[PraiseDoom]

Saw this article in the News section this morning... Americans Reconsidering Travel Plans
and one of the comments was, and I'm paraphrasing, was that as people reconsider their vacation plans because of high fuel costs, one of the options they are considering is to FLY instead.

Now wait a minute....so its too expensive to travel by car, but its better and cheaper to FLY??

How in the hell is flying okay, planes gobbling a gazillion gallons of jet fuel every flight, but us Americans can't put 100 gallons into our SUV's to transport the family from Point A to Point B?

[Denny]

Sometimes flying can be eocnomical after factoring in the cost of fuel for the beast.

Recently, I worked that a return trip to Florida wou;ld cost $325 in gas for the return trip (from Toronto). Just two years ago it was under $200. I was able to book a cheap flight from Buffal instead and it cost $449 return for the two of us. But, I also avoided accomodation costs en route.

Perhaps, as fuel rises in cost, it may be the last time I'll see a $449 return flight, I can't say for sure.

[Tanada]

Its a matter of family size. If you are traveling alone or with one other person flying is often actually less expensive than driving a long distance, for three or more people traveling together however the economics change. Each additional plane passenger on your group increases the cost substantially, whereas each additional person added to the SUV is a nominal cost. If you have a Toyota Highlander for example and are hauling 6 people it will cost you a lot less than if you buy 6 plane tickets round trip. If your Highlander is a Hybrid you do even better, or if you use a minivan vs a Hummer.

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PraiseDoom', 'H')ow in the hell is flying okay, planes gobbling a gazillion gallons of jet fuel every flight, but us Americans can't put 100 gallons into our SUV's to transport the family from Point A to Point B?

[Denny]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sheb', '
')
If we Americans, really wanted to travel fuel-efficiently, we would have smaller cars, we'd take the train more and increase our passenger train infrastrure (something Europe has a leg up on). Ironically, in the U.S., taking a train cross-country (one of the more fuel-efficient methods) costs more than flying (the least fuel-efficient manner).

But the truth is, most americans don't care about fuel efficiently. We want what we want, and we want it cheaply--at any cost.

[Pops]

Don’t be silly. A road trip of 1,000 miles – unless you are hardcore, entails at least one nights lodging, several meals and a couple of days off the vacation or the job.

Makes sense…

Cheap at any cost.

Another good line.

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'D')on’t be silly. A road trip of 1,000 miles – unless you are hardcore, entails at least one nights lodging, several meals and a couple of days off the vacation or the job.

Makes sense…

Cheap at any cost.

Another good line.

[ravensburg]

pstarr that has got to be one of the best ways of putting how the avrage person goes on vacation. I always drive where I go when I take off (around 200 - 300) miles and I hope to cut that down, I hate to fly and I dislike driveing more and more; would rather find a good place to hike into, such a better way to see the country if you ask me.

[Heineken]

Slam-dunk, pstarr.

The typical American "vacation" is my idea of hell.

There was a time when an idyllic, affordable vacation was available to almost anyone.

But we've spoiled all the destinations, and getting to them is even worse.

People desperately want to escape, so they still go through the labored motions of vacation, like so many herd beasts.

But more and more, there is no escape, except for the ultra-rich. And even their playgrounds are becoming strained and sullied.

[I_Like_Plants]

Right on. Flying has become such hell I'm surprised anyone still does it.

Driving cross country can be a lot of fun, even on a budget. You see places and people. I never knew someone could/would throw up into an ice machine at a motel before. I never saw Meteor Crater before, and likely never will again. Looking *down* at hovering hawks at a rest stop. Meeting interesting/weird people (no, I was not the one who threw up in the ice machine bin.....) and seeing odd places....

Vacations are often hell though, I could have a very decent vacation right around here, take the train up to SF and spend a weekend up there, or visit some nearby nature area. I've considered being a volunteer for one of those "clean up the bay" things, a day picking up trash with strangers still sounds like more fun than the average American's vacation.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', ' ')Flying has become such hell I'm surprised anyone still does it.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', ' ')Flying has become such hell I'm surprised anyone still does it.

[vision-master]

I traveled a fair amount when young.

I'd rather just hang in my area now.

I like those mini 4 hour vacations these days.

Take a nice afternoon bicycle ride & stop for lunch & coffee, that's a vacation.

I haven't been in the air since about 1993.

Flying sounds awful these days. I'd rather take a train.

[Roy]

Flying in today's 'security' environment to me feels like:

Guilty till proven innocent. It wasn't always like that. I have been treated like shit by TSA people the last two times I had to fly for my former employer. Like a criminal because some buzzer went off or because of the timing of an itinerary change.

Guilty till proven innocent.

I don't like it. I'd rather drive and have some degree of independence, if I have to go somewhere.

Flying from Baton Rouge to Houston took about the same amount of time as driving (~4 hours) and cost a lot less for instance.

AFAIK, any trip within 6 hours driving time is just as quick by car and a lot less stressful.

[holmes]

if you travel with one carry on. If i fly I take my mountianeering day pack and thats it. Carry on carry off. step off and out. Travel alone or with your woman and light. Not bad. And go to destinations that are nonstop. No stopovers or layovers. Take off. land.