All Things Not Considered

Before the Memorial Day holiday, National Public Radio ran a story entitled, “Family Road Trip: The Cheapest Way to Travel” during its morning program “All Things Considered.”  Well, it’s too bad that NPR did not “consider all things” in putting this piece together.

The reporter compared the prices of a Washington-to-Boston trip for four people, but unfortunately compared apples to oranges.

Relying on a round-trip Washington-Boston airfare of $520, the reporter divided by two to produce a one-way “fare” of $260 for four people. But airlines charge well over half a round trip for a one way fare. In fact, a check today on the website of an air shuttle operator showed $1,449.60 as the non-advance purchase, one-way fare for four people from Washington to Boston.

When it came to trains, the reporter did price out one way trips but elected to pick the highest option coach non-Acela fare for three adults and one child ($472.50). The lowest Amtrak advance purchase fare for this itinerary is actually far less, at $283.50.

Finally, concluding that the $96 for travel by automobile is the cheapest option, the reporter simply reflected the cost of gas and tolls, and ignoring the other very real costs a family faces, including interest payments on car loans or leases, insurance, and wear and tear on the car. Given that numerous other ancillary costs were factored in for airfare and trains (including taxi fares to and from airports and train stations), this omission is curious.

This sloppy, biased reporting is unworthy of NPR.

—Dave Johnson