This made me think of how long it will take before modern and future trains replace planes on short and medium-haul routes where air travel has become a nightmarish experience.
We spend too much time getting to the airport, waiting in check-in and security queues, often experience flight delays, cancellations and other unpleasant surprises such as being stuck on tarmac for hours.
We spend too much time getting to the airport, waiting in check-in and security queues, often experience flight delays, cancellations and other unpleasant surprises such as being stuck on tarmac for hours.
Extended scheduled times used to cover up for unexpected hiccups in the air or at tarmac surely made delay reports look fancier, but don't do much for passengers - often increasing the post-purchase cost of their journey in addition to stressful experiences. And there are no signs of improvement.
Nevertheless, we keep flying, surrendering a part of our precious time taken from our private and working lives, and silently accepting more and more inconvenience as inevitable facts of air travel.
That is why airline and industry statisticians tell us that passengers actually don’t mind their travel being disrupted. And this is how the more inconvenience becomes a norm - a zero reference from which further increase in disruptive flying start to look neglectable.
As there are not many alternative options around (or we don’t want to see them or change our habits), let’s get well prepared for more delays. Making a good use of travel downtime could make us more efficient, more informed or more creative. Or, why not think about these moments of idleness as precious gifts – an escape from hectic and demanding daily life? Up until the time we had enough, and start looking at ’down to earth’ train alternatives more attractive. Except for the air travel addicts. But will their number be sufficient to keep the air travelling over short and medium distances amassed?
As there are not many alternative options around (or we don’t want to see them or change our habits), let’s get well prepared for more delays. Making a good use of travel downtime could make us more efficient, more informed or more creative. Or, why not think about these moments of idleness as precious gifts – an escape from hectic and demanding daily life? Up until the time we had enough, and start looking at ’down to earth’ train alternatives more attractive. Except for the air travel addicts. But will their number be sufficient to keep the air travelling over short and medium distances amassed?
What does the future holds?
