I have given up on flying this year
Discussion
I see the chaos in Europe and it is no better (maybe worse) in Canada where I live. I have been a very frequent flyer both for business and personal for decades, have all the status stuff etc. I am not concerned about covid, fully vaxed and mask as required.
However is it just not worth to me this year to have random arrival and departure times, uncertainty of cancellations, overcrowded airports. Furthermore hotels and restaurant in my usual destinations are understaffed; finally fares are undergoing a steep rise and although I have endless points they are worth a lot less than before.
This year will be road trips unless here is a return to more predictable flying. I am certain we are heading into stagflation/recession globally, so there may be a bright spot if demand falls that might moderate airfares or at least reduce overbookings.
I have had numerous horror stories from friends- lost luggage, stuck on planes for hours before alighting and so on.
I will be airborne again when it is a pleasure and not a torture trail.
However is it just not worth to me this year to have random arrival and departure times, uncertainty of cancellations, overcrowded airports. Furthermore hotels and restaurant in my usual destinations are understaffed; finally fares are undergoing a steep rise and although I have endless points they are worth a lot less than before.
This year will be road trips unless here is a return to more predictable flying. I am certain we are heading into stagflation/recession globally, so there may be a bright spot if demand falls that might moderate airfares or at least reduce overbookings.
I have had numerous horror stories from friends- lost luggage, stuck on planes for hours before alighting and so on.
I will be airborne again when it is a pleasure and not a torture trail.
Your not the only one!
Took the kids to the Isle of wight last year, and they loved it.
Was going to get back to flying somewhere guaranteed good weather, but with all the understaffed airports and cancellations.
Its back to the IOW again, its abroad , sort of
Along with a few other holidays in the UK
Took the kids to the Isle of wight last year, and they loved it.
Was going to get back to flying somewhere guaranteed good weather, but with all the understaffed airports and cancellations.
Its back to the IOW again, its abroad , sort of
Along with a few other holidays in the UK
I’ve flown throughout covid really.
It’s been fine for me, no issues.
Obviously there are some horror shows in the news etc.. but so far, for me, on the ground it’s no issue anymore (soooo much easier now with covid pass and sensible immigration - was crazy complicated to travel during first wave of covid with all the paperwork - but that meant everywhere was quiet!!! I had awesome times!! )
Flights do seem a lot more expensive now though, no denying that.
It’s been fine for me, no issues.
Obviously there are some horror shows in the news etc.. but so far, for me, on the ground it’s no issue anymore (soooo much easier now with covid pass and sensible immigration - was crazy complicated to travel during first wave of covid with all the paperwork - but that meant everywhere was quiet!!! I had awesome times!! )
Flights do seem a lot more expensive now though, no denying that.
Same here, we have just come back from Majorca. The island airport was fine, the UK side miserable, the flight itself was ok but flying on a Ryanair 737 isn't a pleasure, having said that in fairness to Ryanair none of the other UK short haul flights are any better, uncomfortable seats and no space.
This year its either time in the wobble box or a cruise, i can lock myself in a room within an hour of parking the car, have no luggage to drag about and the world floats by your window,
This year its either time in the wobble box or a cruise, i can lock myself in a room within an hour of parking the car, have no luggage to drag about and the world floats by your window,
I’ve lost count how many flights I’ve done since the chaos began in March but can’t say I’ve had any trouble with long haul trips. Think they’ve all been roughly on time and out of the airport within an hour or so of landing. Even blagged my way into business on a United flight from New York to London so the long haul has been quite pleasant.
It’s the short haul stuff where it’s a ball ache. I honestly can’t remember the last short haul flight I went on that wasn’t delayed by at least two hours. We all like to moan about Manchester airport - because its s
t - but I flew back from Nice a few days ago and it’s carnage there as well. Liverpool was fine, though.
I certainly wouldn’t use my own money to go short haul at the moment - fk that! But long haul seems to be holding it together a bit better and might be worth the risk.
It’s the short haul stuff where it’s a ball ache. I honestly can’t remember the last short haul flight I went on that wasn’t delayed by at least two hours. We all like to moan about Manchester airport - because its s
t - but I flew back from Nice a few days ago and it’s carnage there as well. Liverpool was fine, though. I certainly wouldn’t use my own money to go short haul at the moment - f
k that! But long haul seems to be holding it together a bit better and might be worth the risk. Yeap , we had lots of family staying recently from the UK , all flying Air Canada . Every single return flight was either massively delayed or cancelled, some flew to Toronto only to see their onward flights cancelled, nightmare for them . Air Canada “ We’re not happy until you’re not happy “ .
595Heaven said:
Same here. Can’t be bothered with all the hassle.
