The Airport Transfer Conundrum

Time to set off for the airport. Packing done, dishes in the dishwasher, loos cleaned, windows closed, heating off, plugs disconnected, computers stopped, keys to the neighbours, car keys in secret hiding place [thanks for the suggestion Morna].
One of the problems with travel from the provinces is getting to the airport. The options are car, rail, taxi/minibus and bus.
For this trip we clearly can't park at the airport, not without taking out a loan. Train is impossible for an early flight, you would have to go the day before and stay in a hotel.
For the normal fortnight holiday parking at the airport, taxi transfer and train plus hotel all work out roughly equivalent in terms of cost.
Bus however is by far the cheapest. We like it as the bus station is close to us, it takes a bit longer but delivers you [eventually] right to the terminal.
Flight costs are also related to the time of day. The most inconvenient times are the least expensive etc.
This I suppose is the great marketplace in action, but it is getting close to quantifying the cost of suffering. It does however give us an opportunity to fight against the capitalist hegemony.
We are getting the bus from Swansea Bus Station at 11.50pm, changing at Bristol Bus Station at 03.10 am, arriving at Bristol airport 03.50. £35.50 return open ticket each.
We are flying Easyjet, taking off at 06.15, arriving in Split 09.50. £102 each. Painful but virtuous. Toni has arranged for a car to meet us at the airport which is very welcome but is probably softening us up for his account.
I was feeling quite content about all this until I heard a news bulletin this eveneing saying that new research has shown tourism has a much bigger impact on CO2 emissions than had previously been thought, with flying being the main culprit. I have read about it a bit further and this has given me pause for thought. Our son Chris has been campaigning on this for years, it has to be said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/tourism-climate-change-carbon-emissions-global-warming-flying-cars-transport-a8338946.html


I will rationalise this by thinking that our carbon footprint on the boat will be much less than living in a house and driving vehicles. It would seem that the main issue overall with air transport is the flying of commodities rather than people. Its the requirement for strawberries in the winter that is killing us. Oh and the Americans.

I am a bit worried about Margaret's bag. I magnanimously offered her the biggest bag. She has filled it with essentials like tea towels and duvet covers and now she can't lift it.

Comments

  1. Morna8 May 2018 at 23:14

    Nobody will find your keys in your wellies

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ken9 May 2018 at 10:04

    As a well known proponent of free market capitalism I have to say I have never heard such an eloquent conflation of environmentalism with genetic miserliness.

    And if Chris is reading tell him not to worry about the polar bears any more!!

    http://notrickszone.com/2017/11/16/scientists-affirm-that-no-the-arctic-is-not-melting-as-nothing-has-changed-since-1900/#sthash.Cwm6M8EC.dpbs

    ReplyDelete

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