Anyone glad they drive after witnessing the JetBlue Fiasco?

[kandb]

I hate flying and have convinced by dh that driving isn't that bad. When I saw those people stuck in a plane on the runway for 9 hours, I almost had an anxiety attack just thinking about it. Apparently, this is not unheard of to get in this closed capsule called an airplane and to just sit on the runway while having no idea when this incubator is going to take off. I know flying works for a lot of people but I feel way too out of control being in a plane. Is it me or was it strange that none of those passengers lost their minds or claimed that they were having a heart attack (like I would of)? I wonder how much money they will get when they sue? I know it wouldn't be worth it to me. Linda

 

[CarolA]

Well I still won't drive, but I am glad I wasn't flying JetBlue....

 

[DebbieB]

Imagine driving through that ice and snow. People were stuck on the highway for hours.

 

[bavaria]

no, it simply reaffirms my support of legacy carriers and/or airlines which have a business model in place which can deal with weather situations and recover in a reasonable amount of time.

Six days is not a reasonable recovery.

 

[bavaria]

Imagine driving through that ice and snow. People were stuck on the highway for hours.

how many airline passengers died during the storms? I was in MD and I know that there were many deaths, including those travelling in vehicles.

Air travel is still much safer.

 

[DebbieB]

Some people were stuck on roads in PA for almost 24 hours, didn't move (I wonder where they went to the bathroom ). You have to compare apples to apples, not Jet Blue on a bad day vs driving on a good day.

 

[bavaria]

(I wonder where they went to the bathroom ).

Well, when I poured out my leftover coffee onto the snow last Friday it froze on the way down.....

 

[DebbieB]

Luckily I was in Minnesota, missed all the excitement. Except my car was encased in ice when I got home (luckily at home, not at the airport).

 

[kandb]

If you drive, you can decide to leave earlier or later, that is not true with the tickets you have purchased for a flight. Also, with driving if the weather gets bad you can stop at a hotel, not be held hostage in a plane with a bunch of strangers. The people who got stuck on the highway, I'm sure most of them were not going on vacation, they were probably on their way to work. You have to use your common sense when driving in an ice storm, but like I said if you know the weather forecast before leaving for vacation you can always leave earlier or later. To each his own. Linda

 

[NYDisGuy]

If you drive, you can decide to leave earlier or later, that is not true with the tickets you have purchased for a flight. Also, with driving if the weather gets bad you can stop at a hotel, not be held hostage in a plane with a bunch of strangers. The people who got stuck on the highway, I'm sure most of them were not going on vacation, they were probably on their way to work. You have to use your common sense when driving in an ice storm, but like I said if you know the weather forecast before leaving for vacation you can always leave earlier or later. To each his own. Linda

100% agree. I was on the fence about flying this time (drove last year), but this incident just reassures me that driving is better. Yeah, there are higher chances for danger, but if you leave at the right time and have your car fully inspected (tires, oil etc.) then you won't have a problem. Not to mention, it works out to be cheaper in the long run, you dont have to worry about the plane on the last day of vacation, you can get more souviners and personally I can finally use this new gps system .

 

[DebbieB]

Right, to each his own, I can't imagine 18 hours in a car vs 2 on a plane (from Pittsburgh). I would go nuts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you drive, you can decide to leave earlier or later, that is not true with the tickets you have purchased for a flight. Also, with driving if the weather gets bad you can stop at a hotel, not be held hostage in a plane with a bunch of strangers. Linda

There are no strangers - just friends we haven't met yet
Last week's fiasco not only does not change my mind about flying, I will continue to fly on JetBlue. Just, if I fly in the winter I will take the advice above and in other threads - and have a backup plan.

 

[safetymom]

I will still fly. If you know bad weather is coming and you are flying you have options also.

You also have to realize that sometimes things happen.

 

[sue1013]

The last time we drove to Florida we were stuck for 4 hours on 95 in North Carolina. There was a terrible accident involving 6 cars caused by a car towing a camper that somehow broke loose from the car. There were no exits that we could get too just had to sit along with hundreds of others waiting with hundreds of others until they reopened the road. Also had to hear people screaming and crying it was terrible. We had no control over the car that lost its camper or the other cars that were hit by it. If you think you have control while driving you are mistaken. We will continue to fly.

 

[Bichon Barb]

With driving to Disney taking two days at 12 hours each, I'm still glad I'm flying direct with JetBlue at the end of March to meet up with a dear friend for 3 days of sitting by the pool at SSR and BCV. I'm just hoping that the snow stops falling by then. But then again, a little snow doesn't stop things at SYR. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather is good at MCO too.

 

[jdsmom97]

A lot of those people driving were on their way to the big race in Daytona...not neccessarily work. I would have lost my mind either way!! In the car I would have felt like I had more control, but in the plane I would have had more company, somebody to take care of me, a bathroom. Wouldn't those people in their cars run out of gas? I would be afraid of freezing. My brother in law had the drive through PA while my sister was at the airport for 14 hours w/ 2 children 8mos & 8 yrs and never flew out until the next day 24+ hours later. It wasn't only jetblue..This was all/most flights up here in snow country! They decided he had the better deal. (he hates to fly)

 

[calena]

I hate flying and have convinced by dh that driving isn't that bad. When I saw those people stuck in a plane on the runway for 9 hours, I almost had an anxiety attack just thinking about it. Apparently, this is not unheard of to get in this closed capsule called an airplane and to just sit on the runway while having no idea when this incubator is going to take off. I know flying works for a lot of people but I feel way too out of control being in a plane. Is it me or was it strange that none of those passengers lost their minds or claimed that they were having a heart attack (like I would of)? I wonder how much money they will get when they sue? I know it wouldn't be worth it to me. Linda

You are making me nervous just thinking about the 'closed capsule'... sounds like Mission Space at Epcot, not the last plane I was on! I am one of the flying folk - just can't see driving from Canada (Ottawa) to Orlando - even without any weather worries. We will be in Florida in a few hours and lounging by the pool in the afternoon when we leave at 8 a.m. Not sitting in a car anticipating another day of sitting in a car
Deb

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I would still much rather fly. I drove in that mess on V-day and I couldn't imagine trying to actually travel in that weather (other than to and from work like I did, even though it wasn't such a good idea). Route 80 and 78 in PA were closed even a day or two after the storm. It was a huge mess, everyone was just stranded, no warning that the road was closed, on ramps were left open and the radio didn't warn anyone until after the roads were already closed.

I'd rather be stuck on the plane for a few hours, or in the airport, than in my car. Air travel is still much much safer than traveling by car.

 

[Jestocost]

No, but every time I see a report about fatalities in a chain-reaction car crash I'm glad I fly. No one died or was injured in the Jet Blue situation, but a very quick review of only the first page of articles resulting from a Google News search shows examples of eight chain-reaction car accidents resulting in six fatalities and dozens of injuries over the last few days.

 

[bavaria]

Air travel is still much much safer than traveling by car.

but as witnessed by this thread and others like it in past, statistical information will not sway those who prefer car travel and believe that their own driving skill is all that comes into play.

air travel continues to be the safest form of travel; those who don't like it often try to rationalize that it is not to justify their own preferences.

As someone said, to each their own - just don't try and convince me that car travel is safer than air travel.