Traveler Opinions and Preferences on Extra Legroom, Airline Fees, Carry-on Bags and In-Flight Wi-Fi Explored

TripAdvisor announced the results of its second annual air travel survey. TripAdvisor asked more than 3,200 U.S. respondents dozens of questions about their air travel preferences, on a range of topics from airline fees to in-flight Wi-Fi. The results revealed the hottest gripes, quips and opinions of U.S. fliers.

“The airline industry has changed drastically over the past year, from broader airline fees and tighter airport security to the introduction of new amenities like in-flight Wi-Fi,” said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of new initiatives at TripAdvisor. “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, using tools like the Fees Estimator from TripAdvisor Flights and seat maps from SeatGuru.com to get the most information up front before they book.”

Lobbying for Legroom

Twenty-five percent of travelers said that limited legroom was one of their biggest gripes about air travel. When asked what airlines should offer to make the in-flight experience better, 30 percent lobbied for more legroom and 38 percent requested roomier seats.

No More Fees Please

In the past year, nearly every major airline has either added or raised fees for amenities including checked baggage and in-flight services. It’s no surprise then that 25 percent of respondents consider airline fees to be their biggest complaint about air travel. Fifty-six percent of travelers said that checked baggage fees were the most annoying current airline fee, and 56 percent of respondents expect the overall cost of airline fees to rise in 2010.

Travelers’ Airline Fee Forecast

When asked which fee travelers thought was most likely to be added or expanded by airlines in 2010, 31 percent responded with seat selection fees. Thirty-one percent also believed airlines would add peak date surcharges for additional top travel dates, such as holidays.

Weighing in on the Size Issue

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.

Wi-Fi in the Sky

Thirty percent of travelers said they would be more likely to book a flight on an aircraft with in-flight Wi-Fi than one without. Sixty-one percent of respondents said they would not be willing to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi access, and 27 percent said they would be willing to pay $5 or less for the service.

Inappropriate in the Air

Forty-five percent of travelers said they would do nothing if the person sitting next to them on their flight were accessing inappropriate content on their computer using in-flight Wi-Fi. Twenty-seven percent said they would alert a flight attendant, 22 percent would ask their seatmate to close the inappropriate content, and six percent would file a complaint with the airline.

Carry-On Commotion

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. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said that each seat on a plane should have assigned space in the overhead compartment, even if it meant carry-on bags had to be smaller.

Full Body Scanners at Security Okay by Travelers

When it comes to the newest addition to airport security, 79 percent of travelers said they are comfortable with U.S. airports using full body scanners that can see through clothes.

Fliers Don’t Mind Small Talk and Prefer Female Seatmates

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. Twelve percent of travelers would rather not socialize at all during their flights. While 65 percent of respondents have no preference in terms of the gender of their seatmate, for those that do, 87 percent prefer to sit next to a woman.

Aisle Trumps Window for Preferred Seat

When asked to choose their favorite seat on a plane, 52 percent of fliers prefer the aisle, while 44 percent favor the window. Thirty-three percent of respondents request seats in the exit row on their flights and 13 percent ask for bulkhead seats.

Airport Annoyances

Thirty-nine percent of travelers cite long security lines as the most annoying part of being at an airport. Closely following were high prices for food at 19 percent and not enough seating in the boarding area at 14 percent. Ninety-five percent of respondents think there should be a price limit on bottled water post-security at the airport, since security checkpoints require passengers to leave larger bottles behind.

This year a large number of couples and families intend to take a summer vacation.  Summer vacations are popular.  In fact, they are so popular that it is likely that you are interested in taking one.  When it comes to booking a summer vacation, there are a number of ways that you can make your reservations.

Before making summer vacation reservations, you will have to select a summer vacation destination.  Without a destination in mind, it is impossible to make reservations.  When selecting a summer vacation destination, it is important that you consider a number of factors. These factors should include whether you are traveling with children, the age of your children, and the cost of travel.  Keeping these factors in mind will enable you to select the summer vacation destination that will best fit your needs.

After you have selected a summer vacation destination, you can begin to make reservations.  A large number of amusement parks, campgrounds, and hotels in the United States do not require reservations.  Despite the fact that reservations may not be required, it is still advised that you make them.  Popular summer vacation “hotspots,” quickly fill up with vacationing tourists.  Without the proper reservations, you may be left without the necessary accommodations.

When it comes to booking a summer vacation, a large number of travelers use the assistance of a travel agent.  Travel agents are individuals who specialize in researching and arranging vacations for their clients.  Travel agents are popular because they allow clients to spend more time completing their daily activities, instead of having to research and plan a summer vacation.

If given the opportunity most families would prefer to use the services of a travel agent.  Unfortunately, services of a travel agent do not come free.  If you are interested in planning a summer vacation, on a budget, you may want to consider making your own reservations.  In a few simple minutes, you could easily make reservations online or over the phone.  Not only should your reservations include hotel accommodations, but travel accommodations as well.

Aside from car travel, air travel is one of the most preferred methods of travel for arriving at summer vacation destinations.  If you are interested in booking your airline reservations online, you need to find the online website of the airline you wish to fly with.  Popular airlines include, but are not limited to, Delta, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Northwest Airlines.  Each of these airlines has an online website that should allow the online booking of reservations.

Unless you are camping outdoors, it is likely that you will need to reserve a hotel room.  Unless you plan on staying at smaller resort, you should be able to make online reservations.  Most of the well known hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, Hampton Inns, Super 8, and Motel 6, have online websites.  Specialty resorts that are located in popular summer vacation destinations, including California or Florida, are likely to also allow online booking.

When it comes to overnight stays, most individuals would prefer to stay at a hotel, but not everyone.  A large number of families enjoy vacations that are centered on the outdoors.  These vacations often involve camping outdoors.  Even if you plan on vacationing at a state park or a public campground, you are still urged to make a reservation.  Public campgrounds and state parks are often limited on the amount of camping space they have.  Making a reservation will ensure that you are guaranteed a place to set up your tent or park your RV trailer.

To book a popular vacation destination, but at a discount, you may want to looking the services offered by online travel websites.  These websites tend to offer discounts on popular hotels, airlines, and restaurants all around the world.  The only downside to using the services offered by an online discount travel website is that they tend to focus only on popular summer vacation destinations.  If you are looking to vacation at an unknown resort, you may be unable to use the services of a discount travel website.

Whether you choose to use the services of a discount travel website, a professional travel agent, or you intend you make your own vacation reservations, you are encouraged to take the appropriate steps.  Anticipating room at the hottest summer vacation destinations is a costly mistake that could possibly ruin your vacation.

Don’t make that mistake; book your reservations ahead of time.