Live data from Hacker News

France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

theguardian.com

1–10 of 31 posts

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#3
post #2

What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system? I see that pre 9/11 security was fast and easy but now just the worst case security checkup time makes me shrug at short-distance flights.

I know one such — the connection between Munich and Nuremberg, which is half an hour by plane (airport to airport) and an hour and a half by train (from railway station to railway station).

Most air passsengers were transit passengers. If you wanted to go from Nuremberg to Madrid, say, then flying via the hub in Munich made sense, and the train wasn't much of a competitor for that case. The train is good if you want to go to the city of Munich, not so good if you want to go to the airport and check in for a long-distance flight. By air you check in in Nuremberg, hand over your luggage, take a half-hour flight, arrive not very long before your flight to Madrid, go to gate, and fly on. If there's a problem before Munich it's the airline's problem. By train (or car) you leave longer in advance, and even longer because you leave a buffer against delays on the way to Munich airport.

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#4
post #3
post #2

What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system? I see that pre 9/11 security was fast and easy but now just the worst case security checkup time makes me shrug at short-distance flights.

I know one such — the connection between Munich and Nuremberg, which is half an hour by plane (airport to airport) and an hour and a half by train (from railway station to railway station). Most air passsengers were transit passengers. If you wanted to go from Nuremberg to Madrid, say, then flying via the hub in Munich made sense, and the train wasn't much of a competitor for that case. The train is good if you want…

Lufthansa also sells tickets to connecting train rides to flights and as far as I know, they take the responsibility for delays (which is common occurrence with Deutsche Bahn unfortunately). I'm not 100% sure though.

Still, as you've said, it makes more sense to book a connecting flight than a train ride, because of the ease of checking in.

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#5
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know one such — the connection between Munich and Nuremberg, which is half an hour by plane (airport to airport) and an hour and a half by train (from railway station to railway station). Most air passsengers were transit passengers. If you wanted to go from Nuremberg to Madrid, say, then flying via the hub in Munich made sense, and the train wasn't much of a competitor for that case. The train is good if you want…

Lufthansa also sells tickets to connecting train rides to flights and as far as I know, they take the responsibility for delays (which is common occurrence with Deutsche Bahn unfortunately). I'm not 100% sure though. Still, as you've said, it makes more sense to book a connecting flight than a train ride, because of the ease of checking in.

Not just Lufthansa. I’ve done it with Emirates’ rail and fly option too from Berlin to Frankfurt.

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#6
post #2

What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system? I see that pre 9/11 security was fast and easy but now just the worst case security checkup time makes me shrug at short-distance flights.

>What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system?

Didn't read the article but might they just be repositioning the planes for flights elsewhere?

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#7
post #6
post #2

What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system? I see that pre 9/11 security was fast and easy but now just the worst case security checkup time makes me shrug at short-distance flights.

>What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system? Didn't read the article but might they just be repositioning the planes for flights elsewhere?

This would be the only legit reason

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#8
post #2

What was the benefit of these flights anyways when you have a good rail and highway system? I see that pre 9/11 security was fast and easy but now just the worst case security checkup time makes me shrug at short-distance flights.

I remember reading the story below where a man in England buys a flight from Newcastle to Spain to London because it was cheaper than the train.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2017/06/27/man-flie...

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#9
The benefit is transfers. Walking down the terminal without luggage to another gate vs leaving the airport with luggage and getting on a train. Especially if it's the difference between going through the baggage claims area in a major international airport (usually the transfer point) and a small regional one (usually final destination).

Plus if you're driving home, train stations are usually in city centre (expensive/difficult parking).

This ban will just make travel more of an ordeal for frequent (esp. business) travellers in some smaller towns/cities in France. It may or may not be a worthy tradeoff, I don't have an opinion on that.

Re: France to ban some domestic flights where train available due to climate measure

#10

The benefit is transfers. Walking down the terminal without luggage to another gate vs leaving the airport with luggage and getting on a train. Especially if it's the difference between going through the baggage claims area in a major international airport (usually the transfer point) and a small regional one (usually final destination). Plus if you're driving home, train stations are usually in city centre (expensiv…

Is there a barrier to integrating the rail network with the airports for seamless transfers? I've long thought how nice it would be to fly from London to Oakland, then get straight on Amtrak to Sacramento. I do this already but baggage can be annoying.
Post reply on HN