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I don't enjoy the TSA screening, but I sure don't share the perspective that it's worse than driving for 4-5 hours. I flew from a small airport to Detroit seve

I don't enjoy the TSA screening, but I sure don't share the perspective that it's worse than driving for 4-5 hours. I flew from a small airport to Detroit several times this year. My perspective is probably colored by having someone pick me up each time, but it was like 3.5 hours of traveling to fly, with most of that being more or less relaxed, to avoid a 7 hour drive. It was almost cheaper just on gas (and certainly cheaper considering wear and tear).

trillic 4y ago
I’ve attempted Chicago to Detroit 4 times via plane before I started just driving every time, I was severely delayed each time. The weather in both cities is fairly volatile, traffic between them isn’t bad, and I can leave when I want. I prefer the Amtrak but it only goes a few times a day.
- maxerickson 4y ago
  I agree that 5 hours is marginal, especially if you have a large airport on both ends (It takes me 10 minutes to get to the small airport here and there is ~1 smallish flight being screened at a time, so there is no need to be particularly early). I didn't state it very clearly, but I'm comparing the TSA screening to the 4-5 additional hours driving would entail over flying.
  - trillic 4y ago
    That's fair, for me security is never the issue with pre-check. It's getting to ORD or MDW via public transit or cab in crosstown traffic. It takes me almost an hour sometimes and at that point I could already be nearly a quarter of my way down the road.
bmelton 4y ago
It depends a ton on where and when. I had "The State of New York" as a client once, which required commuting from Maryland to Annapolis and staying for the week. It's about a 5 hour drive, vs a 1.5 hour flight, which seems like a slam dunk, but considering that the airport is a half hour away, and I had to arrive there an hour early for TSA, ride in a cramped plane with not enough leg room, then rent a car on the other end and drive a half an hour to the hotel, it was down to traffic to determine which method was faster re: total travel time. I found the drive more relaxing, more comfortable, and since I'd need a car at the destination anyway, just about the same degree of practicality. I basically determined then that 6 hours away was probably my breakeven point at which flying became obviously more practical, but even then it depends on the target airport, traffic, weather, etc. I certainly don't blink at the prospect of flying from Maryland to San Francisco, and would almost never consider driving instead, but IMO it's hard to fault someone valuing their rights over their time that it downweights flying significantly more than it does in my rankings. I should probably also factor in that our location affords us a great variety of places we can go by train, and anywhere obviously train-accessible usually makes that a strong option. New York makes almost zero sense to drive to, and while the big knock against trains are the cost, it works out when you consider the cost of parking in New York, and the convenience of showing up at the train station 5 minutes prior to departure.
- amarshall 4y ago
  > commuting from Maryland to Annapolis Huh?
  - bmelton 4y ago
    Oh, that should have read "Maryland to Albany"
phpisthebest 4y ago
My last trip of Drive vs Fly Fly: 1.5hrs for Security / Rental pick up, 2 hrs Leg 1, 1 hr layover, 2 hrs leg 2. Total time: 6.5-7hrs if no delays or problems with aircraft. Both planes small CRJ Regional jets made for people under 100lbs and under 5ft 5in in height, I am neither. Nothing about being on a CRJ jet is "relaxed" at best I can be sure to get off with back pain, and leg pain. $850 for the round trip for airfare... + $250 in local economy rental fees for a car there. Total $1100 Car: 10 hrs of driving, Nice SUV with plently of room. $350 in Rental fees, $400 in Gas for the week (and this was when gas was over $4/gal). Total cost $750. I can leave anytime I want, extend anytime I want, Divert to so some sight seeing anytime I want, and never have to go through security.
hadlock 4y ago
We have travel to NYC from NC coming up. We did the math. With our layover in Charlotte it's a wash, with less uncertainty in arriving on time; taking I-95 than getting on a plane during snow season.

trillic 4y ago

I’ve attempted Chicago to Detroit 4 times via plane before I started just driving every time, I was severely delayed each time. The weather in both cities is fairly volatile, traffic between them isn’t bad, and I can leave when I want. I prefer the Amtrak but it only goes a few times a day.

maxerickson 4y ago
I agree that 5 hours is marginal, especially if you have a large airport on both ends (It takes me 10 minutes to get to the small airport here and there is ~1 smallish flight being screened at a time, so there is no need to be particularly early). I didn't state it very clearly, but I'm comparing the TSA screening to the 4-5 additional hours driving would entail over flying.
- trillic 4y ago
  That's fair, for me security is never the issue with pre-check. It's getting to ORD or MDW via public transit or cab in crosstown traffic. It takes me almost an hour sometimes and at that point I could already be nearly a quarter of my way down the road.

bmelton 4y ago

It depends a ton on where and when. I had "The State of New York" as a client once, which required commuting from Maryland to Annapolis and staying for the week. It's about a 5 hour drive, vs a 1.5 hour flight, which seems like a slam dunk, but considering that the airport is a half hour away, and I had to arrive there an hour early for TSA, ride in a cramped plane with not enough leg room, then rent a car on the other end and drive a half an hour to the hotel, it was down to traffic to determine which method was faster re: total travel time. I found the drive more relaxing, more comfortable, and since I'd need a car at the destination anyway, just about the same degree of practicality. I basically determined then that 6 hours away was probably my breakeven point at which flying became obviously more practical, but even then it depends on the target airport, traffic, weather, etc. I certainly don't blink at the prospect of flying from Maryland to San Francisco, and would almost never consider driving instead, but IMO it's hard to fault someone valuing their rights over their time that it downweights flying significantly more than it does in my rankings. I should probably also factor in that our location affords us a great variety of places we can go by train, and anywhere obviously train-accessible usually makes that a strong option. New York makes almost zero sense to drive to, and while the big knock against trains are the cost, it works out when you consider the cost of parking in New York, and the convenience of showing up at the train station 5 minutes prior to departure.

amarshall 4y ago
> commuting from Maryland to Annapolis Huh?
- bmelton 4y ago
  Oh, that should have read "Maryland to Albany"

phpisthebest 4y ago

My last trip of Drive vs Fly Fly: 1.5hrs for Security / Rental pick up, 2 hrs Leg 1, 1 hr layover, 2 hrs leg 2. Total time: 6.5-7hrs if no delays or problems with aircraft. Both planes small CRJ Regional jets made for people under 100lbs and under 5ft 5in in height, I am neither. Nothing about being on a CRJ jet is "relaxed" at best I can be sure to get off with back pain, and leg pain. $850 for the round trip for airfare... + $250 in local economy rental fees for a car there. Total $1100 Car: 10 hrs of driving, Nice SUV with plently of room. $350 in Rental fees, $400 in Gas for the week (and this was when gas was over $4/gal). Total cost $750. I can leave anytime I want, extend anytime I want, Divert to so some sight seeing anytime I want, and never have to go through security.

hadlock 4y ago

We have travel to NYC from NC coming up. We did the math. With our layover in Charlotte it's a wash, with less uncertainty in arriving on time; taking I-95 than getting on a plane during snow season.