With van payments less than half that amount everyone benefited. Over a 3 or 4 year time span, an individual member can accumulate enough points for a free flight. Airlines also run specials. We made one flight, with two plane changes which filled a promotional campaign criterion and we were awarded a free flight for each ticket which we held. Ask around and you might find you qualify.
Most airlines also have a group discount desk for large groups.
Thus, when an individual student leaves your program, the frequent flyer account stays with the team. If your campus has a student dining program for students in the residence halls, you can easily cut your food budget in half. If the school you are visiting has the same campus food service such as Marriott or ARA, then the students can often eat at the cafeteria at the school they are visiting using their own student ID card. Students who live in the residence halls have already paid for their meals at their university. Whenever I leave campus with a group of students I ask the university to prepare sack lunches for us to take with us.