MPG Dilemma

[simon1]

We had to travel from London area to Dundee in December and faced exactly the same choice. In the end we opted for the car as it was only going to work out about 2 hrs longer when you take into account the trip to and from airports, having to be there two hours early and then wait for your luggage afterwards. Plus you don't have a car at the other end and are at everyone's mercy to get anywhere.

The drive is fine, not that boring, lots of places to detour if you like to and I didn't think the fuel cost was that much more than the cost of flying, parking, taxis, etc.

[TTDegs]

or fly, and help keep Pottsy in a job!

[Pottsy]

My tips for solo travelling domestic flights:

Know what you're allowed to take on board.
Take proper photo id.
Arrive 1 hr 45 (EDI) or 2 hrs (LTN) before departure. The objective is to get to the gate 30 minutes before departure.
Relax in the check in queue, and in the security queue.
Put your phone and your money in your coat, and put your coat and shoes on the security belt before they have to ask. Being searched and having arguments with security causes stress.
Buy a bottle of water and then go straight to the gate and read.
Get on after the main rush, you'll still get a seat, and you can choose (to some extent) who you sit next to.
Listen to and watch the safety briefing. It prevents you from getting offloaded.
Optionally chat to the person next to you during the flight. It's not the underground, and people do talk. A one hour flight can seem like 10 minutes.
As soon as you start descent, drink your water over a 10 minute period. It helps your ears clear, and beats the dehydration that can make you feel tired and grumpy.
On arrival wait in your seat for all the fools to stand up, get their bags and have to keep standing, crushed.
Walk off, calm and relaxed.
Tip the pilot.

[rmh999]

Why not fly and then hire a Honda Jazz from the airport.... JOKE !!!


EEK.... (runs for cover...)

[Homer Simpson]

I would definately drive - Just got back from driving to Southern Ireland and got 35mpg out of my CTR. They are ok on fuel once you get them out of the city. I reckon it would cost you about £150 in fuel

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

or fly, and help keep Pottsy in a job!

I'm actually tempted to fly on the off chance that Pottsy is behind the controlls and I can thank him in person for this very well run site

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by rmh999

Why not fly and then hire a Honda Jazz from the airport.... JOKE !!!


EEK.... (runs for cover...)

I wouldn't run for cover lol! I had also looked at hiring a car at the other end but it just wouldn't live upto the CTR

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

Tip the pilot.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

Get on after the main rush, you'll still get a seat, and you can choose (to some extent) who you sit next to.

Only disadvantage with this can be lack of overhead compartment storage space at that point meaning you may be forced to place your handluggage underneath the seat in front of you, which is not as comfortable.

[ADT]

Whereabouts in the London area are you headed? Taking the train can be a decent option. IIRC Edinburgh to Kings Cross takes only 4 1/2 hours, and the views are pretty good. Should cost about the same as flights. Not so good if you're not going somewhere central to London though.

For flights, if the airline has the option then check-in online or use the automatic machines at the airport. One less queue to bother with, plus depending on the type of airline, you often get priority boarding or choice of seats.

[hotbits]

if you love to drive , just do it . Its the best thing you can do for you and your car. Cars are made to be driven, not hidden in the garage.

p.s: by the way , today i saw a stunning girl in the city center of athens driving an S2000 and i really felt happy for her...

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by ADT

Whereabouts in the London area are you headed? Taking the train can be a decent option. IIRC Edinburgh to Kings Cross takes only 4 1/2 hours, and the views are pretty good. Should cost about the same as flights. Not so good if you're not going somewhere central to London though.

For flights, if the airline has the option then check-in online or use the automatic machines at the airport. One less queue to bother with, plus depending on the type of airline, you often get priority boarding or choice of seats.

Not going to Central London, Visiting friends outwith London and for the first lot i'm going to see Luton Airport is the nearest to them, while the others is Stanstead but I've arranged to go to the ones nearest Luton first.

