AIBU to ask how many of you are seriously revising whether (or how often) you fly again?

[Thelowquietsea]

We don't fly often (one flight a year tops, mostly to Europe) but reducing my air travel is one of the few differences I can make towards climate change.

And yet, I'm celebrating a big birthday this year. I had an idea to take myself to a retreat quite far away, and now it's 'booking' time, I can't quite bring myself to do it. Especially in light of Australia's tragedy. I'm really torn.

How many of you are making serious sacrifices in this area?

I flew two short and one long haul last year. This year I plan to cut out the two short haul flights as a deliberate environmental choice and cut the long haul because it's just not part of the plan this year. But I will fly on other occasions probably.

Not flown since 2010 and have no plants to in the upcoming years.

Has anyone read The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd? Powerful dystopian look at carbon rationing. I do think some kind of carbon rationing would be good though.
I completed the WWF how big is your carbon footprint online questionnaire, and it said mine is bigger than average. Despite the fact that I don't fly or drive, have no children, buy mostly second-hand clothes and haven't eaten meat for thirty years. It said the problem is my home- I am not with a green electricity provider and I have three bedrooms. I think they are presuming I heat all rooms when not in use. It did make me feel disheartened.

ravensoaponarope - I feel the same. Mine is bigger than average. But than I do run a car... for work, it didn't take into account that I take 2 other people to work... I buy mainly unprocessed food and have a small home with heating on only in the evening...

Just about to take off on my 3rd flight of the year and I thought about this thread.

I haven't flown since 1998, DP has gone even longer without flying.

We live near a channel port and can be in France in less time than it would take us to get across London. We've driven to southern France a few times, and gone by motorbike. We motorbiked to Amsterdam (got soaked!) and have also gone by train, and have been to Ghent and Bruges on Eurostar.

I love a road trip, and we both love travelling by train, but train travel is obscenely expensive. We're planning a trip to Vienna. I've been told that the cheapest way of paying for rail travel for that trip is to get an Interrail pass, but that's still over 600 Euros for the 2 of us, for 4 days (it would be even more if we weren't over 60!). And we'd have to pay extra for a sleeper on the Nightjet from Brussels, which I'd love to do, as it's such a fab train.

So we might capitulate and fly. But it won't be as much fun. And I fucking hate airports.

@ravensoaponarope, I just did that questionnaire.

My carbon footprint is 85% of average, which was rather disappointing. I think it's because I don't use public transport, partly because it's shite where we live (first bus is not until 8.30 am and they're only hourly, they stop at 5 pm and don't run on Sundays) and I have to use my car for work to travel between different places.

So not flying doesn't make a massive difference!

I have flown a lot in the past, now can’t face it. The hanging around at the airport, the grim people on the plane, the hanging around when you land. We are going to stick to the U.K. currently, although might be tempted with a trip to Nice!

I’m flying to France this year for my first overseas holiday in 5 years. I think this will be my last by plane!

I'm actively reducing foreign holidays - not because of climate change, but because my local airport is that hell-hole called Manchester. It's a nightmare even getting to it in the first place, and that's before the poor airport car park bus services, and before the security - even "fast track" can take over an hour, especially in terminal 3. I can honestly say it's the worst airport I've ever had the misfortune of using. I used to love it when Blackpool did international flights - same distance from home, but easier to drive, park and the terminal was a lot friendlier and quick to pass through.

A staycation is not now or ever will be on my agenda. When I go on holiday I want sun, sea and a pool. I do offset it whether that does actually make a difference I don't know but I'm not prepared to change that.

We are going to Scotland in May half term and had intended to fly and hire a car. I wish there was a motorail service where you could take your car, attached to the Caledonian sleeper.

Anyway the flight times are rubbish, and those that aren't, are stupidly expensive.

I am going separately to the family so I am going to get the train up. But DH will drive up two days later. Petrol and two intermediate Premier Inn stays in Carlisle and York there and back will be much cheaper. And a bit kinder for the environment.

As for other holidays ds is doing A level Spanish so I would like to take him to Spain and don't really want to go by ferry or train. But we're going to go in October half term so have plenty of time to think about it some more.

Totally agree that flying is a huge ordeal now anyway. Maybe that's the point, make it so unpleasant that people stop doing it?

I've not flown for 20 years and have no plans to do so in the next few years.

So we might capitulate and fly. But it won't be as much fun. And I fucking hate airports

Get the Nightjet. The Man at Seat 61 went on it last night, it looks fantastic, I want to go on it! But I can imagine it's expensive.

