Sorry, this thread has progressed beyond my comprehension. While I respect individual decisions, I cannot personally understand not flying. I used to travel by bus while in college, but now would rather have to sleep on an anthill than have to ride on a bus!

Travel busses are vastly different from excursion busses. You can get up and stretch on a plane; not so on a bus. Potholes are much more common than air turbulence. There are toilets, but they get really nasty. I don’t think they have sinks to clean up. Many stops are at small stations. You can get snacks, but no food. And many are in rural areas that don’t accept plastic. So you need to carry cash. And I wouldn’t carry cash when riding with people who take buses.

IMHO

Well try to comprehend this then: that is exactly why i asked this question
I appreciate the birds eye view you have painted there, very informative which tells me i probably dont want to do that ha ha.
Thanks really.

 

The bus is an adventure. You can do it, many people do, but it won’t be comfortable and the quality of your traveling companions is very hit or miss.

Hi,

Yeah does not sound too inviting

 

Just bring along your copy of "Prison Life" and you will feel at home.

ha ha. Sounds nasty then so maybe that's not the way to go.

 

The bus is an adventure. You can do it, many people do, but it won’t be comfortable and the quality of your traveling companions is very hit or miss.

I would not wish bus travel on my worst enemy. If prisoners were given bus travel as their punishment. it would be considered cruel and usual and immediatly banned.

I cannot imagine taking a bus across country. It would take forever and be a horrible experience.

 

Could you afford a short flight? Jet Blue offers special $49 fares routinely. Then, you could practice taking a flight. I’d pack a small carry-on with nothing that would raise questions. I’d make sure that I had nothing in my pockets. Leave your phone home.

Then you could observe everything around you, noting what other passengers experienced. Perhaps it would assuage your anxieties.

Then, you’d be ready for the big trip. I forget where you’re traveling from, but I’m in Boston and would recommend a quick trip to NYC.

 

Could you afford a short flight? Jet Blue offers special $49 fares routinely. Then, you could practice taking a flight. I’d pack a small carry-on with nothing that would raise questions. I’d make sure that I had nothing in my pockets. Leave your phone home.

Then you could observe everything around you, noting what other passengers experienced. Perhaps it would assuage your anxieties.

Then, you’d be ready for the big trip. I forget where you’re traveling from, but I’m in Boston and would recommend a quick trip to NYC.

Doesn't sound like OP can't afford a flight. Just looking for alternates. I would avoid JetBlue like the plague. If they hav a problem with the flight, you are screwed.

 

Doesn't sound like OP can't afford a flight. Just looking for alternates. I would avoid JetBlue like the plague. If they hav a problem with the flight, you are screwed.

@djsfantasi was suggesting a short hop dry run to get used to the flying experience.

 

Spend the money and get a 1st class ticket, on an Alaska A320 class plane if possible.
https://onemileatatime.com/alaska-a320-first-class-experience/

 

Doesn't sound like OP can't afford a flight. Just looking for alternates. I would avoid JetBlue like the plague. If they hav a problem with the flight, you are screwed.

The OP started this by saying he hadn’t flown in a while. In subsequent posts, it appears he has some anxiety about all the changes since his last flight. He was unaware of the TSA checks, for example, and had never seen the conveyors used to x-ray carry-on luggage.

I suggested a short hop to mitigate those anxieties. I don’t think his search for alternatives is strictly financial.

And in my experience, Jet Blue is awesome. I fly them the most.

 

Spend the money and get a 1st class ticket, on an Alaska A320 class plane if possible.
https://onemileatatime.com/alaska-a320-first-class-experience/

View attachment 173850 View attachment 173851 View attachment 173852

Sad that that is a first class seat. They used to be so much wider.

 

Sad that that is a first class seat. They used to be so much wider.

The seat is the same. Americans so much wider now.

 

The seat is the same. Americans so much wider now.

Not me. Well a little but not by that much. I only flew first class years ago. I just remember them being wider and much more comfy looking.

Once I was going to NJ on business. My boss was going with me. There was no coach available so the rule was customer comes first so fly first class. We were to leave Sunday night . My boss was off on Friday and instructed me to pick up the tickets. He then asked for my rental car credit card. I objected saying I am perfectly capable of renting a car. Why he did not have a card, I have no idea.

It was back in the day when you could show up at the airport at the last minute. And before cell phones. I arrived around a half hour before the flight plenty of time. But no boss. I got on the flight a took my seat in first class. Still no boss. Doors closed. No boss no message.

I got to NJ with about +$20 in my wallet. I was only supposed to be there for the day and I was supposed to have a rental car. I didn't have my own credit cards at the time. I was wondering what the hell I was going to do. I couldn't afford a taxi to the hotel then another to the client the next morning. So I called the hotel for the shuttle. They told me the shuttle has stopped running. I told them who I was and I was staying there but they recognized my name immediately as I stayed there many times before. They said no problem we are sending someone out to get you. Wow I really felt special.

Next day I took the taxi to the client. I was working on the client's system when my boss shows up. I said boss what time did you get in? 10 he said. I said 10? How is that possible it is only 10:15? He said no, I got in at 10 last night. He was on the same flight as me but sitting in coach I never saw him. Apparently he got to the airport like 2 hours early panicked when I was not there and bought a coach ticket one was available) .

I got a little smile on my face thinking of him being crammed into a center seat while I was enjoying a beer up in first class. Servers you right you bastard I thought. I then asked for my credit card back.

 

Could you afford a short flight? Jet Blue offers special $49 fares routinely. Then, you could practice taking a flight. I’d pack a small carry-on with nothing that would raise questions. I’d make sure that I had nothing in my pockets. Leave your phone home.

Then you could observe everything around you, noting what other passengers experienced. Perhaps it would assuage your anxieties.

Then, you’d be ready for the big trip. I forget where you’re traveling from, but I’m in Boston and would recommend a quick trip to NYC.

It's not so much the cost as it is the hassle and travel time.
Yeah a short trip exercise is a good idea thanks i'll have to think about that.

 

Very long flight time? It's not so bad. My oldest son is in Japan for two weeks. ANA First Class service.

Airport Lounge

In-flight meals and snacks

 

Hi,

Wow 10 hour flight. Yikes. And i thought 5 hours was bad.
Nice pics there.

 

San Francisco to Singapore =14 hr. flight.
Do it all the time on business.
Flying out again on Monday.
Bring plenty of reading material, snacks, & quality headphones for the movie(s).
One of those neck pillows is not a bad idea.

 

San Francisco to Singapore =14 hr. flight.
Do it all the time on business.
Flying out again on Monday.
Bring plenty of reading material, snacks, & quality headphones for the movie(s).
One of those neck pillows is not a bad idea.

Wow 14 hours that's just too long for me. I'll have to stay home

 

Wow 14 hours that's just too long for me. I'll have to stay home

It's all about acclimation. In the 80's I worked for a NAVSEA dept. (now spawar) 14 hours was just the first hop on several trips a month from San Diego before my family was forward deployed in Asia to reduce travel times.

 

One of those neck pillows is not a bad idea.

Still flying frequently but just few hours, never used one.

What is the advantage? (They look uncomfortable to me).

 

I am over 6 ft tall, the regular headrests that are built into the seats do not go up far enough to get comfortable (at least for me).
It gives the head something to rest against.
Btw due to my height, I avoid the center seats like the plauge.