How often do you fly?

[Joe Fields]

Thanks to the du'er formerly and currently known as tavalon, I am now able to post this poll in actual poll format.

[SeattleVet]

1. A whole hell of a lot less than I used to.

With all of the hassles involved in flying nowadays, I opted to take Amtrak from Seattle to NYC last June. I used to LOVE to fly, but I refuse to put up with the hassles and BS involved in getting on a plane today. If it takes less than 12-18 hours, we'll drive. If it takes more, and we have the time for travel and enough lead time to get sleeper reservations, it's Amtrak all the way for us now.

[Joe Fields]

7. Is Amtrack cheaper? just curious.

[Kennah]

8. Hard to say

Out of curiosity, I checked out Amtrak and Priceline for me, the wife, two kids and an infant, from Seattle to California (San Francisco by air, Richmond by train) to visit my brother in El Cerrito the first week of December.

$648 by Amtrak via http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245648567">Coast Starlight

$517 by air on Priceline

There are, IMHO, a lot of different pluses and minuses.

By air, it's like a 2 hour flight, but there's gropeage or cancer.

By train, it's about a 22 hour AM to AM ride, there's a lot of time to see the northwest in comfort, meals are better than on a plane, but you're sleeping in your seat rather than a bed. There are sleeper cars, but for a family sleeper car it's a huge jump in price.

I'm inclined to say I'd take the train if at all possible.

[monktonman]

2. and I dont have to fly

flying is not my right
its a privilege I pay for.
the TSA is not FORCING me to consent to a search, I can say no
and leave the airport

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

3. Flying really isn't optional for me

However fortunately more and more of it is on small private planes outside TSA jurisdiction.

[Common Sense Party]

4. Lucky.

[hfojvt]

5. so far about 3 times every 48 years

I took a trip to Europe Mpls to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Stuttgart, and Amsterdam to Mpls. I skipped the Stuttgart to Amsterdam flight on the way back and just took the train to Amsterdam.

[MineralMan]

6. I used to fly a lot. Now that I'm more or less retired, I fly

a couple of times a year.

[sally cat]

9. No wonder TSA isn't a concern for so many. 2/3 either rarely or never fly.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. A couple of times over the past couple of years

Work has picked up both trips.

[LWolf]

11. Rarely.

I haven't flown since February of 2005 simply because I can't afford to fly. If I could, I'd probably fly once or twice a year to visit family out of state.

[johnaries]

12. I fly fairly often for my job. In fact, I have to fly out Monday to

Miami to do 2 customer installs. Frankly, I have more trepidations about the crowds than I have about the security procedures.