How far does the distance have to be for you to fly (cost, rental)

[xboxmas]

Usually if its around 10 hours to the destination, we choose to fly. 8 is pushing it, but we deal. How far does the distance have to be for you to choose air travel instead of driving?

[elnina]

All depends if I have time to drive...
Given time I can drive across the country. When time pressured, everything longer than 5 hrs drive will be done by air.

[Ameriscot]

Obviously directed at those in the US. If I'm travelling in the UK I prefer to take the train and avoid the hassle of airports. However, most of my travel is overseas so driving is not an option, at least not if I want to get very far!

[flyonpa]

My rule is if i can drive it in about 5-6hrs ~300miles i drive, over that I fly, If my son is going with me it might go to 7-8 hr of driving due to higher cost for 2nd airfare.

Also why I'm going there?
How long will i be there?
Do I need a car there?

To 'Fly' anywhere takes min 5 hours when you factor in Driving to the airport, parking, getting to terminal, getting thru secuirty, waiting at gate, flying there, getting out of airport, getting rental car, driving to where i need to go.

[Ameriscot]

I think it takes longer for me to fly the one hour to London than to take the train for 5 hours. And a train is much more enjoyable.

We don't do a lot of driving any more as we pay so much for petrol. Fortunately, since we are 60+ we can ride buses all over Scotland for free.

I used to find flying exciting, now it's just a means of getting to my destination, longest leg of any flight I've been on is 14 hours (with no transfers or stops). Fine in business class but not cattle class.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by xboxmas

How far does the distance have to be for you to choose air travel instead of driving?

Assuming this question is about the middling distance destinations...
it's more than just the distance.

I think it takes longer for me to fly the one hour to London than to take the train for 5 hours.
(and once there... who wants the bother of a car in London or Manhattan?)

The duration of the visit and the nature of the destination will be at least as important.
City center to city center for a short business trip? That will be a on train.

[Boompa]

I haven't been on an airplane in 10 years and havebeen to both coasts annually. The only places I would fly involve crossing an ocean

[Jayess1]

6 ~ 8 hours in North America, otherwise drive. Trains are for freight.

[LauraC]

Once I retired, I refuse to fly anymore. I like to drive and drive everywhere but being I'm retired, I have the time to do it. When I get tired on my way to my destination, I check into a motel. That's usually about at the 9.5 hours point. Obviously, I don't go overseas.

[43north87west]

A little bit of it depends on the area of the country and the airport.

5 hours is usually my break even point for a direct flight, assuming that I'm not going far from the airport on either end. In the Northeast, I'd go even more than that, because the road traffic, airports, airspace, weather, etc., all add up to a massive cluster. You might spend all day to fly from EWR to DCA, or instead, drive there in a few hours, not subject to fog, airspace constraints, broken equipment, flight crews out of hours, etc. And you don't need to get probed by TSA and grilled about your glucometer and collection of USB cables and battery chargers.

Out west, I'll fly from PHX to SAN, or PHX to LAS no problem. Each is 5-6 hours on the road. PHX to LAX is generally a losing proposition, but PHX to ONT is better than driving if I'm going somewhere in the IE. Phoenix has very few delays, which factors into the equation.