I doubt it, to be honest. Lots of money to be made there still. It's fast and pretty much the only way to cross an ocean.
But leaving politics aside, because I don't want to ruin a perfectly good comic, I definitely think there is something to be said for trains. Been on planes and trains, and I prefer the train. It might take a little longer, but the scenery is so much nicer. And you can get up and walk around, go to the washroom, and not worry about traffic -- better than car travel for sure. I love trains, and I wish people loved them more here in North America. They are such an excellent way to travel.
I will second on the trains. That's one of the things I really like about Japan, is that you can get practically everywhere by train. The trains can get crowded sometimes, and the bullet train is expensive, but it's a much easier and more pleasant way to travel than trying to fight your way through city traffic in a car.
One of the things about air travel is that even if the plane isn't full, the flight is going to happen. Unless that flight is empty, it's going to go. You on or off it isn't going to make it any more friendly or unfriendly to the environment as a whole. Might as well take the flight.
That logic doesn't scale at all. Do you also not vote in elections because by that same logic, your vote cannot change the result?
In reality, the plane is filled with lots of people who are each making such a decision, and it doesn't take that many people independently deciding not to buy a ticket to cause the airline to fly a smaller plane or load less fuel (or even adjusting their flight scheduling), already having a positive impact. If all those people followed your line of reasoning, that obviously couldn't happen.
I vote when I have a reason to vote. I fly when I have a reason to fly. It also takes a long time for airlines to change out planes on a route, meanwhile you are sitting at home and being pissed off that everyone else is having a fun time on vacations you feel you deserve.
How weird, I just had a dream about working housekeeping last night... it's been decades since I worked those jobs. But a bit of a twist from the housekeeping end of the "do not disturb" sign concept: if you intend to have no service for that day (or your entire stay), tell the front desk as well as putting up the sign. That way you won't have a housekeeper dreading that the sign is going to come off the door near the end of their shift. Assuming the front desk has their act together, no housekeeper will be assigned to your room for the days you don't want service.
It seems as if there is extensive crossover between the people who desire ecological friendliness and those who travel extensively. Maybe we should be kinder to those who can't travel. Also, Germany, put in drinking fountains with water bottle fillers! That's more sound than buying a new bottle of bubbly water every day. I was there nearly two weeks and saw one drinking fountain the whole time.
The era of recreational air travel is ending.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it, to be honest. Lots of money to be made there still. It's fast and pretty much the only way to cross an ocean.
DeleteBut leaving politics aside, because I don't want to ruin a perfectly good comic, I definitely think there is something to be said for trains. Been on planes and trains, and I prefer the train. It might take a little longer, but the scenery is so much nicer. And you can get up and walk around, go to the washroom, and not worry about traffic -- better than car travel for sure. I love trains, and I wish people loved them more here in North America. They are such an excellent way to travel.
But then, I like old things, so YMMV.
I will second on the trains. That's one of the things I really like about Japan, is that you can get practically everywhere by train. The trains can get crowded sometimes, and the bullet train is expensive, but it's a much easier and more pleasant way to travel than trying to fight your way through city traffic in a car.
DeleteHOW DID YOU FU**IN KNOW?!?!?!
DeleteYeah this was eerily prescient of you.
DeleteOne of the things about air travel is that even if the plane isn't full, the flight is going to happen. Unless that flight is empty, it's going to go. You on or off it isn't going to make it any more friendly or unfriendly to the environment as a whole. Might as well take the flight.
ReplyDeleteThat logic doesn't scale at all. Do you also not vote in elections because by that same logic, your vote cannot change the result?
DeleteIn reality, the plane is filled with lots of people who are each making such a decision, and it doesn't take that many people independently deciding not to buy a ticket to cause the airline to fly a smaller plane or load less fuel (or even adjusting their flight scheduling), already having a positive impact. If all those people followed your line of reasoning, that obviously couldn't happen.
I vote when I have a reason to vote. I fly when I have a reason to fly. It also takes a long time for airlines to change out planes on a route, meanwhile you are sitting at home and being pissed off that everyone else is having a fun time on vacations you feel you deserve.
DeleteThat is some awful logic...
DeleteThat water bottle thing is legit, though.
ReplyDeleteHow weird, I just had a dream about working housekeeping last night... it's been decades since I worked those jobs. But a bit of a twist from the housekeeping end of the "do not disturb" sign concept: if you intend to have no service for that day (or your entire stay), tell the front desk as well as putting up the sign. That way you won't have a housekeeper dreading that the sign is going to come off the door near the end of their shift. Assuming the front desk has their act together, no housekeeper will be assigned to your room for the days you don't want service.
ReplyDeleteNice tip! Hadn't considered that one.
DeleteIt seems as if there is extensive crossover between the people who desire ecological friendliness and those who travel extensively. Maybe we should be kinder to those who can't travel. Also, Germany, put in drinking fountains with water bottle fillers! That's more sound than buying a new bottle of bubbly water every day. I was there nearly two weeks and saw one drinking fountain the whole time.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably because you can refill it in bathrooms? As long as you have a bottle, I don't really see the point in drinking fountains.
DeleteRefilling in bathrooms isn't hygienic. Drinking fountains are good in places where you can't take water bottles.
Delete