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Post by wrongwayfeldman on Jun 24, 2020 12:15:26 GMT
Would you drive or would you fly? My 25 year old DD and her boyfriend live in Philly and would like to travel home to Missouri for two weeks. We haven’t seen them since Christmas due to Covid. They can both work remotely but sometimes go into their offices. In anticipation of coming to visit us, they are planning to self quarantine for two weeks before heading home. They also plan to self quarantine for two weeks after they return to the city. They are nervous to fly so they are planning to rent a car to make the 14+ hour drive. Since living in big cities with public transportation, she does not regularly drive. They do not have a car, but when she is home a couple times a year she does drive and is typically a good driver. Her boyfriend let his drivers license expire since they literally never use a car.
My husband and I are concerned about her making such a long trip being the only driver. Their plan is that they will stop several times so that she can rest and then keep going. They plan to pack food so that they don’t have to get carry out and pay at the pump for gas. Since they will be renting a car, they are hoping to not have any car trouble. They will leave early in the morning so that they are less likely to drive at night.
I suggested we could meet them at a halfway point so that we can ditch the rental car and they could make the trip back home in our car. That would be less time on the road behind the wheel for her. For them, flying makes them nervous because they are worried about contamination. For me, the driving caries risk as well, but it’s hard to calculate which is worse. What do you think?
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Post by christine58 on Jun 24, 2020 12:20:11 GMT
I'd fly...
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Jun 24, 2020 12:24:30 GMT
I'd fly. I've flown twice in the past 30 days. Everything was cool. Ft Myers airport was nearly empty (in the am) just 10 days ago. I have photos, it was weird.
If they fly before 7-1, southwest is leaving every middle seat open and requiring masks the whole flight.
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lindas
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Post by lindas on Jun 24, 2020 12:34:33 GMT
I would drive because I hate flying. I would also be telling the boyfriend to get his license back so he can help with the driving.
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on Jun 24, 2020 12:39:31 GMT
I would fly too.
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Post by dewryce on Jun 24, 2020 12:39:37 GMT
DH has a fear of flying and we are high risk so we’d definitely drive. But we like car trips. He drove home from Las Vegas without stopping right before Christmas, my back was causing issues and I had crashed physically and mentally. It was a 17 hour drive I think.
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Post by summer on Jun 24, 2020 12:46:04 GMT
I’d fly if I were them. A 14 hour drive with only one driver that rarely drives does not sound like an ideal situation.
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Post by stormsts on Jun 24, 2020 12:49:14 GMT
Normally, I would say drive. But since she doesn't drive often, 14 hours is a long drive. I just drove 10 hours last week by myself to see my parents. Very doable but I was exhausted...
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Post by Minnesota*Mom on Jun 24, 2020 12:53:10 GMT
I'd drive, (I love road trips) if they can find someplace they are comfortable staying over night along the way (family? friends?). Otherwise, flying actually does seem it has less chance of contamination.
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Jun 24, 2020 13:00:22 GMT
I’d say meet them half way if they’re worried about flying.
It’s interesting that she plans to do a 14 day quarantine before the travel.
My sister and her family just booked to come home for a visit as she wants to see my parents. She’s crossing the Canada / US border so it’s a bit different. She has to have a quarantine plan for her family before they’re allowed out of our Canadian airport once they land. Shouldn’t the quarantine happen after the travel? My sister said she doesn’t have to quarantine once she goes back home to the US as her state doesn’t require it. She has said her quarantine plan upon arrival in Canada has to be so airtight or she gets sent back home.
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kibblesandbits
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jun 24, 2020 13:24:03 GMT
I'd fly. I've flown twice in the past 30 days. Everything was cool. Ft Myers airport was nearly empty (in the am) just 10 days ago. I have photos, it was weird. If they fly before 7-1, southwest is leaving every middle seat open and requiring masks the whole flight. Gosh, right? We arrived at RSW mid-day and it was a ghost town. Our layover in Charlotte? Sh*tshow FYI American Airlines are not following any seating restrictions and are pushing to sell out flights. Bring your mask. |
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Post by kitkath on Jun 24, 2020 13:39:32 GMT
Fly. Why waste 2 days traveling. Renting a car for a one way drop off is costly and worrying about them driving is nerve wracking. Can they get a non-stop flight?
My daughter flew 2 weeks go and the airports were empty.
