Fly? Or drive?

[trof]

Poll question: Fly? Or drive?

3000 mile round trip to Boston over Christmas.
It'll cost about $800 for two of us either way.

Fly: 6-8 hours travel time, but we'll be completely at the mercy of Air Tran, weather, delays, cancellations, etc. Plus all the airport hassle.

Drive: 2 days, but we'll be under our own power, relaxed, unworried, and making our own decisions. And we'll have a car (mini van) big enough for the whole family when we get there. If we fly, it'll take their 2 cars to get us anywhere.

:shrug:

[Critters2]

1. Fly and use public transit. There's no good reason to drive in Boston.

And a couple of good reasons not to.

[Droopy]

2. I would drive and take a little time to see the sights along the way

I hate flying. I used to have a job that I had to fly a lot for. One time when I was out in Kansas City they had some kind of security flap there and they cancelled all flights. Word was that they were going to be two days before they were up and running again. I hated the job anyway so I told the company to shove it, rented a car, and went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where I got a different job.

[trof]

5. Heck Droopy, I'm a former airline pilot and I HATE flying now.

Scratch the surface of any pilot and you'll find a control freak.
After all, it's the main part of what they paid us for...to be in control of the plane and the situation.

Mine isn't rampant, but it's at its worst when I'm a passenger.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Fly...you drive and weather could play a MAJOR factor.

Nothing would suck worse than getting trapped 100 miles out of Boston because of snow and you end up missing Christmas.

I know there is a chance weather plays a role in flying, but since the window is much smaller (6 to 8 hours compared to two days), I'd take my chances with that.

[trof]

7. Maybe getting trapped in Atlanta or Baltimore because Logan's closed?

With no car?

Snow, I can handle.
And I can decide whether to go for it or not.
Believe me, I'll be checking weather forecasts and road conditions before we leave and along the way.

[LeftyMom]

4. Fly

AirTran has nice planes (I did my trip to Fl and back with them) and you'll be much safer in nasty weather than you would be on the highway.

[trof]

8. In nasty weather, the pilot makes the decision, not me.

If I'm driving, I make the decision.
I was a pilot.
I know.

[XemaSab]

6. 750 miles a day is... optimistic.

At least it would be for me. :shrug:

[trof]

9. We've done it dozens of times.

Don't even need a map any more.
Usually do 800 the first day and 700 the second
And a few times we've spent 2 nights on the road so we're a little fresher when we arrive.

[fizzgig]

10. if the money is a wash, i might drive

it will save you the stress of dealing with airports over the holidays (and i can't stand the atlanta airport)

the only thing i'd be concerned about is the weather (which, of course, is also a factor with flying). the drive itself wouldn't faze me but i have no idea about what the roads could look like out there

[trof]

11. I wouldn't anticipate snow till about half way, if then.

As I said in another reply, you better believe I'll be checking weather and picking the best time to go. Lots more flexibility when I'm under my own power.

I'm a retired pilot with boocoo experience in reading weather charts, radar, etc.

[fizzgig]

12. i like the flexibilty that comes with driving

either way, have a good and safe trip