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The only time I've ever enjoyed flying, was the 20 years flying for the Navy, otherwise, your're just cattle.

I flew probably 12 times in 2009, no trouble at all. Used lots of different airlines too, American, Midwest, Northwest, ...no problems at all.

Driving is fine, but it can be a hassle too. Ideally, Amtrak whould be a good option too, since they run all over up and down the east coast here. But they're too expensive. There are some pretty good cheap bus lines now though that run up and down the east coast (like the 'ol Chinatown buses from Baltimore/DC to NYC, only new, safe, and clean. Round trip can be had for $20 or less if you book early).

But if I'm going any significant distance, I'll fly and rent a car. Oh, and here's a tip, rent your car through Priceline and name your own price. In trips to Detroit, Denver, and Chicago, I can consistently get a car for $12--$15 per day.

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Sweet... now it's Joe, Wade, and James that won't be competing for the same discounted airline tickets as me.

If I have to take another cross country trip with my horn, I suppose it's going to be on the train. It would be crazy to drive from one coast to the other - expensive, grueling, hazardous etc., but there's no way I'm taking my horn on another airline flight.

Without the horn, I'll fly to usual destinations, 800 mi or more, and drive or take the train to the rare destination that's nearer.

Without horn and solo, probably ride my motorcycle.

tundratubist wrote:The only time I've ever enjoyed flying, was the 20 years flying for the Navy, otherwise, your're just cattle.

Only a couple of years of actual Navy flying for me but I agree 110%.

Haven't set foot on another plane since 1969. Nowhere I want to go bad enough to change now.

I love to fly. If the trip in the car involves me driving more than 5 hrs one way, I fly if I can.

One more vote from someone who hates flying. Like Wade, I used to think it was fun. Now it is just miserable.

And I'm saying this after a Christmas vacation where my wife and I spent six days total driving with our three kids (6, 4, and 2) (to spend four days with family). That was not fun, but it was nowhere near as un-fun as flying would have been.

I will fly only when absolutely necessary. For example, if I absolutely have to get from Utah to Arkansas or Texas (most common destinations) in one day, I'll fly. If time is not of the essence, I'll drive.

I will drive whenever I possibly can. I have only flown a couple time within Europe and that was on business.

However to go long distance to Africa, America, or China - no option but to fly, although I don't enjoy. Flying makes one feel like a battery hen - sitting there being stuffed with meal after meal and nowhere to go!

Long, Long ago, when you didn't worry about the guy next to you turning himself into a bomb, it could actually be good fun to fly.

At one time I was going Chicago to St Louis for gigs a fair bit and generally flew with good ole Ozark on Electras. I'd take "Harvey Tuba" on board and strap him into his seat. Since he was a non-drinker (WHAT????????) I'd have to have his complimentary drinks.

He was a bit of a party animal though and would often play for the crew in exchange for a good lookin hostie comin along to the gig with him. Layin em in the aisles was not considered a bad thing then. (DON'T take that the wrong way!!!)

Last time I flew was about 12 years ago when working for defence as a logistics specialist. I had come to hate last minute flights from a dry climate to a humid one, to dry aircraft air then to an extremely humid one then do the whole thing in reverse a week later. Played merry hell with my sinuses.

used to fly a fair bit for work. now i work for our local county gov't, so no travel ever for any reason, even good ones.

never a fan, but i don't avoid it now, i'm just not going anywhere were flying is a reasonable option. I think I've flown 5 times since 9-11.

I like driving and I think I'm at least as big as Wade. That makes coach class flying uncomfortable. Never have tried first class seating. A day's driving (eight hours with well planned rest/food breaks) is kind of fun. If I have a driving partner, I don't mind twelve hours plus in a day. Since I've left my 30s behind, I get a cheap hotel rather than sleeping in the car.

Flying might be safer than driving, though...

The Big Ben wrote:Flying might be safer than driving, though...

I continue to strongly dispute this claim.

When flying, your chance of disaster is purely a statistic. Your chance is 1 in whatever of being in a crash, terrorist attack, hijacking, or whatever. You don't get to select the skill of your pilot and flight crew, and reducing your risk is virtually impossible save choosing the "safest" airline.

