The journey begins before takeoff
An airplane can cross long distances quickly, but passengers do not travel from one city center directly to another. They first have to reach an airport, arrive with enough time for check-in and security, and then make the trip from the destination airport to wherever they are going. For a short journey, that chain can consume much of the time flying is supposed to save.
Each step also adds a cost or constraint: transportation to the airport, parking or a ride, baggage rules, and the need to fit the trip around a flight schedule. A ticket is only one part of the practical price of traveling by air.
Fast in the air, not always door to door
Cars and buses can be more convenient when a trip is short, when travelers need several stops, or when airports are far from the places they want to visit. A car offers flexible departure times; a bus may connect towns that do not have convenient air service. These options can take longer on the road, but avoid some of the airport overhead.
That tradeoff helps explain why flying is not a routine part of life for everyone. Whether it makes sense depends not only on distance, but also on the traveler’s budget, location, schedule, and alternatives. The speed of a flight matters only after a person can reach it and make the rest of the trip work.
