No-one likes a party pooper, so encouraging people to fly less by yelling ‘never go by plane!’ is not a good move. Having said that, there are alternatives to flying (like taking a leisurely train or boat journey), holidaying closer to home – or you do fly, there are ways to make your trip a little greener.
So why do all the climate experts bang on about the airline industry? Because it is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, and we are long way off from all the aeroplanes being run on solar power! So if you fly, then it’s more what you do rather than which airline you choose (you can’t really get a ‘green airline’, although some are trying a bit more than most).
Tips to Make Your Flight a Little Greener
- Go economy (unless it’s a long trip and you have long legs!) Aeroplanes are greener, the more people they take (a bit like car-pooling). So by having half the plane taken up by a few super-rich businessmen, it encourages wasteful forms of travel.
- Again don’t do this on a trip to New Zealand (you’ll feel awful). But where possible, go direct. This at least avoids more take-offs and landings (and wasted fuel) to get to the same destination, if it’s not too far away. Nearly all the flights in and out of Amsterdam are less than 750km, and yet the city has a wonderful rail network to get to nearly anywhere in mainland Europe (you can get there from London in less than 4 hours).
- Get to the airport by public transport if you can, or cadge a lift. Some airport car parks are so expensive, they cost more than your holiday! Companies like JustPark let local people hire out their driveways and garages to make passive income when not in use, and you’ll find you also get to park your car nearby for a lot less cost.
- Live simply, so you pack lighter! This helps to use less fuel, as the plane takes off! Use an electronic boarding pass.
- On-board, say ‘no thanks’ to the plastic-wrapped hot towels and plastic packs of pretzels. Also avoid the complimentary toothbrush, earplugs and socks (bring your own).
- Likewise, be careful what you buy at the airport lounge. If not taking your own snacks (cheaper), then go for plant-based and affordable fare, rather than just encourage the greedy fast food chains and shops selling crappy sweets (and books, magazines and anything else they can sell you). Airport lounges take advantage of bored people waiting for delayed flights, so make your own entertainment, and take a paperback with you before you go!
- Don’t be bullied into paying for climate offsets, it’s the airlines that should be doing this. Responsible Travel say they are ‘dangerous distraction’ to try to appease the guilt of travellers, when in reality they are not making much of a difference (and only 1% of passengers take up the offer anyway).
Be an Animal-Friendly Flier
- Order a vegan meal. Even if you’re slightly carnivorous, this is better. Not just for health and carbon footprint, but because ‘special meals’ are farmed out to chefs who can actually cook, rather than the normal in-house slop. So do it for your tastebuds, if nothing else! The code is VGML (order 24 hours in advance). Or you could order a fruit platter (FPML) if you are feeling very virtuous! Some airlines have had their knuckles wrapped for accidentally including dairy in allergic meals (life-threatening when you’re having your dinner at 35,000 feet).
- Boycott airlines that still take kidnapped wildlife, to labs for experiments. The main ones that still do this are Air France, Aeroflot and Ethopian Airlines.
- If you travel with pets, most vets say this is stressful and won’t tranquillise animals, as it can be harmful. Ideally, make arrangements for a good pet-sitter, so they can stay at home.
- Although it’s good to adopt pets locally, some airlines offer the opportunity to become a ‘flight volunteer’ for frequent travellers who don’t use up their excess baggage allowance. This is given over to small charities to send rescued street animals to their new homes, at no cost to them (on struggling budgets). One charity that does this is Thailand’s Soi Dogs.
Reading List
The Flightless Traveller is a book by award-winning travel writer Emma Gregg, who shows how to get a no-fly holiday off the ground. It features 50 inspirational ideas for anyone who would like to fly less, or not at all. They include eco-friendly city breaks and coastal retreats, bike rides and sailing voyages, plus short jaunts on vintage railways and incredibile intercontinental journeys.
- Low-Carbon Europe looks at 100 no-fly itineraries across the continent, from 3 days to 3 weeks, for amazing European trips. From easy-going cycling tour on Bordeaux’s surf hotspots to uncovering the relics and reuins of Eastern Med via busy, train and ferry, a ferry journey to the Faroe Islands or a ride on the train along the French Riviera, you’ll discover different cities with carbon counts and each trip includes transport connections and a map showing the entire route.
- Travel: The Green Edit offers easy tips for the eco-friendly travellers, without having you promise never to take another flight again, or having to camp in your back garden! Eco-travel journalist Juliet Kinsman takes you through each step of planning your trip – from booking to boarding for a lower-impact getaway. She shows which plane to take (yes, some are greener than others) and how to avoid the mini-toiletries trap!
- How to Holiday from Home offers 101 ways to get away, without getting away. This pocket guide of fun, creative and original ideas includes tips for indoor activities and outdoor pursuits, if you ware planning a stayvacation or want to take a holiday but have no time or money to do so. Ideas include hosting your own indoor wellness retreat, organising an at-home food festival and being a ‘tourist’ in your local area. Keep the suitcases stored away, pour yourself a drink and put your feet up!
- The Art of Being a Tourist at Home takes you on journeys through neighbourhood streets and local parks, through museums and libraries, art galleries and bookshops. There is wonder to be found in music and theatres, new friends through hobbies and clubs and the vibrancy of fresh food markets, all without the stress of planning a holiday. Why do we travel in the first place? Often staying home is just as much fun. With beautiful illustrations, this is a great way to discover new places.
Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More is by travel journalist Helen Coffey, who travels as far as she can, without getting on a plane. Flying emits around 860 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, and until the outbreak of COVID-19, the aviation industry was one of the planet’s fastest-growing polluters. Now is the perfect time to pause and take stock of our toxic relationship with flying.
This book is a climate change investigation and travel memoir combined, as Helen meets climate experts and activists, on trips by train, car, boat and bike. She discovers on her travels that keeping both feet on the ground is not just possible, but can be an opportunity for adventure. Brimming with tips and ideas, for swapping the middle seat for the open road!
The Flightless Traveller is by travel writer Emma Gregg, who shows how to get a no-fly holiday off the ground. She presents 50 inspirational trips for those who would like to fly less, or not at all. They include eco city breaks, coastal retreats, bike rides, sailing voyages, short jaunts on vintage trains and incredible intercontinental journeys. Some shed new light on wonderful well-known places. Others reveal destinations and experiences you may never have considered. Make the journey an essential part of the adventure, and get ready to recapture the authentic spirit of travel.
Low-Carbon Europe is a Lonely Planet guide with 100 no-fly itineraries across the continent, with amazing trips from three days to three weeks. From an easy-going cycling tour of Bordeaux’s surf hotspots to uncovering the relics and ruins of the Eastern Mediterranean by bus, train and ferry – find a range of experiences incorporating culture, beautiful culture and more.
Whether it features a ferry journey to the Faroe Islands or a train ride along the picturesque French Riviera, each trip suggests ways to get to the start of each trip from different cities, and gives carbon counts along the way to show how sustainable your trip is. Each trip features transport connections, and a map showing the entire route. The Eco-Conscious Travel Guide also offers 30 train trips across Europe.
