RV vs Airlines

[bill@fusion4.net]

Normally takes 5.5 hrs in my slow C-182, will take less than 4 when I get my RV-10 done.

A few years ago flew up fallowing a tropical depression, causing it to be 8 hrs and 2 fuel stops.

After that my wife said "we go commercial next time".
So we buy tickets, ATL-Chicago-Binghamton drive to Greene (1hr). House to house scheduled time 10hr. Then the Chicago-Binghamton flight gets canceled because of lack of flight crew when we arrive at Chicago., so overnight in hotel without luggage, then to Phily and on to Binghamton. Total time ends up being 27 hrs.

Told wife. Next time we fly in the 182.

[TroyBranch]

The airlines are rediculously expensive to fly any where out of canada. With our family of four, it is at least half the cost of the airlines everywhere we go in the 10. Thats comparing 4 tickets to fuel costs. Its a no brainer to take the RV for us, as long as we have the time. Besides we see so much more this way, and on our schedule. (Or the weather)

[longranger]

Just about a wash in cost (counting fuel only) and time (assuming you don't mind flying 11-12 hours in one day) for two to visit family in NW Georgia from KTSP. If I HAVE to be there, I'll still buy a ticket on Delta.

[ppilotmike]

I have brought up costs and time savings with my wife on several occasions; RV10 vs. Airlines, because we travel a lot.
She had gotten tired of hearing it, so after one commercial flight she said, "It may be a little faster and cheaper to fly in the 10, but how can you replace the perks that only the airlines offer?" I answered, "I could strip search you before the preflight."

[Norman CYYJ]

The privileges of being the pilot and the passenger inspector are priceless.

[the_other_dougreeves]

The answer is, of course, it depends. In this case, it all depends on where you are and where you're going.

Example: Yesterday, I returned from BZN to IAH. It took about 8 hr via Conti-Ted (my name for the merged airline) from the time I arrived at BZN until I got to my car at IAH. Let's factor that I actually live a LOT closer to LBX and there's an hour drive, so let's call it 9 hours.

You'd be hard pressed to beat that in the fastest of RVs, particularly given the weather along the front range yesterday. Plus, I got to sit FDH in my seat and catch up on some reading (never get time to read) and have a beverage that is prohibited while serving as PIC. $250 one-way is cheaper than GA for sure. This says nothing of the IAH-PDX run I often do (4 hr direct).

Winner: Big Iron

Example 2: Run to Dallas for the weekend. Going commercial, it requires a one hour drive to the airport, one hour for TSA Freedom Fondle and queuing up like cattle, er, self-loading cargo, one hour flight = 3 hours. $150 one-way short notice ticket. Even in the LSA-speed CT, it was about a 2 hour flight, direct to my destination, and it used about 10 gal of cheap 91 octane pump gas.

Winner: GA

So its all about mission and schedule for the airlines. GA gives you point-to-point ability and schedule flexibility (I'm sure Louise will be here soon to talk about her commute). Big Iron gives you better weather-coping ability, better speed over long distances, and the ability to sit not have to be PIC for 12 hours. You pays your $$ and you makes your choice.

YMMV,
TODR