same airline, same hotel, same car rental) on my own = $2203.11

I am paying $35 MORE to give Expedia a cut?

The trip as I priced it:

United 5799
Sat, Jan 09, 2010 – Milwaukee, WI (MKE) to San Antonio, TX (SAT)
Operated by: United Express/skywest Airlines
Depart: MKE 10:28 AM Arrive: ORD 11:11 AM     Non-stop
67 miles traveled
<<< connecting to >>>
United 7403
Operated by: United Express/gojet Airlines
Depart: ORD 1:01 PM Arrive: SAT 3:57 PM     Non-stop
1,041 miles traveled

United 7422
Operated by: United Express/gojet Airlines
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 – San Antonio, TX (SAT) to Milwaukee, WI (MKE)
Depart: SAT 8:34 AM Arrive: ORD 11:15 AM     Non-stop
1,041 miles traveled
<<< connecting to >>>
United 5811
Operated by: United Express/skywest Airlines
Depart: ORD 3:05 PM Arrive: MKE 3:49 PM     Non-stop
67 miles traveled

$1,144.50
5 passengers

Residence Inn San Antonio Downtown/Alamo Plaza
425 Bonham Street
San Antonio, TX 78205 USA

* Check-in/check-out dates: Saturday, January 9, 2010 – Wednesday, January 13, 2010
* Number of rooms: 1,  Guests per room: 5
* (4 nights) 189.00 Cost per night per room (USD)
* Estimated government taxes and fees: $31.66
* Total for stay (per room):  $882.63

Dollar Rental Car
Pick-up San Antonio International Airport
Sat Jan. 09, 2010 at noon
Return Same as Pick-up
Wed Jan. 13, 2010 at noon
Promo Code:  AX10
CAR & RATE
Car Class: Full-size Dodge Charger (or similar)
Rental Time: 2 Weekend days at $28.77 per day. Unlimited mileage. 2 Extra Days at $42.99 per day.
Discount:  10% (AmEx discount)
Total Base Rate $129.17
Apt Conc Recov Fee  $15.30
County Rental Tax  $7.65
Energy Recovery Fee  $1.80
Tag Recovery Fee  $6.76
Rental Tax  $15.30
Total Est. Mandatory Charges $46.81
Est. Grand Total  $175.98

air: $1,144.50
flight: $882.63
car: $175.98

= $2203.11

I think a trip to the Alamo would still be fun. And Texas in January sounds fabulous. But I am deeply disappointed in the power of the internet to combine and discount.

I am not quite running out of patience for my travel lust. It has made me more excited to post. But I do wonder if they will mean anything later. Hmmm, more writing, less content.

Mon, Apr 26 from Milwaukee

07:00am Milwaukee, WI (MKE) 11:10am San Francisco, CA (SFO) YX1871 1 stop Meal: None Embraer 190

Tues, May 04 from San Francisco

06:05am San Francisco, CA (SFO)11:41am Minneapolis/St Paul, MN (MSP) YX3378 Non-Stop Boeing 757 Passenger

> > connecting to > > 01:45pm Minneapolis/St Paul, MN (MSP) 02:52pm Milwaukee, WI (MKE) YX1380 Non-Stop Meal: None

Seeing a friend’s FB post on a recent trip to Yosemite made me remember how much I love Yosemite. And it would be fantastic to take the kids there.

Wow, I have wanted to take all of the trips Ive written about this week…wow, this one really makes me want to go.

So fly out April 26th, a Monday. See the sea lions, as usual. Then head west to stay at a hotel on I-580 toward Yosemite. Say the Hawthorn Suites in Livermore.

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Livermore Wine Country
1700 North Livermore Avenue
Livermore, CA 94551 US

2 Queen Beds Suite
Non Smoking Studio With 2 Queen Beds /Full Kitchen/Free Internet/Iron/ Complimentary Full Hot Bkfst
Occupancy: 5 people max
Mon. 04/26/10     USD 97.75
Taxes: USD 8.82
* Total: USD 106.57

And then, off to Yosemite!

out last visit

The Wawona Hotel…I was expecting to say the Ahwahnee. But the price is just too high for even my imaginary trip.

“Housed in six buildings, our rooms are furnished in period pieces and antiques. Fifty of the rooms have private baths, while the rest share central baths. Most of our rooms without bath connect to rooms with bath, making this an ideal accommodation for families.  All rooms offer daily maid service.  There are no telephones or televisions, allowing guests to completely escape and relax while on vacation. “ (from the website)

Complimentary Breakfast Buffet is included with all rooms at Wawona Hotel.

