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?

@Asdf12345 it's not about being lower than average though is it? It's about being the best you can.

I don't have kids (wish I did) but that doesn't absolve me of doing what little I can.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-46118103

Meant to include this in my last post.

I've booked less holidays abroad over the last 2 years due to pollution etc

thetoddleratemyhomework

Yes, the fires have been in part due to management, however there have been fewer and fewer days in recent years where it's been safe to set management burn offs, lately due to the drought conditions over recent years. Controlled burns have in the past five out of control, especially in very dry conditions. Climate change is likely to mean more droughts and very high temperatures.

I fly more than average but do try to cut back. I travel quite a bit to Western European countries for work & pleasure, and make nearly all of those trips by train or ferry (which can be a faff since I live 5hrs from London). I've completely stopped taking overseas city breaks as well.

However, I have just booked a flight to New Zealand. I feel somewhat bad about it, but I've been wanting to go for a long time, and don't know when I'll have the chance again. On the other hand, I've just declined an all expenses paid trip to Canada as I feel I can't justify the emissions.

So, by no means perfect, and probably still worse than many others, but better than if I just kept flying everywhere.

I'm amazed how often some people fly and that some would describe deciding not to fly as a "serious sacrifice"

I am amazed at the amount of people on this thread that say they are cutting down on flights for environmental reasons. I think we are in a MN alternate reality and the general response would be quite different if you anonymously polled the general public.

Personally I live for my holidays and love exploring the world, whilst I am careful about many things environmentally I have no plans to reduce my flights. For me it really would be a serious sacrifice to be stuck in the UK or nearby Europe forever.

@crankysaurus

Yup, agreed, but could have at least done a better job of felling. Unfortunately, the management has not just been about climate change conditions - it has been a very bad choice.

I don't disagree that drought and temperature is a decent part of the picture too.

@Teensruletheroost That's the thing though isn't it? It's all about you and your needs. Nobody else matters. We should all have realised

Yes. Doing lots of smaller things to reduce carbon footprint and environmental impact (driving less, walking/cycling more, eating a lot less meat and dairy, buying seasonal UK fruit and veg, very local where possible, only buying new clothes when absolutely essential, consciously avoiding buying food in plastic wherever possible). Definitely won't fly more than once a year but honest answer, finding it hard to give up that sunshine holiday. We'll see.

I get the US/China arguments but all the above are beneficial for our micro environment in the UK in terms of air quality, impact on the countryside and ecosystems and plastic disposal etc so I think are worth doing and actually make for a more enjoyable existence.

thetoddleratemyhomework

I agree, but I think it'll need more thinking about in terms of how best to large-scale manage forests going forward in drier conditions to prevent this happening again.

No

@HakunaRattatas

That's the thing though isn't it? It's all about you and your needs. Nobody else matters. We should all have realised

Somewhat harsh. You have no idea how else I live my life and what other sacrifices I make, just that I like holidays. Not quite enough to judge me in any sensible way. I assume you got out of the bed the wrong side this morning.

I don't plan on ever flying again

I've flown once in 14 years

I used to love travel and flew once or twice a year. My last flights were to Iceland in 2016. I did look into travelling by ferry, but that route doesn’t seem to exist anymore.

I’d hate to give up flying forever, unless it’s really necessary. My plan is to limit myself to one return flight every three or four years. Last year, I had a holiday in Cornwall, and I’d like to go to Paris on the Eurostar when my toddler is a bit older. I don’t live near London, so travelling by train would take longer and probably cost me more. But needs must.

I’m sorry to break it to you but whether you fly or not is going to make fuck all of a difference (not least of all because the flights in question will go without you anyway).

The flights will obviously stop going if no one flies

That's how market conditions work...

No. I fly regularly both long and short haul.

@Teensruletheroost no I got up on the right side. Your post is entirely selfish and I'm not sure why you can't see that

@BonnyConnie "I'm sorry to break it to you" but you are not very intelligent if you don't understand market forces and supply and demand. It's not bloody rocket science

I've flown one short haul flight in 18 years partly because I struggle to find the money to holiday abroad. TBH I'm amazed at the frequency with which some people on this thread travel overseas. It's as if we've become obsessed with moving around.

One thing that off-setting doesn't address is the noise of airports. A few months ago I spent a day at Tatton near Manchester Airport. It's a beautiful place but the almost constant noise of planes passing overhead ruined it for me. I'm not sure how many frequent flyers give any thought at at all to the residents who have to live with those noise levels, I found it really shocking

Our flights had crept up as we house swap so minimal expense when we get there and kids got abit older so travel easier. We both looked into it and got massive flight guilt. We cutting back going by train this summer and last city break by train. Hardly a heartbreaking sacrifice visiting Paris again rather than flying to a further city. Personally we find the flying because you fancy it unjustifiable deeds not words etc. We do most of the other stuff flying is the worst thing sadly

Definitely. I don’t plan to fly for leisure again and am avoiding it for work as much as I can by using Skype and taking the train where possible.

We've made a conscious decision not to fly anymore. I want to be able to tell my son that I did my best.

On a general basis, there are improvements to be made in other counties and by other people, but as Ghandi said "be the change you want to see in the world" - if we want the world to avoid this crisis we, as individuals have to act like it, we need to make personal changes, lobby governments, protest, vote and consume like the world depends on it. Because it does.

@HakunaRattatas
If you say so.

Why don’t you concentrate on giving your viewpoint and not just picking random people on the thread to attack? (I’m not the only one you’ve singled out).

Exactly Bhappy. As dh pointed out it’s pathetic waiting for the government to “do” something we are adults we know the facts now it’s up to individuals to act. Shame as I bloody love travel