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  • I don't think she was being hypocritical, as she was open about it

    I think she's a massive hypocrit. It's not just that there is actually a huge difference between flying first class and economy as @miro_o says, it's that her entire transatlantic life is unsustainable. Singling out individuals like her DOES help, because for some strange reason a lot of people aspire to a celebrity lifestyle, so therefore aspire to what celebrities do, such as flying first class. If we can get them to be more responsible they can influence others to do the same. She's got a massive cheek getting involved in XR.

    The reality is that in the modern world at least some flying is necessary. Making distinctions between different reasons for flying and types of flying is entirely valid.

    For example, I was in the Philippines back in January and took an internal flight from Manilla to Tuguegarao to go to a wedding. It was with a budget airline - pretty much their version of Ryanair with every seat filled and not much leg room. This is one of the most efficient ways to fly because the capacity utilisation is about as good as it gets.

    Sat next to me were a big group of midwives from Ilagan going down to Manilla for essential training. The trip by road takes 12 hours, and believe me, Philippino roads are dangerous: someone dies every hour, which is 28 people a day, over 10,000 people a year. They were going to learn techniques to reduce infant mortality - literally life saving work.

    Do you really think that making a distinction between their travel and Emma Thompson's unsustainable, extravagant lifestyle is a distraction? I sure don't.

  • unsustainable, extravagant lifestyle

    Mine is too.
    Given that the film/entertainment industry is fairly international (studios, locations etc), how feasible is it for individuals to have much control over their flight footprint? (Not a rhetorical question - you know about media industry so maybe you also know more about film stuff). Is there anyone who chooses economy over first class? Is there anyone who chooses jobs based on how much travel is involved? Do directors choose to use local locations?
    It seems there's been more attention given to music tours than the film industry.

  • I wish mine was, it's not sustainable but I don't think anyone would call it extravagant!

    I don't know much about Hollywood-type stuff but I imagine it's pretty difficult for actors to have much control over their flight footprint to be fair. I think directors choose the locations (having been advised by location scouts) and actors just have to go with it. I do know that a Hollywood actor choosing to fly economy would be a news story so I presume it's rare or non-existent.

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