Traveling by Cars Compared to Traveling by Airplane - Assignment Example

Traveling by Cars Compared to Traveling by Airplane. There are many obvious differences between traveling by car compared to traveling by airplane. The most obvious difference is that the airplane travels in the air and the car travels on the earth. However, one can note many other differences as well. Traveling by airplane provides convenience and faster arrival times to the destination intended. As well, airplane travel allows for relaxation that may not be possible when focused on driving a automobile. Although the airplane allows for many conveniences to the traveler, there are security concerns that must be taken into consideration on an airplane. As well, the cost to the environment is higher per passenger in air travel rather than in automobile travel. A pleasurable difference that can be seen in favor of car travel are the many sights one might behold while taking more time and experiences the many areas that can be visited along the journey. In all, there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods of travel. When selecting or being directed to select a destination for travel, there are many things to consider before deciding the method of making the trip. If one selects to drive to the destination, a great deal of time must be used in the process of the journey itself. According to Mapquest, a journey from Chicago, Illinois to Orlando, Florida would take approximately eighteen hours and thirteen minutes with a fuel cost of $142.09. The total Clients Last Name 2 fuel cost would be twice that amount equaling $284.18. If one checks the cost of plane fare between the same two destinations, the trip would take an average of two hours and 50 minutes each way on non-stop flights. The cost of the trip with taxes and fees included can be purchased for $213.00 (Cheaptickets). In this instance, the savings of both time and money are considerable, however the flight price was determined with two weeks advanced notice. The same trip would cost $812.00 with taxes and fees (Cheaptickets) if the one wanted to leave the next day. While these prices are not the same at all times, this is an example of how car travel has a less flexible price situations, while air travel has a wide variation of cost. Time is the key to determining which method will be more cost effective and available time for the journey allows for an additional variable in which to determine the method that will be the most beneficial. Traveling by airplane has a great many conveniences that are not available to someone who chooses to travel by automobile. During air travel, a passenger is not responsible for operating the airplane, but may sit back and relax while the operation of the plane is left to the pilot and the traffic control towers. As well, the passenger will have other conveniences on airplanes such as media entertainment, food and beverage service, and the ability to sleep through the journey of one is able to do so. However, as the airline industry has decreased its convenience services in favor of lowered prices, many airlines do not offer food, beverage, or entertainment as complimentary services. According to Jeffrey Campbell, travel writer for Lonely Planet travel books, many airlines no longer provide complimentary meals, but have food Client’s Last Name 3 available for purchase for the hungry traveler (1170). As well, one may bring snack foods onto most planes, but during some of the aftermath of the events on September 11, 2001, many security issues created problems, including the ability to bring liquid onto a flight. Northrup states that air travel began in 1912 with the United States government subsidizing the industry starting in 1919 by sending mail by air delivery. The industry saw increases in prosperity until the tragic events on September 11, 2001 when two airplanes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Towers, sending them crashing to the ground, while other planes with similar targets were also hijacked. According to Northrup, the result of these attacks resulted in numerous bankruptcies and closings of airlines (278). The biggest changes that occurred to the air travel experience for the passenger as a result to the terrorist activity is in the security measures that were implemented in an attempt to thwart future attacks. Passengers now wait in long lines, sometimes for hours, in order to get through security. This additional time must be considered when taking shorter distance flights in comparison to driving a car to a destination. As well, limits on taking liquids on fights have ranged from no liquid, to limited quantities, and now to the additional privilege of bringing drinks and food items that are verified purchased within the gate area of the flight (Swan and Laufer 40). In respect to the freedom to travel without dealing with authoritative security restrictions, the automobile allows for one to eat, drink, and make decisions that are not afforded the air travel passenger. The environmental costs of traveling by air are much higher than those costs involved in travel by car. According to Larry West of Earth Talk, a calculation of the Client’s Last Name 4 costs of travel between San Francisco and Boston reveals that per passenger there are 1300 kilograms of greenhouse gases emitted during air travel than an estimated 930 per automobile for the same trip. According to this calculation, greenhouse emissions are lower for a car than per passenger on a plane. If one takes a family, then one increases the savings greatly when comparing air travel to car travel. Another advantage to the automobile in regard to the environment is the development of vehicles that are not dependant on fossil fuels that will greatly decrease their affect on the toxic and detrimental emissions. Automobiles that run on bio-fuel, that are plug-in hybrids, and clean-burning fuels provide an increased possibility for decreased environmental impact. Therefore, where the environment is concerned, driving has less negative impact. Future possibilities of innovation might provide deeper responsibility in travel where the environment is concerned over air travel. Travel by both air and automobile provide opportunities for seeing sights that might otherwise be missed. When one is traveling by air, one can see the world from a new perspective. Cloud formations, land mass textures, and city layouts are seen from a different vantage point than from the ground. Mountains are seen from a larger perspective and bodies of water have a shape that one might never see if not seen from the air. A storm will look different from above the clouds than below the clouds. Therefore, there are many sights that can be experienced from the air that the automobile does not allow. However, the number of sights one may see from a car journey can vary widely and allow for experiences that one might not have had the opportunity to enjoy when Client’s Last Name 5 traveling by air. As one goes through cities and landscapes in a car, one can stop and enjoy the sights as one would like to experiences. However, time becomes a factor when one takes such a road trip. If one has the time, one can see these things, however a great deal of long distance highways go through monotonous areas with less visible experiences available. Therefore, in a car, one must decide to take the time, and plan the journey in order to maximize the additional experiences one might enjoy. There are advantages and disadvantages to both air and car travel. In a car, one can potentially save money, but waste a great deal of time. In an airplane, one might save money if there is advance notice, and also save a great deal of time, but if no advance notice is possible, the cost of the trip might be very high. One might find the convenience of being a passenger without the responsibility operating the vehicle an advantage, while the freedom of driving and making one’s own decisions on choices available might be more appealing. When comparing environmental impact between air travel and car travel, it has been concluded that air travel has a higher impact than does car travel, however one must make other considerations that might impact the economy and the health of one’s business before making such a choice for or against one form of travel or another. In the end, the decision must be made that is the most sensible for the traveler. In considering the enjoyment of travel there are a wide variety of variables to consider. When traveling by car, one has the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of sights to behold, but in air travel one might see things that are not possible to see from the ground. More often, however, time is the deciding factor. Enjoying the journey rarely is the goal of a traveler, but in seeking out a destination, the advantages between air and car must be weighed. Client’s Last Name 6 Works Cited Campbell, Jeff. USA. Lonely Planet. Footscray, Vic: Lonely Planet, 2006. Cheaptickets. Web. 17 October 2009. Cheaptickets. Web. 17 October 2009. Mapquest AOL. Web. 17 October 2009 Northrup, Cynthia Clark. The American Economy: A Historical Encyclopedia 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2003. Swan, Sheila, and Peter Laufer. Safety and Security for Women Who Travel. San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, 2004. West, Larry. Flying vs. Driving: Which is Better for the Environment. 2009. About: Earth Talk. 17 October 2009. Read More