When driving, your chance of disaster is largely influenced by YOU. You can't completely eliminate any risk, but you can greatly increase your own safety by paying attention, not following too closely, anticipating problems before they occur, and giving idiots a wide berth. You can plan your own routes, and you can leave when you please.

Flying may be safer than driving statistically, but the statistics alone don't take into account the high number of people who don't exercise safe driving habits. My risk of injury while driving is NOT the same as the 17-year-old girl who can't stop texting...but it is PRECISELY the same as her's on any given airplane.

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bloke wrote: ...but the Amsterdam-Detroit thing was just another "non-terrorist" "isolated incident" of someone "acting alone".

I see you understand, Mr. Bloke. This is an easy concept. If something happens, it's NOT a terrorist. If all the evidence points to it being a terrorist, it is still not. See how easy that is.

TubaRay wrote:

bloke wrote: ...but the Amsterdam-Detroit thing was just another "non-terrorist" "isolated incident" of someone "acting alone".

I see you understand, Mr. Bloke. This is an easy concept. If something happens, it's NOT a terrorist. If all the evidence points to it being a terrorist, it is still not. See how easy that is.

I try to avoid the hassle of flying these days. However, considering the outcome of the latest incident (Did you know the system worked?), I might have enjoyed being on that flight to assist in "subduing" the suspected terrorist (aka panty bomber). Although you have to have some sympathy for him having grown up in such abject poverty.

Mark wrote:

TubaRay wrote:

bloke wrote: ...but the Amsterdam-Detroit thing was just another "non-terrorist" "isolated incident" of someone "acting alone".

I see you understand, Mr. Bloke. This is an easy concept. If something happens, it's NOT a terrorist. If all the evidence points to it being a terrorist, it is still not. See how easy that is.

I try to avoid the hassle of flying these days. However, considering the outcome of the latest incident (Did you know the system worked?), I might have enjoyed being on that flight to assist in "subduing" the suspected terrorist (aka panty bomber). Although you have to have some sympathy for him having grown up in such abject poverty.

I probably would have enjoyed being a part of the subduing, myself, but I have no sympathy for him, whatsoever. Nor do I have sympathy for anyone who attempts such destruction.

TubaRay wrote:I probably would have enjoyed being a part of the subduing, myself, but I have no sympathy for him, whatsoever. Nor do I have sympathy for anyone who attempts such destruction.

Considering he lived up in a 7-story mansion, I think I was being sarcasatic.

Mark wrote:

TubaRay wrote:I probably would have enjoyed being a part of the subduing, myself, but I have no sympathy for him, whatsoever. Nor do I have sympathy for anyone who attempts such destruction.

Considering he lived up in a 7-story mansion, I think I was being sarcasatic.

Not having taken the time to know anything of his background, I guess I missed that, Mark. Now that you have enlightened me in this matter, I can make the following statement, accurately: I have no sympathy for him, whatsoever. Nor do I have sympathy for anyone who attempts such destruction.

I'm just sayin'.

My last commercial airline flight was in 1997, when two of my fellow firearms instructors and myself flew to Atlanta to attend the Glock Advanced Armorer's School. We were fortunate that the trip down and the return leg from Atlanta to Charlotte was First Class seating. However, from Charlotte to Richmond, we were put in Coach seating. One of my partners was 350 pounds at the time and seeing him wedge half of his body into a coach seat with the rest of him in the aisle was painful to watch.
In today's security climate, I much prefer to drive or take Amtrak. I do not like being herded like cattle.
Airline travel also eliminates the possibility of travelling discreetly armed as I prefer to.

I don't mind flying much, but it is my last choice mode of transportation.

I live in Williamsburg, VA. The only trips I often take are:
W'burg -> DC: I drive as it is often under four hours
W'Burg -> NYC: Amtrak; same cost as flying, not counting driving to an airport and parking there. (I live <1mile from the W'burg train station) Granted it takes much longer, but I'll trade that for the comfort and ease of boarding the train, and having an electrical outlet, snack car, and room to move anyday.
W'burg -> NH: unfortunately I haven't found a good way to make this trip. Driving is 10-12 hours. Amtrak is longer and will only get me as far as Boston (about an hour from where I want to go). Flying from Newport News to Manchester is all kinds of expensive and flying Richmond to Boston is cheap but has an hour drive on either side of the flight. Buses: NO WAY the longest and most expensive option, though it will take me into the town I want to go to.