With the recent passing of my dad’s mother, we flew down to San Diego to attend the Funeral. While there we were able to hangout with my cousins, aunts, and uncles which was nice (although I do wish it were under different circumstances). After the funeral we visited Lindsey’s parents and had a wonderful weekend before returning late Saturday.
Now as everyone is aware, flying is annoying. Have you ever done the “i save xx time because of flying” math? A flight from Sacramento to San diego takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes as opposed to the 8-10 hour drive (depending on who is driving). Now right away, the obvious answer to the question “which is quicker” is flying. But I think the math is wrong and I may need Kent’s help figuring this one out, but I think driving is much quicker. Let me further expound.
- Agreeing upon departure times and prices then booking the flight: 1 hour (be honest).
- Packing : (2 hours sometimes more if you take into consideration the fact that you have to prepare a “special bag” for carry-on. Make sure your child’s bottle and formula are seperate otherwise it may clearly be misconstrued as a bomb and everyone will point and scream “terrorist!”).
- Driving, parking, and taking luggage to check-in: 1 hour
- Going through security: 1 hour. (I don’t know about you but getting basically naked in public, and being handled by overweight people wearing blue gloves just slows me down mentally. Then after you have made it very clear you don’t have bombs in your armpits you have to try and get dressed again only to be told you’re going too slow. Also, why is it they don’t think my computer, iPod, AM/FM Radio, electrical tape, butterfly knives, and modern electronic devices are threatening, yet our baby formula sets off red alarms and causes the need for everyone to huddle around a monitor and whisper only to collectively conclude that it is infact baby formula and not a midget wielding a bomb I have stuffed into a can?
- Waiting to board: 1 hour.
Now that you have finally sat down in the airplane, count how many hours it has taken to get you to this point. 6. Which means had I driven I would have been past the grapevine and smelly cows and practically there all in the convenience of my own car. Meanwhile, you’re still in Sacramento waiting to depart and probably have a t-shirt or underwear on backwards no thanks to security.
- Flight: 1 hour 1/2 (lets round the 15 minutes up to 30 because the inconvenience of being fed peanuts and never refilling our drinks is annoying. Nothing makes me more thirsty than eating a bag of peanuts followed by a dixie cup full of ice with a touch of liquid in between. So I’m adding 15 minutes. Sorry.
- Getting your luggage and waiting for your ride or rental car: 2 hours. After you exit the airplane and make your way to the luggage like a wild herd of cattle, you then have to try and figure out which conveyor belt you are to stare at for the next 30-45 minutes. And why is it that your luggage is also last yet everyone else’s comes out way before yours? I hate that. It always feels like they are teasing me because when I have 4-5 pieces of luggage, they usually let out the first 4 right away making me think i’ll be out quick. But then the 5th usually makes its way onto the conveyor belt dead last.
- Driving to your final destination: 30 minutes.
Total time to consider when you fly: 10 hours. Also, as pointed out by Patti in a comment, 10 hours is the projected time if everything goes smoothly. What about if the plane is delayed, your suitcases never arrive, you can’t find your tickets or valuable items, etc;? If you’ve never had your suitcase “lost” at an airport, I’m 100% positive you know someone who has. Talk about pain.
Was it really worth it? Nope. You’re “1 hour 15 minute” plane trip is really 10+ hours. Yet my car drive which probably takes the average person 10 hours, might take me 8. This is why I plan on traveling John Madden style, which is how he has traveled for 15+ years – By bus. No worrying about bombs on your bus (except the silent ones), no blue gloves, no unnecessary removal of clothing (debatable), crap loads of food and drinks at your disposal, no opening your suitcase to find a note that basically says “TSA randomly went through your suitcase and sniffed your underwear”, and you can do as you please.
You are SOOOOOOOOOOO right. One time, between Dennis and I, we had a total of 2 (two) suitcases. They came out FIRST and, yup, dead last. But that was better than the time we were returning home on a flight that got in at 11:45 PM. MY suitcase came off the belt 2nd…Dennis’s suitcase never arrived AT ALL and…(are you ready)the keys to the truck – left parked at the airport- were in THAT suitcase. Who do you call after you have realised your suitcase ain’t coming, you have filed a missing suitcase report and it is now 12:35 AM? Wanna hear the worst part? Taxi ride home = $65. No kidding.
Moral of the story: Keep the car keys in your POCKET not in the suitcase.