Actually 35 miles is that bad when there is an airport 5 minutes from my door. I had to go and pick up relatives from Newcastle last night and I was out for 2 hours 45 minutes where if they were able to fly to MME it would have been 30 minutes. (The A1 was also closed southbound). And they couldn't use public transport as the last train from Newcastle is at 22.45, and it is £40 - £50 for a taxi! Would the people of Newcastle or Leeds be prepared to do this regularly? Didn't think so...