Greyhound versus plane?
 

My mother wants to go to a family reunion that is five hours away. The airport is an hour from our house and the flight costs $400-$500 (blood suckers.) She can go Greyhound for $80 and we both can go together for $120. It will take us an hour to get to the station but we won't have to go through NTA screening. The bus time is 4 hours nonstop or 6 hours if choose a more convenient time of day that includes a transfer. Greyhound sounds too good to be true. I'm tempted, but I haven't traveled by bus in the US. Don't ask me to drive. It would mean crossing the mountains. Ideas?

The bus is what it is. If price matters, then the bus is the way to go. You will have slightly more room than on the plane, it will take longer, and it can be boring. But it's cheap and safe.

Which mountains? I haven't yet met a mountain that's so scary as to make it undriveable.

From where to where? Which mountains, which cities, and which airports are you talking about??

It is really hard to give useful suggestions/advice w/o any of the details . . . .

Greyhound for a princess. I think not.

And, I too, would like to know what is the problem with driving over a mountain. Roads are engineered to keep your car (and Greyhound busses) safe.

And what does your mother say about all this?

Is renting a car an option, or are you both non-drivers ?

Dukey had the best question. Ask your mother. I just did and and she nixed by idea.

For the record the mountains was the pass between Asheville and Knoxville. We live two hours south of Ashville. My logical mind says it is safe but I can't stand the part where you have an eighteen wheeler on one side and a concrete barrier on the other and you see signs for sliding rocks.

thanks for your advice. Mom's flying

I can relate to that. You not only have signs for sliding rocks, but frequent signs that say something like "accident investigation area". It didn't bother me at all driving (and riding) on Big Sur, Going to the Sun Road, Tioga Pass, etc. (and I don't like heights), but I was very (extremely) glad when that section of highway (between Asheville and Knoxville) was behind me. The only good thing about it is that trucks have to stay in the right lane (not allowed to pass). The scenery is beautiful, if you're not the driver.

I have driven that road a hundred times at least. It is one of the prettiest roads in America--and it is safe, for heaven's sake. As for sliding rocks, they protect the face of the hill so they don't fall on the road. And yes, I do know that it has happened.

It's really not a bad drive at all.

I took a Greyhound bus in the West, with my husband (added safety ;) ) and would not do it again.

Have you checked discount airlines like Southwest, Jet blue, who else?

Amtrak can be an alternative.

I know everyone is trying to be helpful but what part of "Mom's flying" do we not understand?

The upper left quarter.

When I worked for the SC Department of Corrections I was in charge of inmate furloughs.

They all went Greyhound.

Would I ride Greyhound? Hell no.

Thanks GoTravel. You are making me feel better about putting my mother on a plane. I just wish SC would get a discount carrier.

palmetto, are you in Columbia or near Columbia? If so double triple no because that is how all inmates get home on weekends and Columbia has about 20 prisons.

It was my last year of college when I was at USC.

Closer to Greenville, but the point is taken.

Palmetto,

You mentioned you're "feeling better" baout putting your mom on a plane -- are you worried about aggravation or safety? If it's the latter, consider this: Statistically speaking, you'd have to fly every day for 64,000 years to guarantee involvement in a fatal plane crash. An airplane is far safer than anything on the road.

I wouldn't get on a bus anywhere in this country!! WHAT is wrong with driving.