Fuel prices and flying vs. driving

[cgallery]

I had often wondered how much fuel a modern jetliner uses, and how passenger jets compare to (for example) cars and trains in terms of efficient use of fuel.

So I was watching CNN at lunch and US Airways claims that the average, round-trip passenger costs something like $299 in fuel.

Here is some reading:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g...YWCLAD918QVJO0

So I picked Milwaukee to New York at 881 miles as an "average" trip (they don't say what constitutes average). Round trip that is 1762 miles. In a car averaging 22-MPG, that would require 80-gallons of fuel. So my fuel cost to drive alone, at $4 per gallon, would be $320. But if I add the rest of my family (three more people), the average would be $80 per.

I just thought the #'s were kinda interesting.

[leehljp]

I have been figuring like that for a long time over here. With gas being $3.00 a gallon since I have been here 20+ years, I know that I can take a bullet train to Osaka or Tokyo just as cheap as I can drive even though it is a little faster on the bullet train. If LOML or another person is going, it becomes much cheaper to drive.

[cgallery]

I have been figuring like that for a long time over here. With gas being $3.00 a gallon since I have been here 20+ years, I know that I can take a bullet train to Osaka or Tokyo just as cheap as I can drive even though it is a little faster on the bullet train. If LOML or another person is going, it becomes much cheaper to drive.

Why doesn't the price of gas fluctuate in Japan?

[leehljp]

Why doesn't the price of gas fluctuate in Japan?

Well, it does fluctuate, but just not as much as you see in the US because it was already unnaturally high IMO. There was much more margin here for dealing with spiked increases due to the already high prices before. It is $5.00+ a gallon now.

[JR]

Well, it does fluctuate, but just not as much as you see in the US because it was already unnaturally high IMO.

Also, as the dollar has devalued against other currencies, that drives the cost of oil up in dollar terms. It still costs the same in yen terms, if the yen remains strong against other world currencies.

JR

[LCHIEN]

well, there's other factors to consider.
One as you note, the number of people travelling. Second, the use of the car, if you fly you have to take public transportation at your destination or rent a car. If you drive, you have the convenience of the car and no rental costs. This is a significant factor in personal auto travel in the states where many cities have rudimentary public transport and widely spread metro areas.

[Russianwolf]

well, there's other factors to consider.
One as you note, the number of people travelling. Second, the use of the car, if you fly you have to take public transportation at your destination or rent a car. If you drive, you have the convenience of the car and no rental costs. This is a significant factor in personal auto travel in the states where many cities have rudimentary public transport and widely spread metro areas.

And the flip side, is the wear and tear on your vihicle if you drive. Also the increased chance of an accident (especially if driving into DC)

[LCHIEN]

And the flip side, is the wear and tear on your vihicle if you drive. Also the increased chance of an accident (especially if driving into DC)

I considered adding that, but the OP compared just the fuel costs of the two, not the wear and tear, so I didn't include it.

[dbhost]

well, there's other factors to consider.
One as you note, the number of people travelling. Second, the use of the car, if you fly you have to take public transportation at your destination or rent a car. If you drive, you have the convenience of the car and no rental costs. This is a significant factor in personal auto travel in the states where many cities have rudimentary public transport and widely spread metro areas.

Rudimentary public transport? When was the last time you attempted to use Metro? Ugh... I'd rather ride a bicycle from Clear Lake to Gunspoint. (I'll translate for non Houstonians if need be).

[LCHIEN]

Rudimentary public transport? When was the last time you attempted to use Metro? Ugh... I'd rather ride a bicycle from Clear Lake to Gunspoint. (I'll translate for non Houstonians if need be).

Didn't know you were from Houston area (you don't have your location set) but that's exactly what I meant by rudimentary. Houston has a hub and spoke system for its buses... no cross town routes. and no rail to speak of, except for the short line that goes from downtown to apparently some politcal contributor's location a few miles from town.