Arrival:      4/27/2010 – Tuesday
Departure:     04/30/2010 – Friday
Adults:     2
Children:   3

Room Type: Yosemite – Wawona Room W/Bathroom
Per night Average: $201.97
Total: $605.90

Wawona Hotel Make History Package for rooms with a shared bath
Room Type: Yosemite – Wawona Room W/O Bath
Per night Average: $130.63
Total: $391.90

I would reserve 2 rooms (remember the family of 5 problem of past rantings). One with a bathroom, 1 without. They adjoin. Maybe. I hope.

In Yosemite, I think we’d take at least 1 or 2 tours.

Valley Floor bus tour looks nice. 2 adults + 3 children      $77 ($15.40 ea)

Or Big Trees Tour (2 Adult @$25.50 each plus 2 children @ $18 plus a free toddler = $87

Then I saw the Moonlight tour. Ooh. And the tour is offered the 4 days aroudn the full moona d the dates I picked are during the full moon. Fate?

“Yosemite Valley Moonlight Tour
If you thought Yosemite by daylight was inspiring, see the Valley in an entirely new and magical light during the Moonlight Tour. Following the same route as the Valley Floor Tour, participants ride in an open-air “green dragon” tram under the glow of a full moon. These two-hour, late night Yosemite tours take place on full-moon nights from May through October, conditions permitting.”

Duration: 2 hours
2 adults + 3 children      $77 ($15.40 ea)

But when I quickly add that in my head, maybe the Grand tour would be worth it:

“The full-day Yosemite Grand Tour combines the Valley Floor Tour, Big Trees Tram and Glacier Point Tours into one. Bring your camera and lots of film for some breathtaking views as you explore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and Glacier Point.

Duration: All day.

Departure Time & Place:  Departs at 8:45am, meet in front of the lobby of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

You Will See: Yosemite Valley sights, plus Tunnel View, Glacier Point, Wawona, Big Trees and more.”

Tour + Lunch for 2 adults @ $92 each + 2 children @ $56 each + 1 free toddler = $296

So 3 nights in Yosemite. Then 2 nights in the Bay Area with friends. Then an extremely early flight out on Tuesday, so we’d book a hotel near SFO.

Howard Johnson San Bruno Ca
Two Queens Non Smoking-Advance Purchase
Includes: Continental Breakfast, Free High-Speed Internet, Free Airport Shuttle
Mon May-3-2010 to Tue May-4-2010
Availability request: 1 room     $59
Two queen beds. Direct TV with free HBO. Free local calls. Complimentary wireless Internet access. Microwave, refrigerator. Phone with voice mail. Coffeemaker, hair dryer, clock radio. Iron/ironing board. Nonsmoking.

And then we fly home.

Preliminary price for air and hotel = $2295

A minivan from Dollar is over $700. Wow. Rental cars were the after thoughts of my travel planning for years…not anymore.

Wisconsin Dells is near and dear to my heart. I think summer is optimal, but we’ve gone in the off season and enjoyed it. I’d bet a weekend in the Dells would be a nice after Christmas.

I picked Sunday Dec 27 – Tuesday Dec 29 more or less randomly. And I picked the Chula Vista resort because we have been talking about going there for a few years. This is for the 7 of us: my parents, Rob, me and the kids.

2 Bedroom Family Tower
*2 bedrooms containing 1 king  bed, 2 queen beds &  sofa  sleeper
*snack fridge, microwave, coffee maker, & 2 tv’s
*Indoor corridor access to main lodge amenities

$209.00/night   ($418.00)
+ fee $4.00
+ fee $15.90
+tax $47.76
= $485.66    No requirements. Includes guest room and waterpark passes.

But the other thing that has made the Chula Vista interesting to me is the all-inclusive deal. Which prices out as follows:

$541.00    ($1082.00 )
+fee $4.00
+fee $15.90
+tax $87.60
= $1189.50

What you get? “Meals at the Market Fresh Buffet, & Lounge, Luigi’s Pizza at Howler’s Bar, Unlimited drinks including tap beer, liquor, tropical and ice cream drinks, wine, soda, coffee, tea, milk, and juice, Hiking, bonfires, and wagon rides. Full use of all 200,000 sq ft of indoor & outdoor water parks and pools, 18-hole mini-golf, and VIP discounts for Spa del Sol specialty products & Golf at Coldwater Canyon. Package benefits start at 4pm on the day of your arrival and ends at 11:30am on the day of your departure.”

