Over the years, air travel has evolved and revolutionized into what it is today. Toward the beginning of air travel, in the 1950s, airlines in America were launching a new level of speed, comfort, and efficiency to the world. With the number of travelers increasing, personalized customer experience decreased. Then in the 1960s and 1970s, travel transformed again and passengers that could afford to take to the skies were met with luxurious and leisurely flight experiences. In the 1980s, air travel was at a peak and very costly, so not everyone was able to travel. And then there were people that were just discovering air travel and splurged on having this new experience. It opened up the world equally to the rich and the commoner.
In the 1990s, a flight ticket would include free alcoholic beverages and the customer service quality came back. Security at the airport was less time-consuming and smoking was still allowed in airports and on airplanes. Air travel in the last twenty years has also changed, including safer flights, enhanced airport security, the “getting what you pay for” concept which allows you to travel according to your budget, more affordable fares, and just more passenger options in general.
In this article we’ll discuss 5 reasons why flying is still the best way to travel. We think it beats trains, boats, automobiles or buses. Read more to see why.
Flying Offers Inflight Entertainment
Most commercial aircraft employed in our skies today are equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems or in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFE or IFEC) that offer passengers a variety of options. Whether its a built-in IFE or alternative IFEC, the options are really endless when it comes to movies, television, music, and games right at each passenger’s seat.
Flying Takes you Anywhere
I think the title here speaks for itself. Air travel can take you anywhere in the world! Not only can you travel within your country, but you can hop major bodies of water and reach new countries and continents with air travel! Trains, buses, and automobiles won’t get you that far. With the introduction of low-cost carriers and budget airlines, it’s even easier for anyone to travel to a new place. Consider even comparing a boat or cruise travel time from the USA to Europe, this could take you multiple days to arrive at your destination, but if you fly you’ll be there usually within half a day.
Did you know that one traveler by the name of Andrew Fisher, flew entirely around the world, more than 24,000 miles in under 53 hours? That’s remarkable and that’s why we know air travel is still the best way. Flying truly makes the world a smaller place.
— Andrew Fisher (@AndrewFisherNZ) January 23, 2018
Flying is the Fastest Form of Transportation
If you only have a few days or a long weekend to travel, flying will be your best option for obvious reasons. Flight is still the fastest form of transportation. Of course, sometimes you can drive from point A to point B and it can be more cost-effective, but oftentimes, driving means paying for more tolls, more gas, and parking everywhere you go. Usually, you can find better prices overall when you fly instead.
Flying is Safe
On a daily basis, the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) covers service to more than 43,000 flights, 2.6 million passengers reaching a distance of more than 29 million square miles of airspace. In 2017, the air traffic reached its highest volume in history and there were no crashes involving large passenger airlines anywhere in the world. The Aviation Safety Network said it was the safest year in the history of commercial air travel. The chances of being on an aircraft involved in a fatal accident are one in seven million.
Flying can be Cheap
Airline tickets are at an all-time low. Nickel-and-diming of low-cost airlines aside, airfare ticketing prices have been declining steadily the past 30 years and are 50% lower than they were in the late 1970s. With an uptick in competition and aircraft efficiency over the years, airlines have had to adjust. So many of us bargain shop online for better pricing in terms of merchandise and travel so the trend likely won’t change anytime soon.
Do you agree that flying is still the best way to travel? Share your thoughts with us on social media!