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Post by huskermom98 on Jun 24, 2020 13:52:28 GMT
If they had their own car and both had a license I would say drive because then they'd have their own car while visiting. The drive wouldn't be too bad between two people (we've done Iowa to DC several times), but for one driver it's a lot.
I would say find a nonstop flight to as close to you in MO as possible and take the new precautions (masks, wipe down everything, etc.)
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Post by mom on Jun 24, 2020 14:07:32 GMT
I'd fly and am currently planning to fly in the next month.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 14:10:53 GMT
Fly. They aren’t use to that type of drive.
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Post by hop2 on Jun 24, 2020 14:13:28 GMT
I’d probably drive, but there’s a couple of things I’ve been wanting to see between those 2 places.
But if they are flying he has other id than an expired license right?
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Post by MichyM on Jun 24, 2020 14:25:49 GMT
My son drove 20 hours - NYC to the mid south 3 months ago. He and his partner flew back to NYC on Sunday. They flew American. Their flights were overbooked to the point of asking folks to give up their seats. There were no empty seats on either of their 2 flights. On the planes the passengers wore masks. In the terminals he said few were. They connected through Charlotte. Knowing this, I’d opt for the drive.
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Jun 24, 2020 14:38:25 GMT
I hate flying and with Covid I have a valid excuse NOT to fly...I'd drive.
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 24, 2020 14:41:50 GMT
I would say drive if you could meet them halfway. Personally I'd be afraid to fly right now. -- Also, why bother doing a 14-day quarantine if they're then going to get on a plane? The quarantine only makes sense if they're going to isolate themselves in a car for the trip.
Also, the boyfriend will need some sort of current ID to fly, and I'm not sure an expired drivers license will do it. If he has a passport then he's okay...
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 24, 2020 14:49:11 GMT
My son drove 20 hours - NYC to the mid south 3 months ago. He and his partner flew back to NYC on Sunday. They flew American. Their flights were overbooked to the point of asking folks to give up their seats. There were no empty seats on either of their 2 flights. On the planes the passengers wore masks. In the terminals he said few were. They connected through Charlotte. Knowing this, I’d opt for the drive. This right here is why I'd drive. You have zero control over how booked the flight is, what the rest of the passengers do. Some jackass might refuse to mask, and airplanes are germ factories anyway. If you could guarantee there would be distancing and masks on the flight, sure, maybe. But you can't. At least when you drive you have control. Meeting them halfway is a good option that makes it more doable. If it's terrible and they've rented the car, at least they could opt to fly home. |
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Post by christine58 on Jun 24, 2020 14:52:37 GMT
I’d say meet them half way if they’re worried about flying. It’s interesting that she plans to do a 14 day quarantine before the travel. My sister and her family just booked to come home for a visit as she wants to see my parents. She’s crossing the Canada / US border so it’s a bit different. She has to have a quarantine plan for her family before they’re allowed out of our Canadian airport once they land. Shouldn’t the quarantine happen after the travel? My sister said she doesn’t have to quarantine once she goes back home to the US as her state doesn’t require it. She has said her quarantine plan upon arrival in Canada has to be so airtight or she gets sent back home. I’m not sure that what your sister has said to you was correct. My cousin who lives in Ontario would like to come see her father here in the states but cannot unless she is quarantining here for 14 days, Then she has to quarantine at home for 14 days. I also know that my sister-in-law’s dad if he were to go to his cottage they have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada and upon arrival back to the United States. He was also told that the Canadian police would be checking his cottage while he was there |
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Post by mellowyellow on Jun 24, 2020 15:02:15 GMT
Since he has an expired drivers license....could he even fly?
