When you are on a family vacation, you might get stuck between the idea of flying and driving. It is an irrelevant question if you are travelling abroad. But you will undoubtedly mull it over when you are feeling a pinch in your pocket. You cannot arrive at a conclusion that flying will “break the bank” because there are other costs apart from the fuel that you bear when driving. Here are the ways to decide whether you should fly or drive this year.
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The time factor
Of course, you save a great deal of time by flying. Travelling from London to Edinburgh by car will take about 10 hours, and the flight will take just one and a half hours. But you can make any conclusion by factoring in the flight time only.
You need to include the time you took to reach home from the airport, the time you spent during the check-in, and the time you took to reach your hotel from the airport. It may take an additional 3 hours. So, your flight would take up to 4 hours in total, which is still much less than the time a car takes.
Your road trip will be shorter if you follow the route with less traffic. Your trip from London to Edinburgh will not take more than 7 to 8 hours if you leave early in the morning. Flight delays are another reason why you may have to spend long hours on your journey. More than 20%of domestic flights are never on scheduled time.
You can be reimbursed if you have travel insurance that covers flight delays. You can also get reimbursed when going by road, provided the delay is a result of a covered reason such as a natural calamity, car accident, and the like.
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The cost factor
Comparing the air ticket with your fuel cost is certainly not the right way to know which one is budget-friendly. The cost of driving includes:
- Fuel
- Normal wear and tear.
- Monthly insurance premium.
- The food you will carry from your home and dine out.
Do not forget to include pay deductions if you do not have enough leave to be absent from work.
The number of passengers also makes a difference between the costs. Of course, a flight will cost you a lot more money if you are going with your family. The fuel cost does not increase as long as you all can fit in one car.
However, if you are on a more extended trip, you will find flight is much cheaper than driving. Car rental is another cost to include in your budget if you are going to a car-dependent city. Most of the time, hotels provide a transportation facility, which is included in the accommodation fares.
If you are funding your trip with instalment loans in the UK from direct lenders, you should check how much interest you will have to pay. It will be an additional cost of your trip. You can get an idea of the estimated cost from an online loan calculator. Shop around so you get the most affordable deal. Get prequalifying letters from multiple lenders to have an idea of the estimated interest rates they will charge. It will help you choose the lowest possible interest rates.
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The sick factor
There is always a possibility of falling sick when you are on board. You are likely to catch viruses and bacterial infections. Research has shown that people are at high risk of falling sick when travelling by flight. Road trips are not as risky, provided no one is already sick in your car. However, fatigue due to long distances can cause dehydration and vomiting in kids. Your insurance plan can cover your medical emergency.
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The fun factor
Driving gives you privacy. You will prefer routes that are subject to less traffic and more scenic views. You can stop by eateries, capture photos of scenic views and relax at small cottages when you are tired. While driving, you can listen to your favourite podcast or chit-chat with your friends or family.
Flying is much better if you get quickly tired of driving, but flying also causes exhaustion. You have to stick to a seat unless you cannot be funny at all. You cannot have the experience of enjoying scenic views, stopping by eateries and restaurants and taking a few side trips on the way to your destination.
Overall benefits of driving
Here are the overall benefits of driving:
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No advanced booking is required
Airline cancellation policies are not very flexible. Even a few months advanced booking is subject to non-refundable tickets. Your money is lost if you cancel your flight for any reason. This is not a problem when you are driving by car.
Last-minute booking increases the cost of air tickets. There is no headache of leaving for the airport at least two hours before your scheduled flight and getting into the hassle of a complicated check-in process if you are diving by car. You just need to grab your car key and kick the engine to take off.
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No worries about delays and cancellations
Flight delays and cancellations are very common, especially due to inclement weather. You may experience these delays even before the landing of your plane due to excessive air traffic. These sorts of problems are not experienced with driving.
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You can carry your pet
Carrying your pet through a flight is expensive. You will have to pay additional charges. Chances are the arrangements made are not good enough that other passengers get offended and disturbed by the presence of your pet. It may cause unnecessary ruckus. Your pet might also feel anxious while onboard. It is easier to take them through your car. No special arrangements are needed. Your pet can comfortably sit in the rear seat.
Overall benefits of flying
Here are the benefits of flying:
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It is not tiring, and you can multitask
You do not have to drive, so you will not get so tired. As far as enjoyment is concerned, you can watch anything on the internet, solve a Sudoku puzzle, or ask a flight attendant to serve you a drink and the like.
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You are not cramped
Flights seem to have limited space, and so do cars. You can stretch your legs and you can walk down an aisle for a few moments, but this option is not available when driving a car.
When to drive and when to fly – the final thought
It entirely depends on your budget and how much opportunity cost you can stand. Some people want to save time and do not mind paying extra money for that, while others love driving so much that they do not feel fatigued.
Whatever option you choose, make sure your budget does not become weak when you come back from your vacation. You should be able to get by smoothly. It does not matter which travel mode you choose as long as you are on top of your finances.
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