Alternately, we could get a smaller room:

Double Queen Junior Suite
*2 queen beds &  semi-private living room area with sofa sleeper
*snack fridge, microwave,  &  coffee maker
*Indoor corridor access to main lodge amenities

Regular rate:
$159.00   ($318.00)
+fee $4.00
+fee $15.90
+tax $36.76
= $374.66

Inclusive Package
$491.00   ($982.00)
+fee $4.00
+fee $15.90
+tax $76.60
= $1078.50

Now when they first came out with all-inclusive, It was advertised that it included all of the restaurants. And then not the steakhouse. And now there only seems to be 3 (the buffet, the sport bar, and the pizza place). No steakhouse makes sense, but not the 2 bars and grills, the clubhouse or the snack bar?

Now my price breakdown:

The all-inclusive package adds $703.84. I somehow doubt the baby cost the same as an adult. I reconfigured my reservation to learn the cost of the all-inclusive per person. 1 adult = $142.04, 1 kid = $67.84, 1 baby = $0.

The all inclusive starts at 4:30 Sunday and lasts until 11:30 Tuesday. 2 suppers, 1 lunch, 2 breakfasts. Plus beer. I think we would budget $200 for suppers, $70 for lunches and $100 for breakfasts and bring beer from home. Basing those prices on our July visit to the Dells. So about half what they budget. Interesting. I wonder how expensive the food is on property?  I suppose they could assume you will eat lunch there on the last day. Or you will have Fourth Meal, Taco Bell style. Or drink like a fish!

This month of travel ideas has mostly been wishful thinking. But the non-all-inclusive package is possible.

We celebrate a pretty quiet Thanksgiving. I like it. I am not looking to add drama into my life. But sometime when I look around the dinner table and I give thanks for the 7 of us being together (my parents, Rob, me, and the kids), I think, we should be celebrating somewhere else. Somewhere warm. Somewhere fabulous.

Arizona sounds like it would be a nice place to spend Thanksgiving weekend. And while the price tag is high, it isn’t ridiculously high.

Phoenix, AZ Flight + Hotel Package Summary, via Priceline.

A thank you to Priceline for not being completely freaked out by having more than a nuclear family. Taking the grandparent along should be good business. And it seems that 3rd child of ours, in addition to ruining the neat seating of rides at Disney, also makes it hard to find a hotel. In the real world in which I call business by phone, the third kid is not that big of a deal. But online, having a party of 5 may as well be a request to bring a lion along. There is no way to do that. Does not compute and assorted other robot jokes. Priceline let me input 4 adults, 2 kids and 1 infant riding in a seat. Not on my lap. I remember pricing fares when Henry was wee. The rumor mill suggests that airline would like babies to ride in car seats on planes, as demonstrated by usually offering a reduced fare for infant seats. The NHTSA doesn’t require seats for infants because the cost would push some people to drive, driving is more dangerous than flying, statistically, and then more children would die. I was pleased to see nearly every airline’s website able to sell me an infant-in-a-seat seat. Of course, it is really hard for me to tell if that infant seat was cheaper than a regular seat. Win some, lose some.

Back to the travel window shopping:

Per Person Price: $394
Total Price for 7 people: $2,761

Millennium Resort Scottsdale Mccormick Ranch
3-star  Scottsdale, Arizona
Check-In: Thu, November 26
Check-Out: Sun, November 29
Nights: 3 Nights
Rooms: 2 Rooms

Beyond our front doors awaits an escape that will soothe and refresh your spirit. Scottsdale’s only lakeside boutique resort, the Millennium McCormick Ranch offers a relaxing and intimate atmosphere…

The pictures are beautiful. Only getting 3 stars means I don’t think I would be completely embarrassed to have my children running around.

Your Flight Details

Departing Flight Information – Thursday, Nov 26, 2009

AirTran Airways, Flight 490
From Milwaukee – General Mitchell Intl (MKE)
Departs: 8:40 AMTo Phoenix – Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) Phoenix, AZ
Arrives: 11:30 AM
Trip Duration 3hr 50mn, 1457 mi

Returning Flight Information – Sunday, Nov 29, 2009
AirTran Airways
Flight 548
From Phoenix – Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Departs: 12:45 AM
To Milwaukee – General Mitchell Intl (MKE)
Arrives: 5:05 AM

This flight is so far from optimal I can’t even express it. But it would give us all day to recuperate. I think I’d have to play around with no needing a  hotel room the last night.

