Cancellations, and crowds, and costs—oh my. Americans (re)learned a valuable lesson this summer: Expect the unexpected when it comes to travel.
Last month, we asked more than 1,700 U.S.-based TripIt users about their recent and upcoming travel plans. According to our survey data, nearly all Americans (97%) traveled in the past six months. Domestic air travel was the top method (82%), followed by a road trip with a personal car (59%). More than a third (41%) flew internationally.
And with flying during this season of unprecedented disruptions—that is, staffing issues, delays and cancellations, and lost or delayed luggage—comes wisdom: Almost all travelers (93%) said that they’ll plan differently for their next trip.
What does that look like? And what role will other ongoing factors, such as inflation and COVID-19, play in the trip-planning process? Here’s what travelers had to say.
Disruptions the new top concern for American travelers
Our data shows the possibility of flight cancellations, delays, or changes is the new top worry for travelers, with 70% of people saying this will most concern them the next time they travel. This is a jump of 29% from survey data we released in June.
Meanwhile, the cost of travel (34%) and the possible need to cancel or change a trip due to COVID-19 (33%) were a distant second and third.
It’s not too hard to see why things have changed: More than half (57%) of those who flew in the past six months experienced some type of disruption.
What were the outcomes (if any) of these disruptions? From a financial standpoint, just 16% of those who experienced a disruption received compensation. Of those who were awarded compensation, the majority (33%) received between $101 and $500.
Interestingly, 73% of respondents who experienced a disruption neither received nor asked for compensation. And perhaps that’s merely a result of people not knowing how: The new Department of Transportation Airline Customer Service Dashboard aims to help travelers ask for some type of compensation when something does go wrong.
Disruptions—whether experienced first-hand or read about in media headlines—have ultimately caused travelers to plan differently: Nearly all respondents (93%) said they’ve changed their behavior when it comes to preparing for a trip.
Our data shows:
- 52% said they now arrive at the airport earlier than normal
- 45% book travel plans (e.g.,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at TripIt Blog…