I could be down to spend a couple grand on a weekend. But not a couple grand on a weekend FLIGHT. Do you see the difference? Simple matter of fact is, flying (coach, anyway) is not a pleasurable experience and continues to be less pleasurable especially with these cock scanners nowadays. So, to pay a grand to get my balls played with or my dick looked at, to sit next to a fat dude, to not have leg room, to pay for every bag, to have my flight delayed, etc is just not something I'm digging. I'm willing to go through excruciating 20 hour trips if I have enough time to forget what a shitty experience the flying was.
Anyway, if I lived in England, I'd try and get away too. It's not exactly a land of "get away" destinations unless you enjoy the caravan club*.
*thanks to The Inbetweeners I was able to drop that line.
Also, I've never visited NY but I've been to Mexico. Why? My flight and 8-day hotel stay were 500. You can't get a round trip ticket to NY for 500 from Seattle.