If this holiday season you're feeling the need to rub elbows with strangers and fly the friendly skies, you are likely to have three major issues - time, money and baggage.
For today’s topic: air travel. It’s way better than flyingÑwaitÑdriving. Right? [Laughs]
If this holiday season, you’re feeling the need to rub elbows with strangers and fly the friendly skies, you’re most likely to have three major issues: time, money and baggage [three fingers up].
[Smile]
No, not that kind of baggage! It’s not emotional, it’s… it’s carry-on! Yeah, never mind… [wave]
So let’s say I want to fly from San Diego to Arizona this Christmas. Why not? People go to Arizona for Christmas. I really don’t have any family there, I’m just gonna go unload some baggage.
[Smile]
A year ago, checked baggage was free, but with most carriers nowadays, it’ll cost you something extra.
Fees. BLECK!
It didn’t used to be that way, but when gas prices went up, so did the fees… cause airlines wanted more money. Just to warn you: there are not only new fees for checked bags, but there are dramatically increased ones for oversized and overweight bags. Unless you’re taking a bike or a surfboard, or something like that, you don’t really have to worry about oversized baggage; most bags are made in the appropriate size.
For most airlines, they’re not oversized unless they add up to more than 62 inches: length [rightward hand motion], width [upward hand motion], height [backwards-ish hand motion]
I should have done that the other way… Length… length… L-length, width, height [Various hand motions of length width height] Length, width, height: there you go. That doesn’t really… [waves] Forget it.
But let’s say one of your bags is really overweight, like you went nuts and you felt like you had to bring your weight-lifting equipment with you. Here’s a neat trick: just put some of your heavy stuff in your carry on!… if it fits… come on, you can do it!
Cause they don’t check the weight of the carry on. Just be careful where you set it down.
[Noise from setting down bag]… Oops.
Now that we’ve covered most of your baggage issues [smile and nod], it’s time to talk about time and money, and we’ll do those together.
So, back to planning my little jaunt to Phoenix: should I drive, or should I fly? I mean… save time and spend money, or spend time and save money? And which one does which?
A quick check of the map shows that driving is about 358 miles, assuming my car gets 18 miles to the gallon, cause it’s an SUV, and that gas cost on average is 3 dollars a gallon and I drive at an average rate of 65 miles an hour, that means the trip will take 5.5 hours and cost $59.67.
Now, if I make that same trip flying, it’s only 299 miles of travel. The best deal we could find was $59.50, after taxes and fees, and if it takes a half-hour to get to the airport, and you have to be there two hours early and the flight takes two hours and five minutes, and it takes twenty minutes to de-plane and get you where you’re going on the other end… basically it’s a 4 hour and 55 minute trip.
So, in a car it costs about 17 cents more, and takes about a half-hour longer to drive. Now there are a ton of other factors we haven’t included. Like: the wear and tear on a car, the likelihood of accidents, extra baggage fees, layovers, and the cost of renting a vehicle if you fly.
The whole point, for all you people who want to flame us in the comments, was just to give you a basic idea.
Say it with me: Terms of use. Go watch the video.
We set up a little calculator on our website to help you figure out which way you should travel on your next trip.
There are so many factors, I don’t think we can draw any specific conclusions, but for me, the general rule of thumb is this: under 400 miles usually means driving, 400-800 could go either way, and more than 800 usually means flying. With all of my baggage.
[Smile]
And we didn’t even get a chance to bring up the idea of carpooling or traveling with multiple people. The magic number seems to be three, though.
Huh. Imagine that.
When you’re traveling in a group that size, it’s almost always cheaper to drive… unless you go to Hawaii, or New Zealand, or China.
Have a seat, let’s talk about your baggage. Would you say you’re more of a hard-sided or a soft-sided person. I mean, it really makes a difference.
I’m soft sided. [Wink]
Transcribed by: Victoria G.
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28 Comments
Mati
Over and over again you meantion the terms of use video and over and over again I cannot find it. ...Johnb300m
speaking of baggage.....are you a person with wheels and a pop-out handle?basil
I'd like to know if others feel aggrieved as I do by ridiculous airport 'excess baggage' charges. We recently returned ...legoclone
I live in Wi, to go to phoenix it would take 5 days.OxymoronX
This the first video i have ever seen on your show after that it took me all 3 days to ...Nospinplease
hahaha! your soft sided, that's cute. I just like to fly, it seems like time passes faster.steph {207}
Ya, flying is pretty expensive, but I know that if you plan on going to disney world, they always have ...Soul Sister [22]
Ah! I'm SO excited about the travel calculator. I've always wondered about stuff like that, and with me being a ...marc
Gah! I was trying to use your calculator for Iowa to Florida.. and it kept saying that driving would take ...pkw
Other concern: My mommy won't fly out to visit us b/c she's afraid they won't let her bring her ...pkw
Our rule of thumb: it's cheaper to drive. Family of 6x$?.?? is usually about the price of 2 tickets, ...designertoxophilite[22] [22]
The flame responsibly comes from the open minded week back in the end of april. http://www.whatyououghttoknow.com/show/2008/04/28/an-open-mind/ Hope that helpskichkinet
which episode is it that explains the "flame responsibly" thing? i dont think i quite get it.Curtis [22]
Excellent calculations for comparing driving to flying. My 9 hour trip to Tennessee each summer has always been better ...Tae
I'll come with you, Kel!Kel [22]
I'm gonna drive to New Zealand next week... I need two more people to make it cost-effective. Any takers? There are ...graceofbass [22]
Wow, I had no idea airlines were now charging for checked baggage. That's ridiculous. I guess I'm lucky that my ...Rob B
gas is a $1.80....Jennifer McKenzie
Okay, Brett, the wink at the end sort of creeped me out. And I'm not even going to touch ...CrazyDave
two words...choo-choo! wait, isn't that one word? However, I tend to always fly when I visit family with my family (yea, think ...Scott
Don't forget the scenery factor. If the scenery is good a long drive seems shorter. If it is ...ali-gator [22]
I think i'd rather driveMeandering {207}
Its been about a year since I flew and that was a business trip. However, I was not in ...Drecon [22]
Air travel: it's much better than flying!Ingrid [22]
good show. The magic number of three is especially true when you drive to San Francisco.. (those stupid carpool lanes!) ...FrootLoopColorSorter [22]
LOL @ carry on baggage Brett ;-p. Flights are crazy right now...found a flight for 5 euros, but it ...Snowmanincave [22]
Now, could you do us the ever-so-kind favour of a list of reasonably trustworthy and cost-effective companies? $1000 tickets are ...mjb3190
you are amazingly funny. I love you random short jokes. like when u jump really close to the camera and ...