"Why are flights in the UK so often cheaper than taking the train?"
Some of the reasons are nonsensical:
for trains:
"The fuel is subject to VAT at 5% on diesel and 20% on electricity.".
this should be the reverse?!?
for planes:
"Fuel accounts for a much bigger part of airlines’ costs, but they do not have to pay VAT or duty on it.".
#SaveThePlanet and tax planes in proportion of the damage they do to their environment!
@elduvelle @albertcardona Moreoever, why is it that there are direct flights between cities in the UK that I need eight changes on the train and a dozen little bus trips for?
With each change likely to fail at a rate of 10% that gives me a less than 50% change of reaching my destination…
Airplane it is.
This summer I have to go from Barcelona to Berlin. The non-flight options are ... insane. I wouldn't mind a 24-hour trip by train, but it's not even that*. Many legs, no coordination between providers, subways and buses included. I am not a XIX century naturalist crossing uncharted territory, I am crossing the European Union from South to somewhat North. It's embarrassing.
* I was hoping for a 2-leg train, i.e., Barcelona-Paris and Paris-Berlin in the same day, but no, that would require me sleeping in Paris! The lack of coordination is as astonishing as it is appalling.
El Duvelle
Jon Sterling
Albert Cardona
Erwaks
Petra van Cronenburg