Air Travel Advantages & Disadvantages

Air Travel Advantages & Disadvantages
Although many of us would prefer a leisurely hike through the mountains or an invigorating bike ride, there are times when traveling by plane might be necessary. Taking a plane has its good points and bad points.
Traveling by plane has pros and cons.
"Crossing the November Sky" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: lrargerich (Luis Argerich) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Benefits

The biggest advantage of flying is that it is often the fastest way to get from one place to another, especially when long distances are involved. This can be important when speed is of the essence.

Considerations

Though plane travel is fast, it offers the distinct disadvantage of not being able to enjoy the scenery and changes in landscape presented by a long drive or a bike ride.

Convenience

The process of making arrangements to fly can be quite convenient. A plane ticket can be purchased by telephone or on the Internet.

Aiport Hassles

Although acquiring a ticket can be easy, the procedure of getting through an airport can be difficult. It often involves standing in long lines and being subjected to random searches.

Misconceptions

Some people have a fear flying because of the possibility of a fatal crash. However, according to the U.S. National Safety Council, flying in a commercial jet is 22 times safer than driving a vehicle on the highway.

Price

Flying is often the most expensive form of transportation, especially if reservations are not made well in advance. Some people might not be able to afford to fly on the budget airlines.

Article Written By Chris Joseph

Chris Joseph writes for newspapers and online publications, covering business, technology, health, fitness and sports. He holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from York College of Pennsylvania.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...
  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...
  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword