That's it...I'm done with flying

[zontar]

There are things about it I am not fond of--but overall--sometimes it's needed.
I don't fly a lot though. I did about 2 or 3 months back, for the first time in a couple of years.
I try to use just carry on whenever possible. I know they try to get people to gate check it then, but I have things I need in my carryon--so I can't do that.

But I see people who I think purposely take it as carryon & then gate check it when told it's too big.

I do remember flying in the rain at night one time--with a window seat and thinking of an old Twilight Zone episode.
I was good with it.
But it may have been cooler if I was sitting over the wing.

 

[MJ5150]

I do remember flying in the rain at night one time--with a window seat and thinking of an old Twilight Zone episode.
I was good with it.
But it may have been cooler if I was sitting over the wing.

-Mike

 

[zontar]

-Mike

That's the one.

 

[twinjet]

I know a woman who, last I heard, was trying to get a job as a TSA agent. The thought of her being in a position of power is very, very scary. She is bat-poop crazy, and if given the opportunity, would ruin someone's life for her own amusement.

I work at an airport myself. TSA has been hiring for entry-level positions starting at $17/hour! As lovely as that might sound, I felt I'd be selling myself to the devil. I'd hate myself for working for them. I'd hate being surrounded by those kinds of people. I'd hate that I might become like them. I'd probably start hating people. I'd probably start screwing with them for my own amusement.

I'd probably be... dead inside.

 

[hondo4life]

That's your prerogative, but be aware that you are about 20 times more likely to die in your car than in a plane. 20 times. That's a fact, jack. You'd have to fly every single day for nineteen thousand years to die in a plane crash.

It has nothing to do with risk of dying. I'm not scared. I'd just rather be miserable driving my car alone than be miserable stuck in a plane with a hundred other miserable people.

 

[David Jayne]

On THAT point, we agree. : D

 

[David Jayne]

I will repeat that Amtrak is better than flying.

I would use it, but I have an absolute need to check a heavy tool case everywhere I go and they don't do it here on the East.

 

[Pilgrim]

I like Amtrak but for business travel, I don't have the time to spend days getting to my destination, plus spending twice as much as it would cost to travel by air. There's also only one rail line that is within driving distance, 60 miles away in Denver. I either have to drive to downtown Denver, park and pay parking fees while I travel, or spend $80 on shuttle fees to get to Denver and back in addition to the rail fare. Having checked fares more than once, I found that air fare for the trip is usually less than the train fare (sometimes half), plus I don't lose 24+ hours in transit.

I like train travel and I'd love to see the US rebuild its train infrastructure. If train fare was competitive with air fare, I'd make an effort to schedule business so that I could travel by train, but it would usually turn a three-day meeting/conference into a 7-day conference with two days of travel on each end of the train ride. That doesn't take into account the increased cost for a sleeper berth.

Let's face it, air travel is safer than driving your car and faster than driving, and it's even less expensive in some cases, it's just a pain in the ass because of what you go through in airport security and shrinking airline seats.

 

[charlie monroe]

Do you mean like this?
Might work if they are designed to be completely pilot-less. If it is left to the general public to fly them and make good aeronautical inflight judgement decisions, then many will die. Just sayin.

You'd think that whoever photoshopped that might have chosen a picture with the propeller blades extended...

 

[David Jayne]

Those props are only for the VTOL stages. The big fan is for cruise. It's just a concept, but neat.

Welcome | Terrafugia

 

[Gaolee]

I like Amtrak but for business travel, I don't have the time to spend days getting to my destination, plus spending twice as much as it would cost to travel by air. There's also only one rail line that is within driving distance, 60 miles away in Denver. I either have to drive to downtown Denver, park and pay parking fees while I travel, or spend $80 on shuttle fees to get to Denver and back in addition to the rail fare. Having checked fares more than once, I found that air fare for the trip is usually less than the train fare (sometimes half), plus I don't lose 24+ hours in transit.

I like train travel and I'd love to see the US rebuild its train infrastructure. If train fare was competitive with air fare, I'd make an effort to schedule business so that I could travel by train, but it would usually turn a three-day meeting/conference into a 7-day conference with two days of travel on each end of the train ride. That doesn't take into account the increased cost for a sleeper berth.

Let's face it, air travel is safer than driving your car and faster than driving, and it's even less expensive in some cases, it's just a pain in the ass because of what you go through in airport security and shrinking airline seats.

