Singapore Airlines are the latest in a list of airlines who are planning to or have started offering flights to nowhere. These are aimed at people who "miss travelling" as a result of COVID-19.

The principle is super simple, you go through the whole hassle of getting to the airport, checking in, hanging around buying overpriced coffee, then get on a plane, circle around for a couple of hours, then finally land back at the same airport you took off from.

You then either go back home or go and check into a hotel and pretend you are somewhere else.

Singapore haven't actually flown any of these yet but they are planning to and other airlines including Eva AIR, ANA and Bahrain already have.

As a way for airlines to boost massively hit profits I get it, but from a sustainability point of view...

Air travel is already a big contributor to global CO2 emissions, and if we don't need to get on a plane to actually get somewhere surely we shouldn't be?

I do fly, I try to pick newer cleaner planes, and I offset my carbon, but I do fly. If there is a sensible alternative option that isn't about four times the price of flying then I take that but there isn't always, I'm not going to hop on a plane (not to mention all of the security and checkin hassle) for no reason at all though.

Anyone else think this is a hugely irresponsible idea?

I know there are plenty of people who disagree, the ANA flights to nowhere recently were so popular that they had to distribute tickets by a lottery to deal with the demand. I find it all a bit crazy.

If people enjoy it what the heck. It's not for me but I don't see anything wrong with someone that wants to take a ride.

I don't see anything wrong with someone that wants to take a ride.

I feel it's pretty wrong to encourage people to get on planes with high CO2 emissions, just so that they can pretend to themselves they are going somewhere.

We're living on a planet that is rapidly descending deeper and deeper into climate crisis, so surely we should all be conscious about our energy use in all forms, including flying.

There are many things people can do to reduce emission, pollution, waste and many other things. I can't say people shouldn't fly for pleasure since I ride a motorcycle all over the place for fun, not necessity. When I'm not traveling on my motorcycle I travel in my van again not out of necessity. It's where I find my peace. If someone finds pleasure or peace flying in circles and pretending they have gone somewhere, I think that is awesome. There was a time when people took Sunday drives, drove around a big loop and returned home. I see it the same as that. Yes, jets expel pollution but so does most everything we find pleasurable in today's day including the factories that creates whatever device we are using to talk about what others should give up. I wonder how much energy would be saved if we all stopped using our electrical devices? I don't want to give up mine and I suspect very few people are willing to give up there's.

I understand where you are coming from but at the same time I also understand how much something bringing a little pleasure to someone means to some people. Times are rough right now and some people's reality might just be different than mine.

You asked "Anyone else think this is a hugely irresponsible idea?" My answer is no, I don't think this is an irresponsible idea.

Absolutely get your point and agree in some part.

I'm not suggesting that everyone should give up flying, but I do think people should be conscious of the impact of their actions. As I said in my first post I fly, and I am not going to stop flying (mostly due to lack of sensible alternatives) but I am aware of the impact each time I do and so I'm not going to hop on a plane just to circle the airport for a few hours, when I can just wait a couple of months and actually fly somewhere I might have been planning to go anyway.

I also don't want to give up my electronic devices, but I will not upgrade them every time a new model with the tiniest difference comes out, I will make sure that they are recycled or reused when I'm done with them, and my next purchase of any replacement will be made paying attention to the ethics and sustainability of the company that makes them. I also power them at both home and office with power from the most renewable sources I can.

As a former earth scientist, I am totally distressed about where the planet is going. I hate all the packaging, the plastic, the waste, and yet I watch myself consuming it all and traveling. I just don’t think we’re going to be able to talk consumers out of consuming.

The one thing I do is eat plants, not animals, thinking that’s a big thing.

I dunno why someone wants to take a flight to nowhere, btw. What’s the fun of sitting on a plane?

I dunno why someone wants to take a flight to nowhere, btw. What’s the fun of sitting on a plane?

Apparently, according to the interview I listened to yesterday that I now can't find, the "fun" is the whole experience, getting to the airport, checkin, security, boarding, etc. as well as the actual flight.

I don't get it at all personally

I know of a number of trains that perform a similar journey - out from a station, to a destination maybe an hour or so away, and then turn around and return to where they departed from with their original load of passengers - many of these trains are historic steam engines, some are diesel powered and some are even electric powered.

Off the top of my head I remember a couple in Colorado, and one or two in the UK

Home - Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RailroadTrains departing four days a week from Antonito through September 11 - returning to six days a week starting Sept. 12, 2020! Antonito, CO departures will then run Mondays through Saturdays, and on Sunday, October 18! Chama, NM roundtrip departures will begin September 21, 2020 and will run Mondays through Saturdays, and on Sunday, October 18.cumbrestoltec.com

photos.smugmug.com

The Jacobite Steam train in western Scotland is gem also, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct

photos.smugmug.com

So travelling in circular loops to enjoy the experience and see the scenery is not unusual at all.

Here's a clickbait site with 15 great ones around the world with the Jacobite listed as second

15 Scenic Train Rides to Add to Your Bucket ListClimb aboard these locomotives for jaw-dropping views.travel.usnews.com

There is even a wine train ride in Napa Valley close to the left coast of the USA

I hesitate to mention circular Ferris rides like the London Eye

London EyeThe London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3 million visitors annually, and has made many appearances in popular culture.en.wikipedia.org

photos.smugmug.com

photos.smugmug.com

Humans have been travelling to see a "view" since before they dropped out of the trees.

The airport experience doesn't not appeal to me at all, hasn't for many years. I had pretty much abandoned domestic flying, long before the current pandemic.

But I can understand why some folks might find it entertaining once in a while.

When I was an adolescent, I was allowed to enter the cockpit of an airliner in flight between Kansas City and Chicago - long before 9/11 - the view was wonderful and worth the trip.

The desire for a view while travelling is well demonstrated in this video from Wuppertal Germany, shot in 1902, and restored, modernized, and colorized by Denis Shiryaev

Oh the trains are awesome!!! Our family loves them. I even take trains to visit my daughter in Oregon, but we've taken them everywhere, especially in Europe. Great photos, btw.

So many trains, so little time......

I do love a train!

I'd do all long distance travelling by train if there weren't oceans in the way and if it were just more affordable compared to flying or driving (at least in Europe, I don't know how it is in the US).

I think there is a big difference between the train journeys that you listed and the flights in the original post though. These train journeys are something that you can't experience any other way, whereas the flights are no different than they would be the next time you fly from home to wherever.

I don't think the people taking these flights are first time flyers who just want that experience, I think they are people who would normally be flying to somewhere and can't wait a few months for travel restrictions to be lifted.

Anyone else think this is a hugely irresponsible idea?

<...>I find it all a bit crazy.

Irresponsible? Nope. Aircraft not in use degrades over time. Mechanics and technicians are still being employed to keep them operational. Flights to nowhere happen many times aircraft has been in for major overhaul efforts. The public generally doesn't hear anything about these efforts.

The airlines feel there's enough financial incentive to have people pay some varied amount in order to experience a flight from point A to point A.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Crazy? Sure - I wouldn't pay for an opportunity to do what I truly dislike.

Just like cars parked and not driven for too long........... Complex mechanical devices frequently fare better with moderate, not infrequent, usage.

I need to go for a long drive again--- road trip time.