@peterdutoit I think the public transport cost is a bit of a red-herring (although I have my own grumbles about that!) - If people need to go to town 'A' then catching a flight to Country 'B' is not going to help. I think this is about people choosing these places so that they have some good instagram pictures and stories for Monday morning around the water cooler.

@peterdutoit
The lack of understanding for basic physics in these peoples minds.

Every kg of takeoff weight makes fuel consumption to go up and increases emissions.

@peterdutoit But this is true:

“The "massively expensive" public transport options in the UK and the state of the country's roads”

These both are an embarrassment, inclusive of impacting the less able more.
#UK

@peterdutoit Well, is there any suggestion that can have us conclude that humankind is not totally f***ed and self destructing?

But, for now my guess is that it not will be nature that is eradicating us, looking as the despots currently in power.

@peterdutoit From Cambridge, I can get a train to Stansted and then a budget airline flight to a load of places in Europe for far less than the cost of a train to most parts of England, and certainly for less than a train to Wales or Scotland.

Last time I went to Edinburgh, I got the train, but a standard-class ticket was more expensive than flying. This was quite a few years ago and the train price has gone up a lot since then. The cost of the flights has gone up slightly. The train and plane take about the same time once you factor in the waiting time at the airport and the need to get from Edinburgh airport to the city centre.

When I moved here from Swansea, if I went back on off-peak trains it was £33 standard class and £44 first class. First class was comfortable and I could work on the train. It also came with free drinks and snacks, so worked out about the same price. I went to Newport last year (about two thirds of the way to Swansea) and it cost a bit over £100 for the same trip. Flying to the south of France on RyanAir is cheaper than that.

Great Western’s first class remains the same quality but a lot of the other rail operators are much worse. Standard-class seats that will cause back pain if you sit in them for more than a short trip and first class that’s basically the same.

@peterdutoit I have had some of these as a child, when my father worked for an airline in ground handling. But that was maybe once in three years or so. As an adult I've flown less until I stopped back in 2020, before the lockdowns. I do not understand this trend, but maybe it's the convenience, subsidized ticket prices and human tendency to ignore problems that don't look like immediate threats.