Gainesville’s dinky regional airport has only two departure gates, which is why their astronomical fares are pretty surprising.

Airborne Gators have other options, though, besides surrendering to Gainesville’s sky-high prices!  Follow these tips and save a bundle!

1. Flying out of Orlando, Jacksonville, or Tampa is a great option.  Try kayak.com, which compiles fares from every flight search engine you can think of.  Fares are affordable from these cities, even accounting for gas and parking money.

2. Speaking of parking—leaving your car at the airport for the weekend is basically throwing forty bucks out the airplane window.  Nearby lots provide cheaper parking with free, convenient shuttles to the airport and add only a few extra minutes to your travel time. Try these for Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa.

3. Not a big planner? Not many of us are. Airtran offers one-way standby fares for students at the dirt cheap price of $69 each way—a service OTR can personally recommend from experience. No advanced planning is required; buy your ticket at the airport and fly away the same day.

Remember: saving money on traveling allows other luxuries--like buying all new toiletries when airport security makes you throw yours away.