What is Flight Shaming and Should You Care?

Flight shaming is a relatively new trend in travel. Basically, flight shaming is when people (protestors, social media warriors, etc.) become upset travelers are flying, due to flying’s environmental impact. These individuals then “shame” travelers for their frequent flights, more or less accusing them of killing the Earth.

So, should you, as a frequent traveler, care? Or should you keep on seeing the world?

Well, yes, you should care because sustainability is important, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop seeing the world. You just have to be smart about it. Here’s how.

Consider Other Options

Before you hop that plane from New York City to Philly, or from Philly to Washington, D.C., think. Is there a better, more sustainable way to get where you’re going? Would public transit or driving be better on the environment? Forget cost and time for a moment, and truly think about the best course of action for getting from point A to point B.

Fly Less, See More

If you have the luxury of planning your travel for the year well in advance, consider taking fewer trips, but longer trips that allow you to see more. So, for example, rather than taking two, week-long trips in the fall, one to Paris and one to Amsterdam, maybe take one, two-week trip to Europe, fly into Paris and then take the train between Amsterdam and Paris.

Support Airlines that Care

Look into airlines before you fly with them and see which do their best to support a sustainable aviation future. Choose those airlines, even if you have to pay a little more. Think of it as an investment in the Earth’s future.