Yes, flight shame is a thing, at least it is in Europe.
Before you make plans for next summer’s vacation, you should know that Europe is shifting things around on how Europeans travel–and some of these shifts can benefit you. The Washington Post has a quick-read guide on the European flight shame movement and everything you should know.
Know
- “Flight shame” pretty much started in Sweden, but it has spread across the European continent.
- Many of the largest airlines are suggesting ways to hold down airline materials consumption. Of course, this helps the airline by holding down their costs.
- Alternative transportation in Europe is fairly fantastic compared to the U.S.
Blow
- Countries are publicly suggesting alternative forms of travel and penalizing some travelers for choosing air travel.
- Airline ticket prices and country taxes are rising with a desire to move travelers off of air, especially for short hops.
- This trend is beginning to appear in the U.S., where there are longer distances and fewer alternatives that make sense.
Go
Do what you plan, but look for using those alternatives. I’ve traveled internationally since 1975, both for business and for pleasure, and I’ve learned that some international trends that seem odd or downright ridiculous at first have a silver lining.
Train travel between cities can be as fast or faster than air travel. Remember that Europe has shorter distances than the U.S. and Europeans have an excellent rain system with many routes scheduled many times each day.
- Trains don’t have big security lines to stand in.
- You can leave your seat and walk in the aisles without a care.
- Every train has food or you can bring your own right from the station.
- People are friendlier on trains and you might receive some local knowledge.
Some trains are fast. Really fast. (I rode a train from Cologne to Munich, a distance of roughly 375 miles, in less than 5 hours at a cost of less than $120. Of course, we traveled slowly through a few towns, but we also hit over 200 kph in some stretches (more than 125 miles per hour). Remember, this is city center to city center, no fooling around for hours in airports and no long, expensive taxi rides into town.
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Live well.
In the book 51 Life Lessons Every Boomer Male Should Have Learned by Now, Jim writes about key lessons that he believes every evolved boomer male needs to know to make his third act his best. They fall into one of three categories: health, wealth and happiness. Each lesson serves to inspire and motivate you.
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