would you pay 450 per round trip ticket (x3) for a direct flight, or would you drive 8 hours from an airport that's near family to your destination for a 259 per round trip ticket (x3)?

savings 573
minus car rental
taking into consideration 16 hours driving,
but on the plus side getting to see more family.
keep in mind i've got two small children... 

I'd pay for direct flight, I don't think the kids will wanna be sitting in a car for 8 hours after a flight. 

Direct flight would be so much easier. 

Direct flight. You can always call the airline directly and see if they can offer you a break because you're military... 

Direct flight. For your sanity. :-) I tried to save money like that once and the driving to the airport wasn't so bad. It was getting off the plane and realizing I still had a long drive home. 

I think you could handle it. It would take a lot of planning, preparation, and organization. I think you could pull it off. I would, I have, only grew a few WHITE hairs. 

Well I purchased the tickets and had to refund them all within one hour :( 

BOO, why? Can you imagine S on an 8 hour car ride? hehehe j/k 

Well I purchased the tickets and had to refund them all within one hour :( 

:-( I'm sorry. 

I would do a direct flight. Having driven from 29 Palms, CA to Quantico, VA with 3 children. Let's say it wasn't an enjoyable drive. I'm all for flights now.:) 

BOO, why? Can you imagine S on an 8 hour car ride? hehehe j/k 
because of some confusion with leave:(
i've done a 6 hour drive with the kids before... it took 2 days... we will make the trip down, either to san diego, or az but its most likely going to be sometime in DEC.
bleh.
we'll probably fly to SD then drive to AZ anyway so that my husband's grandparents can meet my babe. (they haven't, and they're getting old, so it's a big deal).