What's the cheapest flight to get to Springfield/Northampton, MA area from Columbia, SC or close-by airports?

Trying to visit family before 5/12 when I start working again and won't be able to for a long time until maybe Christmas if that maybe next year. I've never be on a plane or where to even search. This is very important to me. Any help or tips would be very grateful!

Your least expensive option is likely to drive. Do you have a car? It's about 13 hours from Columbia, SC to Northampton, MA.

Your least expensive option in terms of flights is probably Columbia, SC to Boston, MA, then you'd take a bus from Boston to Northampton, MA. Boston to Northampton is about 2-2.5 hours' drive, more if there's traffic. You'd get to the airport, then probably need to take a train to the bus, kind of a PITA. But better are these new shuttle services - for a bit more than the cost of a bus, you take a shuttle like this one right from Logan International Airport in Boston to Northampton:

Your most convenient in terms of flights is probably Columbia, SC to Hartford, CT, then a bus from Hartford to Northampton, or they can drive down to Hartford and pick you up, as it's only about 45 minutes from Northampton. IMO, this is the best option if they can pick you up, as it's only about $75 more than the SC to Boston flight, and it gets you close enough that they could realistically go to the airport and pick you up.

To search for flights, you can use sites like Travelocity or Expedia.

Go to expedia.com or any other travel websites. They comparison shop for best prices etc.

Use a site like kayak.com to check fares. Enter your departure and destination airports, and your dates of travel, and compare the available fares. It will also give you an option to search with more flexible dates if your dates are in fact flexible.

Be aware that you are booking kind of late for a trip that has to take place in the next month. Generally it's best to buy tickets 6-10 weeks in advance of domestic travel. You're getting into the "last minute travel" area, when tickets tend to be most expensive. But being flexible with travel dates and even airports (consider flying out of Hartford, Boston, or Providence if you can get there, and flying into Charlotte) can help you find a better fare.

Spirit has seasonal flights from Myrtle Beach to Hartford. You will then have to find a ride to get to Springfield. Other option is to check for flights on or

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