Why fly?

I know I am,

Wouldn't that be great? As long as everything arrived in one piece, otherwise body in Australia and brain in UK. Which is called jetlag.

Seriously think I am losing it, am going off to bed.

Why fly? Because 'Beam me up Scottie' doesn't seem to work

Otherwise, whatever means of transport works best for the particular journey I'm doing, and what is at the end of it.

Or even

smile

We had to look it up too, when we began a Rotary water project there! But I now know the capital too - Ouagadougou! (Long for it to come up in a pub quiz!)

The only flight was Air France (Burkino was a French colony, and was, therefore, quite expensive.) But oh, worth it!

Ariadne - I had to look up Burkina Faso and I thought I wasn't too bad at geography!

It would have been hard to go by sea for our last few destinations, including South Africa (reviewing the last volunteer project for which I have not yet put up the photos!) and the next trip to Australia. And Burkino Faso would have been impossible as it is landlocked!

I agree that much of Europe is easily accessible, and it is good to have the car with you, but otherwise "Why fly?" makes little sense.

I wish I hadn't commented on here yesterday as it seems I have jinxed our trip! DH decided to try to reserve seats for our trip next week. He went on the Virgin Atlantic site only to discover our flight has been 'rescheduled' giving us just 40 mins to make our connection at Gatwick. We had not been notified of this so I called the booking agent. Sounds easy but after pushing this button and that button I was put on hold for 30 minutes listening to the most ghastly music. When I finally got to talk to a human being, he put me on hold for another fifteen minutes before coming back to tell me that the airline was very busy and would I call back on Monday! Today I called Virgin ( more button pressing and being put on hold) to be told they should be able to help but I would have to go through the booking agent! So, another long phone call to be made. I am all of a dither and cross because if we lose a day it will muck up hotel arrangements, family meeting us etc.

I neither love or hate flying. It is cheaper (in general) and certainly quicker if you are going long haul. We have flown a lot and rarely have any problems. Waiting time at the airport is time to people watch and read or have a meal. I have found whichever way you travel you often end up in queues one way or another at times. I'll certainly keep doing it while I can if it means I can see so many wonderful places and enjoy our own lovely country in between.

I neither love or hate flying. It is cheaper (in general) and certainly quicker if you are going long haul. We have flown a lot and rarely have any problems. Waiting time at the airport is time to people watch and read or have a meal. I have found whichever way you travel you often end up in queues one way or another at times.

Getting to Beijing (to see DD and family) in a reasonable time scale means flying but I make no apologies for going Business Class. It costs an arm and a leg but I don't begrudge a penny of it (well maybe some of it !). It is my one big luxury in life and makes the journey bearable.
When I go to Spain (to see DS and family) it is Ryanair.

DS and family (3 boys) are coming here in the summer with Ryanair and are sending all their hold luggage by courier which is far cheaper than paying Ryanair's extortionate baggage charges.

I never used to mind flying but the last 3 or 4 times I haven't liked it at all. I also always seem to get pulled to one side, in fact it's a standing joke between us now. Also, since DH suffered a DVT last year he doesn't want to fly again. The 24 hour trip to Oz nearly finished him! We have discovered cruising and that is what we really enjoy now. A half hour drive to Southampton, usually no more than a half hour wait to go on board and we're on holiday .

Why not fly? This way I get to visit my grandchildren. It's worth the hassle - which is not that awful. Just tiresome.

I have been searched by Customs only once: at Nairobi Airport in 1968. The only suspicious items were the half dozen pairs of underpants for my then boyfriend and nobody commented on those.

DH had a truss for a while before he had his hernia operation, he was always led away to a secret room to be strip searched.

Another very suspicious looking granny here. Even going to Norway for Christmas with my husband and two strapping sons it was me they searched whilst the others sauntered through. I can think of only two occasions when I haven't been searched and that's when I was going to/from the Edinburgh meet up.

I get that as well. I don't mind. They do it with me sitting in the wheelchair.

I enjoy flying, but don't enjoy hanging around the airport lounges; and most of all I loathe having to go through security scanners which are invariably activated by my hip and shoulder replacements. It's so humiliating to be patted down every b****y time.

We always get picked up at security, don't know why! We always seem to be the ones that are searched, patted down, have our hand luggage inspected, yet I think we look like two ordinary, boring middle-aged (well old!) people. DD2 also got searched when she was with us, whereas they let DS (6' 2" strapping young man) through! Whilst they were busy searching us, a nutter just walked through security and prowled around the airport threatening to kill everyone (that was Sydney).
And Bristol also seem to pounce on me as well!

Like tanith and other G/netters I have just returned from visiting my latest DGd and attending another's 5th birthday party! My DH and I also went at Christmas. If we go in the summer we drive but that is not an option in the winter. I always seem to set the alarm off at security even though I remove my belt, watch etc! (Dh says it must be my underwired bra but I'm not removing that)!!!

I am lucky enough to go to Greece several times a year and it is quick and affordable, just. I take a couple of books and just read. Mind you I nearly always get stopped and bag searched, I must look suspicious. Does it happen to others?

For most of my life I had a real phobia of flying. I dreaded it from the moment we booked and by the time I had to actually board I would be a quivering wreck and usually made a fool of myself by crying. When my children were growing up I don't think we flew for eleven years. We even drove overland from Malta to England with two babies because I wouldn't get on a plane.
Then, two of our girls married Americans and went to live in the States so I knew I had to face my fear. I joined a marvelous website run by an ex-BA captain and my life has been transformed. Instead of dreading it I am counting the days until I can go again. I know it can be a bit of an endurance test if things do not go smoothly, but on the whole we have been quite lucky so can't grumble. 12 more days to go - cant wait!

I like flying, but, it's the (nonexistent) disability assistance and (un)helpfulness of checkin staff that stress me!

We don't fly as DH gets very stressed when he's on an aeroplane. It just isn't worth his obvious great discomfort. So, holidays are in the UK or anywhere within reasonable reach of an European ferry - but there're still plenty of places to visit!