What would you consider 'airplane distance'? (restrictions, hotel, hotel, liquids)

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

really depends on many things... but time / fuel / connections / length of stay, detours, irresistable urge for road trip, need for a QUICK getaway...

I'm pretty cheap, so cost / time is often primary. If I can get a $89 flight and a $10/day rental car,,, I don't even bother thinking of driving my 50 mpg car. IT doesn't need the extra miles, it needs to last the rest of my life, as it is hard to find replacements.

If I travel 300+ miles OW, it is better for me to rent a car for the weekend ($10-20/day) than to drive my own vehicle.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

If I travel 300+ miles OW, it is better for me to rent a car for the weekend ($10-20/day) than to drive my own vehicle.

yes, rental cars are CHEAP use of vehicle. People laugh when I tell them I drive BEATERS and rent if I need something nice, but,,, it make sense for me... I average 20-40k / yr on my beaters. I recently rented a car for $5.95 and drove 3500 miles in less than a week. THAT was a good deal (even though I had to pay for a tire repair a couple times).

While I LOVE to drive (grew up the kid of a truckdriving farmer, and had over 50k on my 15 yr old permit).

[Chava61]

Any where that I have to travel over water (such as an ocean or sea), I think flying is relevant.

For a distance of 300 miles flying in a small private airplane (if one has that option) is better than driving.

[jambo101]

If time isnt a factor i'll drive anywhere in N.America as i love driving and hate flying, Flying is like taking a long elevator ride that misses the whole adventure that driving gives you. however if time is a factor ya got no choice so anything over 1000 miles we'll do the plane.

[BECLAZONE]

Originally Posted by callmemaybe

Ie when flying makes more sense than driving or taking the bus/train?

I'd say if it's more than about 400 miles/700 km, I'd rather fly. Like from Portland to the Bay Area, you can get there in a day, but it's a very long day and I'd say that kind of distance is about when flying makes a bit more sense. On the other hand, if I'm going to Seattle or Vancouver BC, it makes a lot more sense to take the bus. Boise is kinda on the edge.

There is more than just the distance to consider, getting a hire car, parking your own car whilst away, time spent at the airports, possibility of missed flights caused by traffic holdups, cancelation of flights, etc.etc, plus the extra costs involved.

[7express]

If I'm on the East coast (Boston to Washington) I'd probably take the train. Only 2 I'd think about flying would be between Boston & Washington.

I'd rather take the train then the car and milage varies because New York to Baltimore isn't very far milage wise, but traffic wise is a PITA, so your traveling a lot longer then you should be. Pretty much I'll drive/train anything within 5 or 6 hours unless I can find a really cheap flight.

[callmemaybe]

Originally Posted by jambo101

If time isnt a factor i'll drive anywhere in N.America as i love driving and hate flying, Flying is like taking a long elevator ride that misses the whole adventure that driving gives you. however if time is a factor ya got no choice so anything over 1000 miles we'll do the plane.

I'd take a flight to Toronto over 3 days on the Greyhound bus there. Never again!

[Cali BassMan]

Bus?? I'd drive a car before riding the bus..as for flying, for me it's all about the timing and convienance, I live an hour from the airport, plus you need to get there early, so there's 3 hours and I haven't even got on the plane yet.. then take into account all the time that planes are late recently and the hassle that creates, I'll usually drive if it's under an 8 hour drive......

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

yes, rental cars are CHEAP use of vehicle. People laugh when I tell them I drive BEATERS and rent if I need something nice, but,,, it make sense for me... I average 20-40k / yr on my beaters. I recently rented a car for $5.95 and drove 3500 miles in less than a week. THAT was a good deal (even though I had to pay for a tire repair a couple times).

While I LOVE to drive (grew up the kid of a truckdriving farmer, and had over 50k on my 15 yr old permit).

My usual standard is $0.10/ mile. If I can rent a car for $50 for an 800 miles weekend, it makes no sense to use my own car.

[TXNGL]

I have a different take on this. I love road trips, but if I've done a trip several times and I'm bored with it (Dallas to South Padre, for example), I fly.