Moral dilema in promoting cheap flights

pwaring

I've noticed in a few weekly email tips from MSE that cheap flights are being promoted. Given the threat of climate change, which is at least partially caused by people flying more, should MSE be pushing cheap flights to the > 1 million people who are signed up to the email list? On the one hand, if people are going to fly it's good that they get the best deal, but on the other hand encouraging people to fly more isn't environmentally sustainable in the long run.

What do people think about this?

dmg24

This was discussed very recently on the Travel board.

Best to search before posting.

pwaring

I did actually search before posting, but I couldn't find anything under 'cheap flights moral', 'cheap flights ethics' or similar terms that I tried.

MSE_Martin

This is of course one of the few areas where money saving and being green don't cross over. The FlightChecker is a part of the main Cheap Flights article and you'll find I briefly discuss this ethical issue there read Cheap Flights and this section of the article is linked to on the FlightChecker page as well.

Martin

exel1966

Flying is proven to be far more envoironmentally friendly then Cars, Buses, Lorries, Trains and Ocean Liners !
It's a Government whitewash and I don't believe a word of it !

Sarahsaver

You try getting research funding to DISPROVE global warming.
If flights are so bad then encourage poverty because poor people fly less.

MrSmartprice

Governments are forever trying to get people to use public transport. Well, airlines are public transport so I will continue to fly abroad six or more times a year. I never use trains or buses so this is the only way I can support the transport system!;)

The overall contribution to pollution from air travel is minimal. The UK's contribution is infinitessimal. My deciding to go to Skegness rather than Spain for my January holiday would make no difference, except to me!:D

LesD

MSE_Martin wrote: »

This is of course one of the few areas where money saving and being green don't cross over.
Martin

I might take issue with this! Flying down to Spain for the winter (with an average temperature in the 60s - 15 degrees in new money!) means not having to use up all that fossil fuel heating the house!

So I can save money and think I'm helping the environment!