Cheap Flights from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh Cost Less than Driving
It costs $36.50 in tolls to make the five-hour drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. And that’s assuming you have EZ-Pass. Otherwise, it’s more than double that. And then you have to drive back and pay the same amount in tolls. Plus, you have the gas, the cost of which just went up again. Ugh.
But what if there was a way you could fly from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and spend even less than it costs you to drive to Pittsburgh?
Frontier Airlines just announced that the company is starting non-stop flights from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (and back, of course) beginning on May 16th. And the introductory rate? $34. That’s round trip. Dirt cheap.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Sure, they say these rates are available, but will they be when I try to book them? I did some searching on Wednesday and again on Thursday, and sure enough, I found plenty of flights from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh for $34 round trip. And, no, I didn’t have to be a member of their discount program to find those fares.
Of course, you’d pay extra for a carry-on item. But I’m able to squeeze a weekend’s worth of stuff into the free personal item they allow. (It’s amazing what you can fit into a laptop bag, especially if you tightly roll your clothes, and then, of course, you wear a bulky jacket and stuff the many pockets full of extra things.) You’ll also pay extra if you want to pick where you sit. But I’m here to tell you: It’s Frontier, and pretty much anywhere you sit is going to be tight. But you’ll be in Pittsburgh before you know it. And, hey, at least Frontier is not the world’s worst airline.
If you’re wondering about flight-time math, the flight takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. Figure on showing up at the airport an hour ahead of time. So that’s two-and-a-quarter hours versus five hours. And it’s not like the five-hour drive on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is filled with excitement and gorgeous vistas.
Eh, screw it. Anyone who knows me knows I’m frugal, meaning I’m a cheap bastard. So I just have to snag one of these $34 tickets. And I’m going to do so immediately after publishing this story.
In the era of costly travel, the opportunity to fly to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia for less than driving is a game-changer. With Frontier Airlines offering round-trip flights for as low as $34, travelers now have an affordable alternative to the long and expensive journey by car. This new option not only saves money but also cuts down on travel time significantly. So, why endure a five-hour toll-laden drive when you can hop on a quick flight for a fraction of the cost? With these budget-friendly flights available, it’s time to rethink how you travel between these two Pennsylvania cities.
