Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Travel Topics > Air Travel
Reload this Page >

Non-Stop Flights are Faster - and Safer

Search

Non-Stop Flights are Faster - and Safer

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 4th, 2010 | 08:05 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Non-Stop Flights are Faster - and Safer

The most dangerous parts of any air flight are landing and taking off. The less stops and layovers, the lower your chance of being involved in flight accidents. Always try to book non-stop flights.
susantsao2 is offline  
Old Feb 4th, 2010 | 09:13 PM
  #2  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Buy more lottery tickets and you have more chance to win!
rkkwan is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 04:40 AM
  #3  
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
But non-stop flights won't get me the segments I need to maintain my frequent flyer status. Sometimes I will also get significantly more miles for the trip.
RonDace is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 05:00 AM
  #4  
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 0
LOL! The flights are safer??? Really

Here's the best way to stay safe... Lock yourself in your house.

The most dangersous part of your journey, is NOT the airline flight, but the trip to the airport. So to lower your chance of being involved in accidents... stay home!
CarolA is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 05:03 AM
  #5  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 0
That sounds good, but if you don't live in a city that's an airline's hub, you have to take connecting flights to get almost anywhere.
Jeff_Costa_Rica is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 06:15 AM
  #6  
40 Countries Visited
20 Anniversary
2m Airline Miles
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,859
Likes: 79
Great first post by the OP.
Gardyloo is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 10:15 AM
  #7  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
I don't need segments for my elite status, but a stop usually will mean more miles. I also need more lines and data points on my www.flightmemory.com page!

And more flights = more chance of being bumped and I can get vouchers. A connection also means higher chance for my bag to go missing so I can ask for compensation.

I also need the stop for a smoke. And more flights mean more chance to sit next to a hottie.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 10:57 AM
  #8  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
Surely you're not relying on random seat assignments to find hotties, rkkwan. Though this does reinforce my long-held policy of ignoring guys seated next to me.
Therese is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 12:00 PM
  #9  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Therese - Honestly, I do have a friend now whom I met on a plane 2 years ago. And she's a hottie.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 12:31 PM
  #10  
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 0
The only "safer" part is that you have 50% more chance of your luggage arriving with you.
Dayenu is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 12:51 PM
  #11  
40 Countries Visited
20 Anniversary
2m Airline Miles
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,859
Likes: 79
<i>Honestly, I do have a friend now whom I met on a plane 2 years ago. And she's a hottie. </i>

Sure it was only 2 years ago?

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hoote...2G5/1054906/L/
Gardyloo is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 12:58 PM
  #12  
J62
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,332
Likes: 0
Based on some recent evidence, I'm not quite sure rk has the same eye he had a few years ago, SLO.
J62 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 01:04 PM
  #13  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
Once they're friends they're not technically hotties anymore, rk, they're just friends who happen to be very attractive.
Therese is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 01:57 PM
  #14  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 0
If you are .... directionally impaired, and get lost in airports often, a non-stop flight can get you to a more distant airport to get lost in.

Also, if you fly tourist, its nice to have a chance to stretch out and walk around when you change flights, and better restrooms.
clevelandbrown is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2010 | 03:30 PM
  #15  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Well, if I book a non-stop, how would I ever know whether I can make a 31-minute connection at ATL, or 55-minute connection at CDG, or a 3-hour transfer between LHR and LGW? There's no way to know unless I've tried it!

And also more flights = more chances of the airline screwing up = more great opportunities for me to whine about it on this and other forums.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2010 | 06:28 AM
  #16  
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 0
susantsao2

So, when you walk in any town do you always choose the path where you have to cross less roads to lower the risk ?
Fabio is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2010 | 07:38 AM
  #17  
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 0
This is an interesting thread. The OP has posted ONCE on two message boards that I know of, here and Trip Advisor, with her "valuable" safty info. (On Trip Advisor she tells you that thiefs can get into your purse/backpack!)

Wonder what the real motive was?
CarolA is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2010 | 08:01 AM
  #18  
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
If you want safety, the key is not to avoid multiple stops, but to avoid regional and commuter airlines, which have many times more accidents than major airlines.

Unfortunately, about half of all flights on major airlines are in fact subcontracted to regional and commuter airlines, often without telling passengers about it. Regionals and commuters have much lower safety standards and far less experienced pilots, so you're essentially paying top dollar for major-airline safety, and getting something that is many times more risky. Almost all recent airline crashes have actually been crashes of commuter and regional airlines contracted to a major airline.

So flight short segments if you want, just stay away from the regionals and commuters. It can be hard to avoid them if you fly short trips, though, so I suppose that's an indirect argument in favor of non-stop flights. You're safer on a major carrier with multiple stops than you are on a non-stop with a regional or commuter airline.
AnthonyGA is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2010 | 08:26 AM
  #19  
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 0
Of course...

If a regional jet has an engine issue it can land in a smaller airport, or even on a road.

Try that with a 747! LOL!

Honestly, airtravel even on smaller planes is much safer then driving to the airport or your destination.
CarolA is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2010 | 08:58 AM
  #20  
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
rkkwan, now I see how you earn all those miles, and visit all those airports!! I guess I should be happy that I have multiple stops on my ORD to BKK flights in April/May.

BTW, I'll have over 63k this year by May 3! I think I'll make it to 1k again, without any problems. Hopefully no milesage runs... although I'm not against doing that!!!!!

(Therese, I usually don't talk to people sitting next to me either)
simpsonc510 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -