Question

Your classmates from the University of Chicago are planning to go to Miami for spring break, and you are undecided about whether you should go with them. The round-trip airfare is $600, but you have a frequent-flyer coupon worth $500 that you could use to pay part of the airfare. All other costs for the vacation are exactly $900. The most you would be willing to pay for the trip is $1,400. Your only alternative use for your frequent-flyer coupon is for your trip to Atlanta two weeks after the break to attend your sister's graduation, which your parents are forcing you to attend. The Chicago-Atlanta round-trip airfare is $450. If the Chicago-Atlanta round-trip air fare were $350, should you use the coupon to go to Miami?

Answer 1

Answer:

You should use the discount coupon to pay for the Chicago-Miami trip. Not considering the personal motivations for the trip, the coupon is worth $500. The cost of flying is $600, so you will only pay $100 yourself. You will be spending $900 + $1000 = $1,000 in total.

The opportunity cost of using the coupon is $350 (the cost of the round trip to Atlanta). Even if you add the $350 to the $1,000 expense, the total is $1,350, less than your $1,400 maximum budget.