Flying Hassles Make Driving More and More Attractive

With the latest changes in airport security, when will flying become so much of a hassle that people will begin to look for alternatives?

The Web site TripAdvisor.com asked 1,200 of its travelers if they would avoid traveling between the U.S. and the U.K. over the next two months. Forty-seven percent, perhaps reacting to the ban on any carry-ons on flights out of London for an undetermined amount of time or perhaps afraid of terrorism, answered yes.

I wish I could answer the same, but I already hold tickets to South Africa, via London, later this year. The trip will require 21 hours in the air, and facing such a journey without a book or iPod to pass the time makes me wish I'd paid a few hundred dollars more to make connections in Amsterdam.

The fact that I have almost no concern whatsoever about being blown up by a terrorist while flying involves more of a fatalistic view of life than what some might call my naive trusting nature.

I have a better chance of being killed by lightning while fishing a High Uintas lake or being hit by a driver while crossing the street than being offed by terrorists.

Obviously, Americans who want to see Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and other destinations will have to put up with the increasing inconveniences associated with flying.

Too many in our mobile society have come to rely on the speed of flight to get us where we are going quickly.

Driving my car seems like an increasingly attractive alternative, even with gasoline costing more than $3 a gallon.

I have trips planned to Estes Park, Colo., and Seattle.

While most of my family will fly to Colorado for a wedding, I plan to drive, figuring that the two-hour wait on each end of the trip, coupled with the long drive from the Denver Airport, will make up for time in the car.

My son and daughter-in-law, who have far less vacation time built up than I do as well as an 8-month old son, talked me into flying to Seattle. That isn't to say there was no discussion about driving.

Having endured long security lines, delayed flights, poor and expensive airport restaurants, airline seats without ample leg room and the elimination of meals on domestic flights, I can only wonder when travelers begin choosing not to fly.

Salt Lake City is within a day's drive of many incredible destinations, including five Utah national parks, Yellowstone, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Southern California, San Francisco, Portland, Denver or Seattle.

My suspicion is that flying to South Africa is going to be a miserable experience, perhaps mitigated by a good sleeping pill. But I expect the destination will ultimately be worth the travel hassles of getting there.

The new world of terrorism coupled with high gas prices will make many think twice before embarking on adventures to the far ends of the world. Ultimately, though, we will likely adjust to the new realities of airline travel and somehow make them work.

This will be my way of sending the terrorists a message that, while cautious, I am not afraid and I will not let them win a war to take away the freedom of travel.

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