Car Trip

Today's RT fare for two from San Jose,
nearly as close as SFO, was $1,168, not
enough to change the decision to drive.

Planning ahead for a trip to the Emerald City this weekend, I called around last month for air fares between SFO and SEA.

$1,300 for two round-trip coach fares was disappointing but not surprising; the price of aviation fuel has taken off like other petroleum products. And we're not even including the cost of renting a car.

So we're driving, at an estimated total gasoline cost of $400 at $6 per gallon. Yes, I know I'm excluding the cost of wear and tear on the vehicle, but it's been underutilized at 10,000 miles for 3 years, so I'm not counting wear and tear, insurance, and time to the next service call (an important part of the analysis of transportation assets).

Another negative: the cost of driving will add about 10 hours in each direction.

But look at all the time we'll have to talk to each other instead of texting.

Plus, there will be an opportunity for side trips. I pulled out the old travel maps and guide books. You never know when the GPS might go out...