Rental Car
Minivan  Room for – 6 adults, 1 child and 4 suitcases (3 large, 1 small)
Included

Nice touch, Priceline, getting the minivan as the default.

Total Price for 7 people: $2,761

I am beginning to think Midwest wants me to book airfare 10 months in advance. The fares are so reasonable.

We will most likely be invited to a wedding in Rhode Island in September. Despite my travel lust, it is a little iffy whether we’ll be able to go. But let’s see how the pricing shakes out:

Wed, Sep 22 from Milwaukee

07:30am Milwaukee, WI (MKE)10:45am Boston, MA (BOS) YX2203 Non-Stop Meal: Best Care Cuisine

Tue, Sep 28 from Boston

08:00pm Boston, MA (BOS) 09:34pm Milwaukee, WI (MKE) YX739 Non-Stop Meal: Best Care Cuisine Airbus A319

That is really reasonable.

So arrive in Boston on Wednesday the 22nd. Two nights in Boston, then 2 nights in Newport, then 2 nights somewhere else in Massachusetts?

Boston:

John Hancock Hotel and Conference Center
1 block from Copley Square in Boston’s Back Bay
Standard room
Includes: Continental Breakfast
Wed Sep-22-2010 to Fri Sep-24-2010
$169
One queen bed. Approximately 150 square feet. Traditional decor. Cable TV with HBO. Coffee/tea maker. Desk. Armchair or loveseat. Complimentary USA Today delivery. Shower/tub combination, Bath & Body Works toiletries.
$338 plus taxes

Newport:

Salem?

Adorable B&Bs and Inns.

Maybe Cap’n Jacks Waterfront Inn for ~$200/night?

We’d also need a rental car. Avis looks like a mini van would cost us $600 for the week…

Wow, this trip would be really hard to plan. It would require tons more time.

Preliminary cost: $2685

Dona once told me everyone should take a train trip. And it shouldn’t exceed 3 days. Taking a trip out west on the train intrigues me. Seeing the landscapes without dealing with driving all that way. Take that back – seeing the scenery without dealing with children in the car. Of course, they could whine on the train. And there’s no stopping. We’re trapped!

I priced out a mid August, oh-my school is coming, Miranda’s birthday trip.

Taking the #5 California Zephyr, Chicago Union Station, the start of all train travel in the midwest, to Emeryville, CA, about as close to San Francisco as it seems you can get.

Amenities
* 2 Adult: $290.00
* 2 Child: $145.00
* 1 Infant
* 2 Superliner Roomettes: $524.00
Total: $959.00

The rooms turn into bunk beds. Bella could sleep with one of us, I guess.

So we arrived in the Bay Area on June 19th. Spend a few days there. And this is the key, FLY home.

Midwest Airlines

Thu. 08/26/2010 from San Francisco, CA $154.00
YX1872 11:50am San Francisco, CA (SFO) to
05:35pm Kansas City, MO (MCI)
Non-Stop Meal: Best Care Cuisine

> > connecting to > >

YX1890 06:35pm Kansas City, MO (MCI) to 08:00pm Milwaukee, WI (MKE)
Non-Stop, Meal: Best Care Cuisine

For a grand total of: $1835 for transportation. Throw in a rental car…goodness cars are expensive that far out.

Pros of the train trip:
Beautiful scenery
Something we’ve never done

Cons of the train trip:
The cost
I can’t even bring myself to quote the fare with bathroom.

——————————

In other news, the children are still sick. Less sick, but fevers are still present. Well, there goes this week of school.

Rob has a conference he’d like to go to next March. I don’t know if he will have a chance to go, if it is the best conference for his goals, or if we’d even go along if the stars aligned. But I do love going to San Francisco. So Much. So I looked at 4 different ways to get there:

The facts:

The conference is March 1-5.
We’d want to be there by Feb 28th and probably spend the weekend after the Bay area. So I priced airfare from Feb 27-28th and March 6-7-8.

Sat, Feb 27 from Milwaukee

07:00am Milwaukee, WI (MKE) 11:10am San Francisco, CA (SFO) YX1871 1 stop Meal: None View seats | Embraer 190

Mon, Mar 08 from San Francisco

11:50am San Francisco, CA (SFO) 05:35pm Kansas City, MO (MCI) YX1872 Non-Stop Meal: Best Care Cuisine | Embraer 190

> > connecting to > > 06:35pm Kansas City, MO (MCI) 08:00pm Milwaukee, WI (MKE) YX1890 Non-Stop Meal: Best Care Cuisine | Embraer 190

Midwest Airlines, Operated by Republic.