The Peak District is suiting us very well instead…
It's a hassle - there's no doubt about that, but the weather you're experiencing there is a freak couple of days even mid-summer and dire most of the time (I don't live far from where you are).The Peak District is suiting us very well instead…
I need to have a change of atmosphere, weather, food, drink, scenery and the only way to really get that is by getting on a plane unfortunately.
Don't get me wrong, the UK is/can be stunning but the weather kills it much of the time - I'm not even a sun worshipper, all I want is a regular, sustained 24Cish
MarkJS said:
595Heaven said:
Same here. Can’t be bothered with all the hassle.
The Peak District is suiting us very well instead…
It's a hassle - there's no doubt about that, but the weather you're experiencing there is a freak couple of days even mid-summer and dire most of the time (I don't live far from where you are).The Peak District is suiting us very well instead…
I need to have a change of atmosphere, weather, food, drink, scenery and the only way to really get that is by getting on a plane unfortunately.
Don't get me wrong, the UK is/can be stunning but the weather kills it much of the time - I'm not even a sun worshipper, all I want is a regular, sustained 24Cish
MarkJS said:
It's a hassle - there's no doubt about that, but the weather you're experiencing there is a freak couple of days even mid-summer and dire most of the time (I don't live far from where you are).
I need to have a change of atmosphere, weather, food, drink, scenery and the only way to really get that is by getting on a plane unfortunately.
Don't get me wrong, the UK is/can be stunning but the weather kills it much of the time - I'm not even a sun worshipper, all I want is a regular, sustained 24Cish
There's an awful lot of weather, food, drink and scenery in Europe and it's all accessible by car or train.I need to have a change of atmosphere, weather, food, drink, scenery and the only way to really get that is by getting on a plane unfortunately.
Don't get me wrong, the UK is/can be stunning but the weather kills it much of the time - I'm not even a sun worshipper, all I want is a regular, sustained 24Cish
stuthe said:
said: I’ve flown throughout covid really.
It’s been fine for me, no issues.
Same for me. I live between the UK and Spain and have flown from 4th July 2020 post-Covid "open up" with no issue and continue to do so. It’s been fine for me, no issues.
We flew back to the UK on 8th March 2020 expecting to return on 18th March only to then be locked down and did not return to Spain until July 2020 (we had a ferry for the 30th June cancelled at the last minute necessitating a flight instead).
In recent times we have still commuted back and forward and the only real issues we have had
1. one time caught in a 2 hour airport queue for security that led to us being called out of the queue to the front to make out flight.
2. Mrs Shnozz had a flight from Spain to the UK delayed last Saturday by 3.5 hours. On the upside she was allowed back into airport lounge where she worked for that time enjoying free food and drink and was also compensated €400 by the airline for the delay.
Our route is relatively straight forward admittedly, and we do not ever have hold luggage, but our experience of recent flying on a fortnightly basis has only had the occasional hiccup as above, and certainly not the utter carnage we see in the press. That said, if it puts more people off flying, no bad thing for us to ease the congestion.
Not had any issues over the past few months and that's flying out of Manchester. Having said that we have a pram with us so we get to the front of the security queue. Certainly no reason to give up flying, we're trying to make up for lost time over the past couple of years.
I think we'd have a different view if we'd been confronted with enormous queues at any point, as someone said above that may go some way to making the journey not worth the arrival.
I think we'd have a different view if we'd been confronted with enormous queues at any point, as someone said above that may go some way to making the journey not worth the arrival.
Shnozz said:
stuthe said:
said: I’ve flown throughout covid really.
It’s been fine for me, no issues.
Same for me. I live between the UK and Spain and have flown from 4th July 2020 post-Covid "open up" with no issue and continue to do so. It’s been fine for me, no issues.
We flew back to the UK on 8th March 2020 expecting to return on 18th March only to then be locked down and did not return to Spain until July 2020 (we had a ferry for the 30th June cancelled at the last minute necessitating a flight instead).
In recent times we have still commuted back and forward and the only real issues we have had
1. one time caught in a 2 hour airport queue for security that led to us being called out of the queue to the front to make out flight.
2. Mrs Shnozz had a flight from Spain to the UK delayed last Saturday by 3.5 hours. On the upside she was allowed back into airport lounge where she worked for that time enjoying free food and drink and was also compensated €400 by the airline for the delay.
Our route is relatively straight forward admittedly, and we do not ever have hold luggage, but our experience of recent flying on a fortnightly basis has only had the occasional hiccup as above, and certainly not the utter carnage we see in the press. That said, if it puts more people off flying, no bad thing for us to ease the congestion.
Long haul is also largely OK. I flew to NYC and back from LA last month and both flights were on time, well serviced and it took me less than 30mins from bag drop to the lounge on both occasions.
So by all means don't fly if you don't fancy it, but don't do so if you believe it's going to be chaos or even any different to how it was pre covid. It really isn't.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff