I did work out once that a long-haul flight is far more economical than driving.
Not that you would drive that sort of distance anyway.
Just divide a plane's specified range by its specified fuel capacity and number of passengers. A737 gets something like 80mpg per person, I don't remember exactly.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:47, archived)

I used to drive from aberdeen to birmingham
Until I realised that I could fly for less money and it would take me two hours rather than 7, and i wouldn't die if i fell asleep.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:48, archived)

just worked it out again,
it's about 48mpg each for a 737-500.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:50, archived)

thats shit economy
my mum's Nissan Micra does better than that.
( turb0t, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:54, archived)

oh come on, it's not that bad.

( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:56, archived)

I think I'll be driving to America in my mums Nissan Micra in future.

( turb0t, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:58, archived)

That's about the same as my dads car.
I think mine did 30-40ish. Hang on:
50l = ~11 gal
brum - aberdeen = (~430 miles, which pretty much rinsed my tank)
430/11 = ~39

In practise that was at 70 the whole way, driving at around 90 cost me an extra tenner. which would be around 2 gals extra, giving around 33.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 8 Jun 2009, 14:56, archived)