Fare Summary

You have selected a nonrefundable fare. Fees apply to changes.

Now, on the Midwest front, we have some frequent flyer miles to use up. And Bella’s seat as an infant traveling in a car seat would cost less. But a price for comparison’s sake.

Baggage $20 each way for each bag. I would guess we’d take 3 or 4 bags. So worst case: $20x 8 = $160.

Midwest total: $1234.50 + $160 = $1394.6

Now, we’ve flown Frontier and I was happy with the flight.

FARE BREAKDOWN

Passenger Type	Base Fare per person	Taxes per person	Total Fare per person	Number of passengers	Total Fare
Passenger	179.53	54.37	233.90	x  5	USD 1,169.50

No idea if Frontier also has cheaper fares for babies.
They also charge $20 for each bag each way. So $160 more. $1329.50
Frontier also has higher priced fares that give you free bags and seat selection and DirecTv. The same flights with the upgraded seats (and the potential to take 10 bags for free!) would be $1469.50.

And now Southwest:

Air Itinerary

Depart Feb 27

Milwaukee, WI to Oakland, CA Saturday, February 27, 2010 Travel Time 7 h 35 m (1 stop, includes 1 plane change)

#3235 Depart Milwaukee, WI (MKE) 8:00 AM Arrive in Las Vegas, NV (LAS) 10:10 AM #1436 Change in Las Vegas, NV (LAS) 11:55 AM Arrive in Oakland, CA (OAK) 1:35 PM

Return Mar 8

Oakland, CA to Milwaukee, WI Monday, March 8, 2010 Travel Time 5 h 30 m (1 stop, includes 1 plane change)

#181 Depart Oakland, CA (OAK) 12:15 PM Arrive in Kansas City, MO (MCI) 5:40 PM #372 Change in Kansas City, MO (MCI) 6:15 PM Arrive in Milwaukee, WI (MKE) 7:45 PM

Passenger Type	Trip	Routing	Fare Type	Base Fare	Govt. Taxes and Fees	Quantity	Total
Adult	Depart	MKE-LAS-OAK	Wanna Get Away	$105.12	$27.58	5	$663.50 Your Pricing Breakdown Close Base Fare $105.12 + Excise Taxes $7.88 Advertised Fare $113.00 + Segment Fee $7.20 + Passenger Facility Charge $7.50 + Security Fee 1 $5.00 Total per Passenger $132.70 x 5 Passenger(s) Total $663.50 1 Security Fee is the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee.
Adult	Return	OAK-MCI-MKE	Wanna Get Away	$89.30	$27.90	5	$586.00 Your Pricing Breakdown Close Base Fare $89.30 + Excise Taxes $6.70 Advertised Fare $96.00 + Segment Fee $7.20 + Passenger Facility Charge $9.00 + Security Fee 1 $5.00 Total per Passenger $117.20 x 5 Passenger(s) Total $586.00 1 Security Fee is the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee.
Please read the fare rules associated with this purchase.				$194.42	$55.48	5	$1249.50

This is the total price, well except that Southwest has lower prices for kids and babies. Maybe. But there are no bag fees!

And then AirTran. AirTran and Midwest are bitter enemies. Strangely enough, both AirTran and Midwest have a partnership with Frontier. Curious.

AirTran flight details
Departing: Saturday, February 27, 2010	Earn 1 A+ credit $91.00 – Coach
Milwaukee, WI (MKE)	to San Francisco, CA (SFO)	Flight 342
8:45 AM	11:09 AM
Returning: Sunday, March 07, 2010	Earn 1 A+ credit $99.00 – Coach/span>
San Francisco, CA (SFO)	to Milwaukee, WI (MKE)	Flight 608
12:04 PM	6:00 PM

Airfare / passenger 84.65 Taxes / passenger $15.45 Subtotal / passenger $100.10 x 5 passenger(s) $500.50

Airfare / passenger $92.09 Taxes / passenger $17.51 Subtotal / passenger $109.60 x 5 passenger(s) $548.00

Total Cost of Flight $1,048.50

And then the baggage. 4 bags at $15 each way = $120. For a grand total of $1168.50

To recap, 5 people, 4 bags:

Midwest $1394.60

Frontier: $1329.50

Southwest: $1249.50

AirTran: $1168.50

Wow, I did not expect AirTran to be that much less expensive. That said, the price dropped about $100 while I fiddled with this entry.