I recently visited another forum member last month and had to fly to Stanstead......going was a doddle but coming back was a complete nightmare!!!! I went with Easyjet and I did the whole book in on line thing which is excellent as your the first lot to be called up first but you also get all the numptys that want to crowd round not letting you through when they are in boarding groups C & D Grrrrrrr But the security at Stanstead was a nightmare! Had my bag searched and everything. I'm not keen on some bloke rummaging through my dirty knickers! Get made to feel like you've got something to hide when i'm a scottish lass going funnily enough back home to Scotland.

So the airport security down south ain't swaying me to take a flight!

[Woette]

my vote goes toooo.... driving off course

[alanwalne]

Originally Posted by angie4m

So the airport security down south ain't swaying me to take a flight!

Better than no security at all......

[flyguy40@]

Ang drive it,thats what its for!!!!!! ENJOY!!!!!!

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by angie4m

Right guys, I've decided that I will go and see my best mate and his wife cause i've been promising for about a year and never really bothered to go so I've set the date, 25 April and now I face a decision. Do I fly or do I drive?

I can get a return flight from Edinburgh to Luton for £53 which is not bad, but the same journey in the CTR is probably going to be about £70? And thats if i'm really good oh and 1 way!

I know that the flight is the cheaper option but is it really the best. First of all at that point my car will be 6 months old (how time flys) and it will have done probably 2200 miles so I was thinking that a run like that would be really good for it as it doesn't tend to go to far.

I know that the downside to the drive is the fact that it will cost a small fortune in fuel, but then I made it from the outskirts of Edinburgh to Swindon in a Cooper S on a 50l tank of fuel so I can be optimistic. Downsides to flying is I had to fly to Stansted not too long ago and I hated the wait at the airport, the delay to the flight, putting the person out at the other side who was waiting for me due to the delay.....the airport security on the way back and that fact that I am totally restricted for the whole weekend.

I really think I should drive cause then I can go to other places cause i'm off the whole week and take my time getting back home. I'm estimating that i'm probably going to spend about £200 - £250 on petrol alone. Am I mad???????

Angie Baby,
Have you informed DVLA that you only keep one eye in full view?
In Edinburgh you need both eye's plus a pair in the back of your head to avoid the 'Blue Meanie's' - they slap parking tickets tickets on anything including Hearse's, Horse's, Honda's, Hambulance's and Hicecream van's. I live in a City only 44 miles away from yours!!! where you meet a much better class of Traffic Warden, they even say their Mums and Dad's are married.
Go by road, but avoid Edinburgh traffic lights - they will slap a parking ticket on you at a red light for sure.



Eddie the Jett.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Angie Baby,
Have you informed DVLA that you only keep one eye in full view?
In Edinburgh you need both eye's plus a pair in the back of your head to avoid the 'Blue Meanie's' - they slap parking tickets tickets on anything including Hearse's, Horse's, Honda's, Hambulance's and Hicecream van's. I live in a City only 44 miles away from yours!!! where you meet a much better class of Traffic Warden, they even say their Mums and Dad's are married.
Go by road, but avoid Edinburgh traffic lights - they will slap a parking ticket on you at a red light for sure.



Eddie the Jett.

Thats how I look without my glasses so you could say that I drive with 4 eyes as I can't drive without my glasses and I usually have my hair tied up when i'm driving or have an Alice band on so not an issue there.

I fortunatley live in East Lothain which is to the east of Edinburgh and right off the A 1 meaning that I have a hop, skip and a jump onto this route without having to touch going into or through Edinburgh which is ideal for my trip.

My Mother (who has been married to my Father for the past 28 years) and funnily enough the rest of her family are from Glasgow which is a shame but we can't all be perfect (at least she didn't marry that t*t Paul Coia) but is saying something when 4 of them have moved from Glasgow to Edinburgh

I'm also blessed with the fact that its almost the same distance from my house to Newcastle as it is to Glasgow and I know which one I choose to frequent most weekends (and midweek) to watch my team take a humping under King Kev