This is all absolutely true. When we visit our son in Los Angeles, the absolute most cost effective way to do it is fly down and rent a car there. Driving is a whole lot more expensive, as is taking Amtrak. Amtrak is far more pleasant if you spring for the Pullman car, and that's what we do on the rare occasions my wife and I travel by train. I suppose springing for first class would have the same effect on flying, but since I have to fly a fair amount for work, the added cost makes it prohibitive. Besides, flying is just something to endure for a few hours. Train travel can be an enjoyable experience all on its own.

 

[Pilgrim]

This is all absolutely true. When we visit our son in Los Angeles, the absolute most cost effective way to do it is fly down and rent a car there. Driving is a whole lot more expensive, as is taking Amtrak. Amtrak is far more pleasant if you spring for the Pullman car, and that's what we do on the rare occasions my wife and I travel by train. I suppose springing for first class would have the same effect on flying, but since I have to fly a fair amount for work, the added cost makes it prohibitive. Besides, flying is just something to endure for a few hours. Train travel can be an enjoyable experience all on its own.

Agreed!

Next month, my wife and I will take Amtrak through the Rockies from Denver to Glenwood Springs to spend a couple of days. It's a cool trip that takes us about 8 hours from the time we leave the house (60 to 90 minute drive to Denver, 5-6 hours on the train) and we could drive there just as quickly for less money. It's costing about $400 round trip. But the scenery is cool going through the Rockies and we don't have to hassle with the driving.

At this point, IMO Amtrak is a luxury for those who can afford to spend extra money on it, or for those with fear of flying and lots of spare time.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

Flying is a necessary evil. No one finds it pleasant.

 

[Gaolee]

Agreed!

Next month, my wife and I will take Amtrak through the Rockies from Denver to Glenwood Springs to spend a couple of days. It's a cool trip that takes us about 8 hours from the time we leave the house (60 to 90 minute drive to Denver, 5-6 hours on the train) and we could drive there just as quickly for less money. It's costing about $400 round trip. But the scenery is cool going through the Rockies and we don't have to hassle with the driving.

At this point, IMO Amtrak is a luxury for those who can afford to spend extra money on it, or for those with fear of flying and lots of spare time.

One of the things I like best about the train is the fact that it does not have an impact on the landscape like roads do. You can't pull into a McDonalds from the train, so there are no strip malls, no burger joints, very few billboards, no truck stops, and none of the other jumbled up mess that is inevitable next to highways. When the train goes through an industrial area, that's what's there. Same with rural areas. Just fields and barns. It's a shame we haven't kept the tracks up like we could have. Routine travel between fairly close cities by train would be a whole lot more likely if the trains worked as well nationwide as they do up and down the north-east coast from Boston to Washington.

 

[drumsnbass]

I know a woman who, last I heard, was trying to get a job as a TSA agent. The thought of her being in a position of power is very, very scary. She is bat-poop crazy, and if given the opportunity, would ruin someone's life for her own amusement.

I owned a business, and have interviewed countless people in my lifetime. When I am traveling I always look at TSA people as to whether or not I would personally hire them. 90% of them I clearly would not.

 

[Dale D Dilly]

I vaguely remember flying before the TSA days. I would be pretty alright with going back to that.

 

[GIBrat51]

Flying is a necessary evil. No one finds it pleasant.

Ahh...but, that's the point. It didn't used to be an "evil", necessary or not. I'm old enough to remember when it was actually a fun adventure, and almost always a pleasant experience, too. But, like an awful lot of things, that's no longer true...

 

[Stewie26]

Flying is a necessary evil. No one finds it pleasant.

Most pilots still think the "flying part" is fun. I have a few commercial pilot friends who say that they can't believe they actually get paid to do what they love to do. Being a pilot is kind of like being a musician. There is usually a deep passion that drives one to do it.

 

[David Jayne]

Most pilots still think the "flying part" is fun. I have a few commercial pilot friends who say that they can't believe they actually get paid to do what they love to do. Being a pilot is kind of like being a musician. There is usually a deep passion that drives one to do it.

Maybe true but some get burned out. I've known a couple who did regular service from NY-Detroit-NY or NY-Atlanta-NY. They both described it as doing a 'milk route.' Both got out into other careers.

 

[Stewie26]

Maybe true but some get burned out. I've known a couple who did regular service from NY-Detroit-NY or NY-Atlanta-NY. They both described it as doing a 'milk route.' Both got out into other careers.

True....one can burn out on any job. Musicians, baseball players, pilots, etc. Normally, it's the demands from others around you that can take the fun out of the job, like management, customers and so on that contribute to your burn out.