For a couple of trips I have flown one way and got the train the other.

I fly once or twice a year for work and 1 or 2 holidays abroad. I can’t avoid the work flights, and I don’t think I could face driving to Europe with 2 teenagers.

Totally agree that flying is a huge ordeal now anyway. Maybe that's the point, make it so unpleasant that people stop doing it?

"Now"? When are you comparing it to? In many ways it's infinitely better than it used to be, with inflight entertainment much better, the invention of tablets meaning you can take your own games, books and movies, flights all non-smoking.

It's a pain about liquids, certainly.

"Now"? When are you comparing it to? In many ways it's infinitely better than it used to be, with inflight entertainment much better,

I don't care about inflight entertainment. 30 years ago, I used to take a book to read. Now, I take a book to read. The only difference is that I now take my own snack/drink onboard whereas in the "old days" something purporting to be a meal was given to you.

The real pain of flying is UK airports. It's just a stress from start to finish. You can't get dropped off near the departures hall anymore. Security staff are usually just about the most arrogant/obnoxious people you'll ever meet. The airports are far too busy/crowded. Food/drink are grossly overpriced. Passport control is now a pain with those electronic gates which barely ever work. My local airport is Manchester and it wouldn't bother me if I never travelled through it again. Even getting there is a pain with the horrendous traffic, unfit for purpose railways, etc. As for security "fast track" - it's just a money making gimmick - last time we used Man Terminal 3, the fast track queue was longer than the normal one and it took us over an hour to get to the head of the queue.

Completely different to foreign airports which are usually so much easier and less stressful to get through. Coming back from Rome a few months ago, we were out of the taxi (dropped off right at the departure entrance), checked in and through security and into the departure lounge within 10 minutes. We couldn't believe how quick it was. Virtually no queues, helpful staff, even security was quick with the security staff actually smiling and helping.

Interesting point about British versus overseas airports. The last time I flew was from LHR terminal 5 - it's set up for BA so there are thousands of check in machines and bag drop off machines and short, and sometimes, non-existent queues, so that aspect is fine. Security is pretty quick and I find the staff are ok. LHR also has water fountains airside so you can refill your bottle to take on the plane.

Coming back from a German airport, no check in machines for BA (bit surprised as the likes of Air France did) so you have to get in a long queue. Which means you have to get there stupidly early. Security, again, was fine. But then we had to make sure we went through passport control because we didn't know how long it would take and then on the other side nothing at all to do and only then do they say the plane is delayed by half an hour. I'd have preferred to stay on the other side where the shops were.

Security is a pain, most airports still seem to be profiteering from the no-liquids thing selling expensive single use bottles of water and then people are just a pain getting on and off the planes with all the messing about with luggage. And then there was entitled madam playing a computer game without headphones.

If trains run on time, and people respect a quiet carriage, it is a much nicer experience. Those two things being big "ifs", however.

Sounds like the problem is that your nearest airport is a shithole. The last few times I've flown in or out of Heathrow, Birmingham or Bristol I've been pleasantly surprised how painless the formalities were. I've never used Manchester, so I'll take your word for it.

I think most people would say that flying is much better than it was in 1990 though. The inflight entertainment is a godsend, albeit not for you. The airports and planes no longer stink of smoke. Plus it can be done for the price of a meal out if you prioritise cost over comfort.

I fly a lot and am not planning to change. I already pay stupid taxes to fly business into London, that's enough.

I come from a poor family and while others were flying off abroad, I was in Britain. So now when I can afford to fly abroad once or twice a year, then I am flying.

My main desire in life is so watch dc grow and see as much of the world as possible. In reality we fly once a year and some years go to Europe by ferry and drive. Happy to recycle and have a couple of meat free meals every week.

We are taking the train for our summer holiday. It’s partly because i love travelling by train and hate flying though! My mum is coming with us and always wanted to travel on the Eurostar.

I’m quite excited about the idea of holidays by train or boat, although I realise those have a carbon footprint too!

If trains run on time, and people respect a quiet carriage, it is a much nicer experience.
The trains in France are lovely - however we did encounter a very uncomfortable situation where Grandparents were accompanying a little boy - he looked about four years old - and they were so desperate to keep him quiet and make him sit still - the kid was really struggling, the evil glares were really squirmy to watch - we were sitting opposite them with our kids, it was hard not to notice. The tension was unbearable - we all felt so sorry for that poor kid - it was too much.