Why you should Take The Train Instead, Part Two....

Why you should Take The Train, continued....

10. The food is no good

And that's scientifically proven. At high altitudes our taste buds simply don’t work properly. The low humidity dries out our nasal passages, and the air pressure desensitises our taste buds, which is why airlines often opt for salty stews or spicy curries. 

11. Sometimes it's really bad

12. The other passengers will drive you mad

In so many ways. They will listen to music instead of the in-flight safety annoucement. They will forget to fasten their seat belt before take-off, forcing the flight attendant to remind them. They will strike up a conversation when it's quite obvious you would rather read your Flashman novel. They will turn their phone on the moment the plane lands, to see how many 'likes' their latest innane Facebook post has received, then insist of retrieving their bags and standing in the aisle for 10 minutes, waiting for the plane door to open, instead of remaining seated. 

13. You could be sat next to this 

14. Or this 

15. Seats are getting smaller

As our Travel Truths series pointed out last year, airlines are increasingly keen to cram in as many fliers as possible. For example, the normal seating arrangement on a Boeing 777 was once nine seats per row. In 2010, just 15 per cent of the 74 Boeing aircraft delivered to airlines could seat 10 abreast. Last year, that leapt to 69 per cent. 

16. So are toilets

Last year B/E Aerospace, a Florida-based manufacturer of aircraft cabin products, revealed designs for new, smaller bathrooms on Boeing’s 737s - meaning airlines can squeeze in a handful of extra seats. Delta and Qantas are among the first airlines to show interest in the designs. 

17. It's bad for the environment

Perhaps this should be higher up the list. According to one 2010 study, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, air travel accounts for more global warming than all the cars on the world's roads. 

18. It's not a train

Train travel is infinitely more relaxing than flying (rush hour commutes excluded). No-one ever fell in love on a plane. Brief Encounter wouldn't have worked if it was set inside the economy class cabin of an easyJet flight to Malia.

19. The airline charges will leave you out of pocket

Several airlines charge for carry-on luggage, budget airlines charge up to £45 for a single item of hold luggage, or £20 per kilo for excess baggage. Then there's boarding card reissue fees, name change fees, fuel surcharges, credit card fees, infant fees... 

20. You'll get dumped miles from your final destination

Imagine the shock for visitors to Germany who book a flight to "Munich West Airport", only to find themselves deposited 67 miles from the bright lights of the Bavarian capital. And it is by no means the only offender - "Oslo-Torp Airport" is 75 miles from Oslo, "Stockholm Skavsta Airport" is 66 miles from Stockholm, and Barcelona Girona is 65 miles from Barcelona. 

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