Because we don’t fly that often (no more than once a year) I usually go for a non stop flight. We also are usually trying to maximize time at the destination which usually means nonstop. But we also don’t have an enormous travel budget, so I would probably do the layover with the cost difference you described

It depends on how big the chance is that I will get to my destination if my first flight is delayed and how important it is that I get where I am going asap. If your first flight is delayed, how many other flights are there after that can get you there.
During Covid we ended up paying $400 more per person for direct flights where we had taken layovers before. I believe that saved us from a lot of headache last summer. We’re about to take flight where direct was $1000 more a person and we were not able to pay that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nonstop always and especially if the airport transfer is Charlotte.

Is Charlotte worse than Atlanta? I changed planes there once and vowed never again. Charlotte is another option for my typical destinations.

I’ve never had a Charlotte connection that wasn’t on the entire opposite side of the airport. Plan for time if you choose Charlotte if yours have been like mine.

I almost always spring for direct, but I'd be tempted to suck it up with those numbers.

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes short layovers are stressful if the first flight is delyed.

Agreed. When I read OP, I was actually thinking that the short layover was a deterrent, not a positive thing. For international flights/where I need to go through customs, I get nervous about any layover less than 4 hours.

Depends on how much the flights cost to begin with and how long the layover is. We have a non direct flights to Denver for spring break because they were already insanely expensive ($600 each) so I was not willing to pay even $100 more pp for a direct flight. Going out I did select a flight that quickly stops without a plane change to minimize risk of luggage getting lost.

Sometimes short layovers are stressful if the first flight is delyed.

Anonymous wrote:Nonstop always and especially if the airport transfer is Charlotte.

Is Charlotte worse than Atlanta? I changed planes there once and vowed never again. Charlotte is another option for my typical destinations.

It depends how many time zones I'm crossing, how tight my schedule is, whether I have something planned in the 24 hours after the flight, etc. This is because I can't sleep on the plane and have a harder and harder time recovering from travel fatigue, so for my usual European trip I've done direct flights the last couple of times. But Caribbean? No jet lag anyway. Don't pick too short of a layover in case the first flight is delayed or you have to schlep from one end of the airport to the other.

Anonymous wrote:If the layover is on the way and relatively short I’ll do it if it saves a lot. We are going to Aruba via Orlando. That’s fine. Friend of mine is going to Aruba via Boston, that I would not do, and she is paying a lot less than we are but still not worth it to me to go the opposite direction.

I agree with this. We have ~ an hour in Miami. That is 100% more agreeable than the multi hour (4+) stopover in Charlotte that was also available. Seemed like a nice in between choice. More expensive than the multi hour Charlotte layover, cheaper than the non-stop.

$1250 difference? And the connection is easy? I'm saving money and taking the stop.

If the layover is on the way and relatively short I’ll do it if it saves a lot. We are going to Aruba via Orlando. That’s fine. Friend of mine is going to Aruba via Boston, that I would not do, and she is paying a lot less than we are but still not worth it to me to go the opposite direction.

Nonstop always and especially if the airport transfer is Charlotte.

Anonymous wrote:I need to draw a line with always wanting nonstop flights. What is a reasonable rule of thumb in deciding to splurge for non-stop.

I’m currently looking at 4-nonstop flights to the Caribbean on United for $4500 vs. jetblue 1-stop for $2850. The layovers are very short so travel time isn’t excessive. I guess I know I should save my money and do the less expensive jet blue flight, I just always struggle choosing the less convenient option.

What would you do?

Is this apples-to-apples? Including bag fees, etc? Just confirming.

Looks like a $400/person difference. My line has been $100 in each direction, depending on the layover and risk.

I need to draw a line with always wanting nonstop flights. What is a reasonable rule of thumb in deciding to splurge for non-stop.

I’m currently looking at 4-nonstop flights to the Caribbean on United for $4500 vs. jetblue 1-stop for $2850. The layovers are very short so travel time isn’t excessive. I guess I know I should save my money and do the less expensive jet blue flight, I just always struggle choosing the less convenient option.

What would you do?