Let's talk about flying
Do you want to encourage your loved ones to choose trains over planes when travelling? Not sure how to broach the subject? We understand that it can be difficult talking about high-emitting behaviours with loved ones, so we’ve written up some tips that might come in handy.
When you’re choosing your approach, consider who you’re speaking with (are they looking for advice? do they fly often?), your context (how much time have you got to talk about this?) and your own energy levels (if you’re pumped for a long discussion about the joys of train travel, great, but remember, you don’t need to cover everything in one chat).
Super subtle
When someone tells you about their holiday plans, ask ‘how are you getting there?’. This plants the seed that flying is not the only option, and other ways of travelling are worth thinking about. You might even be able to drop in a suggestion that demonstrates the joys of train travel. If they're headed to Barcelona, for example, you could say something like ‘Oh nice! If you get the Eurostar you could get a few hours to enjoy Paris on the way’. There’s some great suggestions for attractions near the station in Paris on this website if you’re up for painting a picture of what the stopover could encompass.
2. Mindful mentor
Mentors are an excellent resource - they have experience and know-how for us to draw upon, but don’t dictate our direction. As a mentor, your job is to ask the questions that’ll get your friends/family thinking about their journeys.
Question suggestions:
It’s worth noting that while open questions might be the best at sparking reflective discussion, short closed questions are useful to start the conversation with - as they are easier to answer and can lead to the open questions in a way that feels natural .
Do you enjoy the journey when you go on holiday?
What was the best journey you’ve taken? [what did you like about it?]
If money and time were no object, how would you want to get to your holiday destination? Why?
Useful facts/resources to drop in to conversation where relevant, or to draw upon when asked.
Price is the number one factor considered by people when making travel choices.
The true cost of flying is often higher than we think when booking. In addition to the hidden costs of travelling to and from the airport from the city centre , airlines are continuously shrinking hand luggage allowance and hiking up the price of additional luggage. More info in our report.
If you’re talking about price, it might also be possible to bring up why there is such a big difference between the costs of flights and train travel - and how we could pressure the government to sort this out. Airlines don't have to pay VAT or tax on fuel. Most zero-rated VAT things are for basic essentials (for example baby clothes) and motorists filling up at the pump to get to work have to pay tax on their petrol. This free ride for planes amounted to a £7bn tax break pre-Covid. We should be investing in the rail network instead to ensure it's affordable and accessible.Planning flight-free international travel isn’t as difficult as you might think. Rome2Rio and TheManinSeat61 are fantastic websites where you can just type in your city of departure and arrival and the different route options are mapped out for you (with prices).
Time is another major factor that people often raise when talking about why they choose planes over trains. If this comes up in one of your conversations, it’s worth letting them know that more and more businesses are agreeing to give staff extra time off work to allow for the additional travel time! You can find out more about the Climate Perks scheme, and how to get your workplace signed up, at www.climateperks.com.
3. Attentive advocate
The attentive advocate is not afraid to be clear about their mission. They are passionate about what they believe in, and they’re positive problem-solving attitude is infectious - meaning it’s effective at bringing others on board.
If someone asks about your holiday plans this year, don’t forget to mention your travel choices. Going flight-free? Mention your pledge, and why you’re taking it.* You might also mention your experience (was booking a flight-free holiday easier or cheaper than you thought? Have you managed to get extra time off work for climate-friendly holidays?) Use this conversation as an opportunity to showcase climate action and inspire others to follow your lead.
Remember, advocating climate-friendly choices is not about making people feel guilty about their own travel choices. Instead, acknowledge the challenges that people face, validate their experiences, and simply lead by example.
*For a reminder on just how much of a difference you’re making to your carbon footprint by going flight-free see our graphics.