[lethostigma]

I'm considering driving 1300 miles round trip to get to my x-mas holiday location. I know that planes are real fuel hogs but would my family's portion of the plane fuel exceed the fuel I'd burn driving? If anyone has any idea on plane fuel consumption rates perhaps they can help me do the math. Variables: 2 passengers, direct flight both ways 1000 miles total, of lets say 200 seats. My gas consumption via Insight would be 18.5 gallons. Besides the fact that 18.5 gallons of gas cost $460 less than flying, I'm hoping that it will actually be better on the environment (thus helping justify the waste of time). Oh ya doesn't jet fuel have high emmisions too?

 

[Delta Flyer]

From a fuel consumption standpoint, you might get ahead.

On a Boeing 767:

• Cruises at 542 mph[/*:m:1qpst0yh]
• Consumes about 1199 gallons an hour[/*:m:1qpst0yh]
• Seats up to 252 passengers[/*:m:1qpst0yh]

When I did the math for 200 passengers, the answer was 90 mpg! The 767 is probably one of the more fuel-efficient airliners. I'm not accounting for additional ozone damage, but it seems like a good choice on fuel consumption.

 

[Delta Flyer]

SAS stated that the 767-300ER consumes 0.04 litters per passenger per kilometer, or 4 litters per 100 kilometers. I think that is about 60 mpg

 

[boogetyboogety]

Drive, he said...

Yes, driving is cheaper. Also, you would avoid driving to the airport shock: ...

But seriously... the better reason for driving instead of flying... especially in a coool car like the Insight... is the ability to stop anywhere, eat anywhere, shop anywhere, meet new people, have more fun, be more relaxed, and enjoy your trip more.

The two-three days you'll be on the road will be waaay more memorable than a flight. Take pictures for an album of your trip. Answer people's inevitable questions in each of your two or three fuel stops . And no crying kids two rows away!

My Beloved and I have traveled all over the Lower 48 via Insight or car or van or convertible or even station wagon (yes, we've had those and have one now) for twenty years plus. I can't remember a single flight we've taken during that time as being so unusual that it's seared into our memory. But our trips! Oh, the diners, the flea markets, the funky antique shops, the cool town claims-to-fame ("Geographic Center of the US!" "Largest Ball of String!" "John Wayne's Birthplace!"), the memories and the pictures and the tales and... oh, just drive. You'll enjoy it more. :wink:

 

[b1shmu63]

Here are some thoughts, since you asked.

Some have posted that they achieved over 1,000 miles on a single fill up. You might find it interesting to see what your mileage is on a long trip. 1300 miles round trip = 650 miles each way. That is a ling day's drive but possible especially if you take turns.

If SAS claims 60 MPG per passenger that is 30 MPG for 2 passengers. If only half the plane is full that is 15 MPG for 2 passengers.

How long is the drive to the airport, time to park, time you must arrive before flight, time a the airport at destination if you have to rent a car, plus time from the airport to your final destination. If you do not rent a car and someone picks you up at the other end they have to drive to the airport and back twice using up gas at non Insight levels. Add their time and gas to your time and gas and the cost of parking for the final calculation.

How important is having your own vehicle at your destination? Would the family enjoy seeing your Insight super-car? What if you bought presents with the 460 dollars you will save? Could you use that 460 dollars to install a good stereo or cruise control to make this and future drives more pleasant?

 

[lethostigma]

Ok here is the math that seems to matter to me (total fuel used flying vs driving). Using Delta Flyer's numbers we burn 1200 gallons an hour and the flight is approximately 2 hours = 2400 gallons. Say there are 200 people on the plane then each one's share is 12 gallons. My wife and I make 2 shares for a total of 24 gallons. Multiply this by 2 to account for the round trip and we're talking 48 gallons. Then unfortuneatly my parents have to drive their 20mpg vehicle 100 miles round trip to pick me up and drop me off so we are talking about (100/20=)5 gallons times 2 trips = 10 gallons. All together flying uses approx 58 gallons of some sort of gas. Compare this to the 18.5 gallons that I estimate my car will consume and I'm starting to think that driving would be much more than just a good reason to shorten my stay at my parents house.

 

[slideways]

....more than just a good reason to shorten my stay at my parents house.

Ahhh, the real rational is revealed. Holidays, I wonder if they were any simpler in colonial days when families stayed in the same area frequently and you traveled very little, had fewer choices for gifts and worried about the price of grain and hay but, oh my goodness the emissions :wink:

Great question by the way!

Happy impending holidays all

 

[james]

Yeah, but at least those emissions you could use to fertilize your fields

 

[joe4ska]

The plane will fly with our without you, from an environmental standpoint you are better flying in my opinion. That is under the assumption that your seat will not be sold on the plane if you don't fly.

Of course it would be a great way to test your long distance mileage average.

 

[lethostigma]

[The plane will fly with our without you, from an environmental standpoint you are better flying in my opinion. That is under the assumption that your seat will not be sold on the plane if you don't fly.
]

That is a common perception that in my opinion fails to look long range. I realize that the flight that I was going to book will fly with or w/o me and in the short term my decision to drive will only add more carbon to the atmosphere. But the 2 seats that my wife and I would have filled are a step towards reducing overall demand and the hope is that by doing our small part while others do their small part eventually the airlines will start to reduce the number of flights scheduled, or atleast not increase the number of flights as fast. I can't complain about the problem if I'm not taking steps toward a solution. That was why I bought the Insight. I wasn't so concerned about the cost of fuel nor did I think that my reduction in carbon emmissions would have any real effect on our atmosphere but rather that by doing my part I was part of the solution and perhaps stimulating others to do the same. Only through the accumulation of many small steps does any real progress get made. Hey look at me up on my soapbox, feel free to roll your eyes my way.[/quote]

 

[flunkysama]

I'm considering driving 1300 miles round trip to get to my x-mas holiday location.

I hate to get on the soapbox but why is everyone ignoring the 3rd alternative? The only alternative that really does any good. The answer is obvious, if you really care about the enviroment, about reducing C02 emmissions, about sending less US$ to the middle east, you won't take the trip. Do the world and the future a favor and stay home for the holidays.

 

[joe4ska]

You have a great point, and most importantly you save money!