Misconceptions

• Some people avoid flying out of fear, or out of the belief that it's too expensive or too much of a hassle. While getting in and out of an airport can sometimes be frustrating, flying is safer, easier and in many cases less expensive than driving.
  You have a much greater statistical chance of being killed or injured in an automobile accident than in a plane crash; in a typical year, more than 42,000 people are killed in the U.S. in automobile accidents, compared to fewer than 100 in airplane accidents. In addition, auto accidents are the leading cause of death among young people in the U.S., and a person is killed every 13 minutes in an auto accident. Airplane accidents don't even appear on lists of the leading cause of deaths.
  While air travel can be expensive in certain cases, many times it is actually cheaper than driving. The greater the distance you are traveling, the more likely it is that air travel is the cheaper way to get there. Comparing prices shouldn't just include the price of the ticket versus the price of gas. You must also consider the cost of food, hotels and wear and tear on your vehicle. A trip that takes two days on the road will require many stops for food and a night in a hotel, but flying could get you there in five or six hours and you won't have to pay for a hotel room.
  Getting in and out of the airport doesn't have to be a hassle. Shuttles are available to help you avoid the parking situation, and many airports now have staff that perform concierge-like duties, guiding you through the entire experience. If you think about some of the hassles you encounter when driving long distances, like finding your way through an unfamiliar city, locating gas stations, finding parking and fighting traffic, flying isn't really a hassle at all.
  
  

Benefits

• There are many benefits to flying, and one of the biggest is time.
  While there is something to be said for enjoying the trip and taking the scenic road, when time is an issue, flying will almost always get you there faster. If you are taking a vacation to go see family members, for example, you could gain several days with your loved ones by flying. Instead of losing three or four days to travel, you can spend half a day traveling each way and spend the rest of the time enjoying your destination.
  Reducing stress is another good reason to consider flying to your destination. Stress comes in many forms, and one unnerving form is finding yourself lost in an unfamiliar city. Even though you mapped your route and have every turn planned, sometimes there are detours and sometimes the road signs just aren't clear. When you fly, you know exactly where you'll be landing and you don't have to worry about the route to get there.
  The ability to easily change your plans is another benefit of flying. While you may have to pay a small fee to change your tickets, you can still be spontaneous and change destinations or the duration of your trip without a hassle. If you were headed to Florida, for example, but find that a hurricane is on the way, you can change your plans and go to California instead. This would take a lot more time and effort to do if you were driving instead of flying.
  
  

Risk Factors

• While flying is a great way to travel, there are a few risks.
  Many people might think that a crash or accident is the biggest risk of flying, but bigger issues are emergency medical care, air sickness, jet lag, blood clots and leg cramps or muscle stiffness.
  If you have any serious medical problems that could require emergency medical care, flying might present an extra risk. When you are up in the air, there is no access to emergency medical technicians, hospitals, doctors or specialists. In severe cases the plane may land so that you can be treated, but even under the best of circumstances, that can take some time. If you know you may need emergency medical care, be aware that it might not be available while flying.
  Air sickness doesn't pose a serious health risk, but it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. If you've not flown before and you are prone to motion sickness, you should be aware that there is a risk that you will be air sick.
  Jet lag is not a serious health risk either, but it can affect your enjoyment of a vacation or your ability to function normally. Jet lag occurs when your internal "body clock" is out of sync with the time of day at your destination. For example, it might be midnight at home, but it's 6 a.m. at your destination and you have a tour at 7 a.m. You want to get up but may have a lot of difficulty because your body believes it's midnight, not 6 a.m.
  Finally, there is a risk in flying that you will sit too long in one position, causing blood clots to form. This is not common, but it happens often enough that travelers on flights longer than two hours get up and stretch every hour or so. Sitting too long in one position also puts you at risk for less serious things like leg cramps or backaches. These may not threaten your overall health, but they can put a damper on your trip.
  
  

Type

• When most people think of flying, they think of large commercial flights, but there are several types of airplanes and flights that you can take.
  On-demand flights are available at many airports and often aren't as expensive as you might think. On-demand flying is what it sounds like: Flights take place on demand. On-demand flights are often an excellent option for groups of between six and 12 people. Most on-demand flights charge a flat rate regardless of the number of people on board, so larger groups can split the cost, which is sometimes less than flying on a commercial flight.
  Ultralight flights are not usually used for travel, but often for sightseeing or simply for pleasure. Ultralights are very small planes that usually hold one or two people, including the pilot. Flying in an ultralight is about as close as you can get to feeling as though you are soaring through the air on your own power.
  Private flying is exactly that--flights not open to the public. Private flying is more expensive, but the flights and the pilot are on your schedule and take you to nearly any destination you would like, not just major airports.
  
  

Evolution

• When flying first became available to the public, it was a novelty. Pilots would land near small towns and draw crowds to an impromptu ticket booth where short rides could be purchased. A single passenger would be flown above the town or houses in a large loop and returned safely to the ground.
  In the 1930s, regular commercial flights became available, and airline attendants were introduced. The introduction of these attendants represented a big step in flying, as airlines became more oriented toward serving customers rather than just carrying cargo and a few people as well. Another introduction in the 1930s also helped commercial flying evolve--making reservations by telephone. Up until that time, passengers had to go to the ticket booth to arrange for a flight.
  When Boeing introduced the DC-3, it was another milestone. More passengers could be accommodated in more comfortable seats, and the cost of flying was reduced for the average traveler. Also, airlines began taking safety precautions, like adding seat belts in case of turbulent flights and flotation devices on flights that traveled over water.
  As more passengers booked tickets, airlines looked for ways to make flying more affordable for the public, and more flights and features were added until you could travel almost anywhere at any time by flying.