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Jun 24, 2020 15:04:20 GMT
I’d say meet them half way if they’re worried about flying. It’s interesting that she plans to do a 14 day quarantine before the travel. My sister and her family just booked to come home for a visit as she wants to see my parents. She’s crossing the Canada / US border so it’s a bit different. She has to have a quarantine plan for her family before they’re allowed out of our Canadian airport once they land. Shouldn’t the quarantine happen after the travel? My sister said she doesn’t have to quarantine once she goes back home to the US as her state doesn’t require it. She has said her quarantine plan upon arrival in Canada has to be so airtight or she gets sent back home. I’m not sure that what your sister has said to you was correct. My cousin who lives in Ontario would like to come see her father here in the states but cannot unless she is quarantining here for 14 days, Then she has to quarantine at home for 14 days. I also know that my sister-in-law’s dad if he were to go to his cottage they have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada and upon arrival back to the United States. He was also told that the Canadian police would be checking his cottage while he was there Yes, our gov’t will be checking on her during her quarantine in Canada. But she said her state doesn’t require her to quarantine upon arrival back in the US. I wonder how your SIL dad would even get to the cottage, unless you can fly directly there and have someone pick you up. My sister needs a ride directly to her quarantine location and it can’t be by cab or rental. She isn’t allowed to quarantine in a home with a senior citizen and she has to have a food plan in place that involves someone bringing her food, and that person can not be a senior citizen. If she’s caught out of the house in the 14 days there are large fines. The gov’t will send random checks. |
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 24, 2020 15:21:23 GMT
Since he has an expired drivers license....could he even fly? Yes, if he has a passport. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Jun 24, 2020 15:24:09 GMT
I would drive. And I would expect my boyfriend to get his driver’s license to help with the driving. He has 6 months to get it done. If he has a PA license that has expired within the past 6 months, he can still renew it. If it has been more than 6 months, he needs to retake both the written and behind-the-wheel tests. He could also drive with the permit (written test only)¥, but I’d don’t see how long the permit is valid. PA licensingIt doesn’t matter what it’s like to fly now. Six months ago, it was fine And no one had heard of Covid-19. Six months from now, who knows. I would also anticipate increased air travel with the holidays, so planes will be fuller than on a random day in May with many states still SIP. I don’t think you can use that data to compare what holiday travel will be like. I’m not sure where you are in MO, but it’s a fairly easy drive along I-70 and very rural. IMO, the PA Turnpike will be the worst of the drive and that’s only a few hours. The rich part can be winter driving, but if they have a flexible work schedule, they can work around that.They are adults and can definitely do it! |
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Post by mnmloveli on Jun 24, 2020 15:29:59 GMT
Hearing about all the packed planes, I’d definitely drive, and I don’t like to drive. Personally, in this instance, just to visit, I probably would postpone until at least the Fall or holiday time.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 24, 2020 15:33:30 GMT
If they had their own car and both had a license I would say drive because then they'd have their own car while visiting. The drive wouldn't be too bad between two people (we've done Iowa to DC several times), but for one driver it's a lot. ^^^ I agree with this. In a couple weeks I'm driving from AZ back to NW Illinois to help my mom out after she has knee replacement surgery. I'd much rather be by myself in my own vehicle for the 2 days it'll take me, than being stuck in airports and a plane for hours, with people who may or may not be taking the proper precautions. I'll take the proper precautions for the small amounts of time I'll be in gas stations, truck stops, etc. But I drive regularly, and I'm actually looking forward to the 'alone' time on the road. If your daughter isn't used to driving, flying might be the better option for them; not to mention that the expense and unfamiliarity with a rental car are both negative factors. ETA: I'm going to be staying at my mom's for at least 2 weeks, so the time driving is worth it for the peace of mind it gives me. If it was only going to be for a few days-- well, I wouldn't be going at all right now if it was only going to be a short visit. She has health concerns that could make a short visit more dangerous that it's worth, without the proper precautions. |
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Post by christine58 on Jun 24, 2020 15:37:29 GMT
I wonder how your SIL dad would even get to the cottage, He lives south of Buffalo and the cottage is on Lake Erie/Crystal Beach. He'd drive there. But she said her state doesn’t require her to quarantine upon arrival back in the US. NYS does not either require it at this point. Your Government does upon her arrival back to her home. I guess that is the difference. She is a Canadian citizen who wants to come see her father here in NYS. So she is following what your/her (she has dual citizenship) government has told her. (She also works for a lawyer). |
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Jun 24, 2020 15:52:06 GMT
I'd tell them to fly.
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Post by maryland on Jun 24, 2020 15:55:17 GMT
I'm afraid to fly, so I would drive. But it is a long trip for one driver, especially if you daughter doesn't drive much. And I wouldn't want the boyfriend to drive (even if he renews his license) if he is really out of practice. But I am a worrier to begin with! Haha! You have great suggestions here, and if you did drive part way to meet them (if you are up for it) that could work.
I think a lot depends on the driver's confidence. My friend's daughter is 19 and loves to drive. She drove from Colorado to PA when her school closed in March, and drove back last week. She did the drive in 2 days. But she loves driving by herself.
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