Promoters of the Muskegon County Airport have always had several undeniable points in their favor.  The airport is closer and more accessible for us here than the one in Kent County, parking is cheaper, and overall, as the ads say, "It's just easier."  Yet air travelers will often sacrifice convenience for price.  Grand Rapids can be significantly less expensive than flying from Muskegon, although that depends.  At times, Muskegon fares can be quite competitive.    

The Grand Rapids price advantage seems to have narrowed somewhat with news that ticket prices at Gerald R. Ford International Airport soared 18 percent between the end of 2004 and the end of 2005.  The rise was the third-highest among the nation's 85 largest airports.    

There is no accurate way to tell if the price pressures affecting Grand Rapids - too many passengers for too few flights, prompted mainly by crushing fuel costs - are exerting comparable pressures here.  But travelers should take everything into account when considering which airport to use.    

Among those considerations should be the extra travel time involved, the added cost of fuel to get to Grand Rapids and back again, and how much more it will cost to park there once you arrive.  Excellent security and relatively little congestion in Muskegon are other worthwhile factors.    

In the end, you might find that the ease of flying out of Muskegon's modern airport terminal, and various related cost savings involved, might very well add to a less stressful and more memorable trip.