Cheapest method for 1-way travel from FW to Houston (Dallas: rental car, rental)

[beowulf7]

An out-of-state friend will be flying to TX in a couple weeks to visit me in Fort Worth. He then will visit another friend of his in Houston (suburban town of Spring, TX). He already bought a 1-way flight ticket into Dallas and 1-way out of Houston. He asked me for the cheapest way to travel 1-way between these 2 cities. He's leaning toward getting a cheap rental car, such as from Budget or Thrifty.

If Amtrak train, Greyhound bus, etc. can do it cheaply and relatively quickly, that would be another bonus for him. Obviously, the rental car will offer him the most flexibility (then his friend in Spring won't have to get him from Houston), but it may be the most expensive. Does anyone have direct or indirect experience with this kind of travel and offer a recommendation?

Thanks!

[Poltracker]

Personally, I would just grab the rental car and go. It is not a bad trip, just straight down I-45 to Spring about 31/2 hours. Flying might actually be less expensive especially since he is at the airport anyway. Spring is a short trip if he is flying into Bush Intercontinental. Busses are slow and you have to get to and from the station located in downtown Houston and wherever in FW. I do not believe there is direct train service between Dallas/FW and Houston but I could be wrong on that.

[beowulf7]

Thanks for the input, Poltracker. I just a little searching on-line on this. Amtrak goes from FW to SA, then Houston. It would take about half a day to travel, if not more. So that option is out. (BTW, it's $64 each way for those wondering.) Rental car companies appear to charge a very hefty fee for a one-way rental. For e.g., Avis is quoting about $180 for 2 days (pick up in FW and drop off at Houston Hobby Int.'l Airport) and Thrifty quoted $120 for this. My friend indicated he doesn't want to spend more than $70 or $80. I mentioned to him to check out priceline.com since they can provide a competitive price as well.

I didn't check the bus fare/schedule yet. So it's only 3.5 hrs. from FW to Spring? That's not too bad. He hasn't considered DFW to HOB (a 1-way flight), but that's another option.

[MSJones]

Beowulf, you may want to check Southwest Airlines. They fly out of either Love or DFW, although they only fly into Hobby Airport here in Houston - but on some days in late January/early February, they are offering web only specials for one way flights for $49. That's a great deal that may work out for your friend.

[Poltracker]

Given those numbers, I would fly.

[beowulf7]

Thanks for the SWA recommendation, MSJones. I'll mention that to my friend, but I'd also have to make a 2nd trip to the airport (DAL airport is about an hour away from where I live). I saw on Greyhound's Web site that a 1-way bus ride from FW to Houston is $62 for standard pricing and $39 if bought 7 or more days in advance. It's a ~6 hr. bus ride. It's not a bad option either and the Greyhound bus stop in downtown FW is only some 11 mi. away from my house.

[Guerilla]

Southwest, but especially Continental. Continental would be cheap.

[beowulf7]

Thanks. I just checked SW's and AA's Web sites. Both are indicating $49+tax+fee fares for DAL>HOU and DFW>IAH, respectively. I didn't check Continental's fare yet.

[wade_word]

The cheapest way to Houston???? You'd have better luck having Scotty beam you over there rather than pay the ridiculous gas prices. Of course, that would be if you went ANYPLACE.

[Bily Lovec]

if you have transportation to and from the airports, its by far cheaper to fly. continental has flights from IAH to dallas every hour, IAH is about as close to spring as you can get, and not be in spring

SWA comes out of hobby, which is no where near spring.