Air travelers want Wi-Fi and don’t mind body scanners
See-through-clothes security machines are fine but limited legroom and growing airline fees are the biggest detriments to air travel.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that limited legroom and airline fees turned up as the biggest complaints for air travelers, according to TripAdvisor’s Second Annual Air Travel Survey of more than 3,200 US respondents.
"While a lot has changed, the biggest gripes for fliers in 2010 are still airline fees and limited legroom on flights. This makes it all the more important that travelers plan ahead when they fly,” said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of new initiatives at TripAdvisor.
The survey’s results reveal some interesting findings about the practices and attitudes of today’s air travelers. For example:
• The most annoying part of air travel: Security. Thirty-nine percent of travelers cited long security lines.
• When asked which fee travelers thought was most likely to be added or expanded by airlines in 2010, almost one-third said seat selection fees. Almost another one-third also believed airlines would add peak date surcharges for additional top travel dates, such as holidays.
• Seventy-four percent of respondents think passengers of size should be required to purchase tickets for two seats on their flights. Twenty-one percent of travelers think that airlines will add passenger of size fees in 2010.
• With the rise of checked baggage fees, 58 percent of respondents said they always or often carry on their bag to avoid extra charges, possibly adding to cramped overhead bins. This is perhaps why 62 percent of travelers said they would put their carry-on bag above someone else’s row if their own overhead space were already filled.
• When it comes to the newest addition to airport security, 79 percent of travelers said they are comfortable with US airports using full body scanners that can see through clothes.
• When it comes to socializing with strangers on a plane, 73 percent of travelers said a little small talk with seatmates is fine, but that they prefer to keep to themselves for most of the flight.
• When asked to choose their favorite seat on a plane, a small majority of fliers prefer the aisle, while 44 percent favor the window.
By David Wilkening
David
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