Flying & Holidays The Travel Experience A snapshot of the entire holiday experience from start to finish, including the state of the UK s airports, whether people actually like flying, if we can switch off and what we are posting on social media while away.
2 UK Airports How do they rank?...3 The Airport Experience...4 Glasgow Edinburgh Newcastle Belfast Liverpool Manchester Birmingham Cardiff Bristol Leeds Bradford East Midlands London Stansted London Luton London Heathrow London Gatwick
UK Airports - How do they rank? 3 General Cleanliness Shopping The Toilets 1. Manchester 2. Heathrow 13. Bristol 14. Cardiff The Check-In Process Friendliness of the Staff Family-Friendly Facilities Speed of Immigration Baggage Reclaim The Airport Lounge WiFi Access Bar & Restaurant Selection Speed & Ease of Security
4 The Airport Experience - UK Airports Do you like being at the airport? I love being at the airport 3 I don t particularly like or dislike being at the airport 5 I hate being at the airport None of the above 2% To what extent do you agree with the following statement: I find the airport experience very stressful What do you enjoy most about the airport experience? 3 Getting a bite to eat Strongly agree 3 Slightly agree 2 Neither agree nor disagree 33% Shopping 2 Bar 20% Plane spotting 19% Reading 1 Don t enjoy the experience 11% 20% Strongly disagree Slightly disagree 17% Free samples in duty free 11% Browsing internet Airport lounge Other Finding romance
UK Airports - The Airport Experience 5 What do you enjoy least about the airport experience? On average, how much do you normally spend on duty free shopping at the airport? 0 27% 1-5 67% Queueing 6-10 11-20 11% 21-30 11% 31-40 9% 41-50 12% 5 Flight delays 47% Expensive food and drink 3 Unruly kids 30% Separating items for security 23% Unruly adults 51-100 12% 101-150 151-250 1% 251-500+ 1% 23% Uncomfortable seating 20% Getting to the airport 20% Parking 1 Other travellers Nothing I don t enjoy 41 is the average spent on duty free shopping
6 Flying What do you enjoy the most/least?...7 Flying Preferences...8
Flying - What do you enjoy most/least? 7 What do you enjoy most about flying? What do you enjoy least about flying? Do you like flying? 1 2 3 39% 53% Escaping the daily grind 29% 42% Taking off and landing Time to read/listen to music Inadequate leg-room Crying babies 29% 41% 1 2 3 The toilet I love flying 40% I don t particularly like or dislike flying 50% I hate flying None of the above 2% Have you ever missed a flight? 4. In-flight entertainment 1 5. Nothing 1 4. Other passengers 27% 5. Taking off and landing 19% No No, but I almost have 23% 6 6. In-flight meals 1 7. The alcohol 1 6. Feeling dehydrated 1 7. In-flight meals 1 Yes 8. The airport facilities 1 8. Airport experience 1 9. Being uncontactable for a few hours 12% 9. In-flight entertainment 10. Duty free shopping on-board 9% 10. Being uncontactable for a few hours 11. Catching up on sleep 11. Unfriendly/unhelpful cabin crew 12. Chance to make a new friend 12. Nothing 7% 13. Other 13. Not being able to smoke 14. Not being able to visit the pilot 3%
8 Flying Preferences - Flying Are you concerned about the levels of salt and/or sugar in airline meals? What things do you find less stressful than flying with your children? When it comes to in-flight dining, which of the following do you do most often? I haven t thought about it/i don t know 50% No 3 1 Going to the doctor Eat and enjoy the in-flight meals 27% Buy something at the airport to take on board 21% Yes 12% Being stuck in a traffic jam 1 Doing the weekly food shop with children Bring your own food to eat on the plane 1 None of the above 1 Eat the snacks offered but refuse the main meals On a long-haul flight (5hrs or more), which of the following would you be prepared to sacrifice to get cheaper airfares? 7% Sitting an exam 7% Taking children for their injections Eat the meals but refuse the snacks Eat nothing and just drink water Keep the drinks coming as long as they are free Free in-flight entertainment 3 Free in-flight food & drink 3 7% Meeting the in-laws None of the above Wider seats 2 Greater legroom 21% 30% Taking children to posh restaurant Taking your driving test
9 Overseas Holidays A Stressful Time...10 Holiday Mode...11
10 A Stressful Time - Overseas Holidays Have you ever been on holiday? Yes, both abroad and in the UK Yes, abroad only Yes, UK only 1% No 2% 92% What do you find most stressful when going on an overseas holiday? 3 The airport experience 9 in 10 has been on holiday either in the UK or abroad 33% Getting to the airport 32% Saving up/ paying for it 2 Packing 22% Researching the holiday 19% Tying up loose ends at work 17% Getting post-holiday blues 1 Getting from airport to hotel 13% Flying 11% Finding pet care Nothing
Overseas Holidays - Holiday Mode 11 Which of the below statements about working on holiday best applies to you? At what point do you feel you are in holiday mode? How long do the positive effects of your holiday last once you return home? 59% I completely switch off from work 7% As soon as your holiday is booked 7 months or longer 2% 9% The week before you are due to depart 6 months I make myself available for work emergencies only 11% Whilst packing 1 month 1 week 2 40% 9% I check in on work once or twice 24 hours 1 30% When you arrive at the airport 1 hour I check in with work every day N/A 9% When you get through security 1% I spend a high proportion of my holiday working 9% When your flight takes off 0% I work full time when on holiday 9% When you land at your destination When you arrive at your accommodation 17% None of the above 1% Four days into your holiday 1% You find it difficult to switch off 2% Other time
12 Social Media Posting While Away...13 Travel Brags...14
Social Media - Posting While Away 13 When do you start posting on social media about your holiday? Which of the following statements apply to you? How many times during an average weeklong holiday do you post on social media? 7% Once booked A week before 7% Once I arrive/ first day 3% A month before 13% At the airport 21% I couldn t go a whole holiday without checking or posting on social media 13% I have unfriended/muted friends on my social media networks because their travel braggingwas too much to bear Remaining connected to the real world via social media prevents me from fully switching off on holiday I admit to spending too much time on social media when away and not enough time enjoying the holiday No posts 1-5 posts 6-10 posts 1 11-15 posts 16-20 posts 2% 21 or more posts 1% 33% 4 1 Once I return 19% Don t have social media Half-way through the holiday 29% Never I filter my holiday photos before posting on 21% social media to make it look sunnier, the sunset more spectacular, the sea more blue etc 21% I take lots of pictures on holiday but wait until I get home to post them on social media 3 I don t use social media on holiday as I am too busy enjoying myself 3 posts is the average over a week-long holiday
14 Travel Brags - Social Media Which social media travel brags do you find annoying? Which are you guilty of posting yourself during or after your holiday? 1. Countdowns OMG 21 days to Majorca #excited 20% 2. The office today Normally a shot of a beach/pool/balcony 1 3. Hot dog legs Are those tanned legs or two hot dogs? 17% 11. Cultural misappropriation Friends wearing a sombrero, Rastafarian wig hats, etc 9% 2% 12. Infinity pool WOW! The pool looks so tranquil... 9% 7% 13. Pictures of sun tan lines/sunburn Looking more and more like a lobster? 9% 4. Holiday hashtags #holiday #sunshine #tan #globetrotter 1 5. We re off! posts Packed luggage shot, airport selfie 1 11% 6. Weather forecast Look it s going to be 100 C! 1 7. Cocktail at sunset Look at my drink, you don t have a drink do you? 1 1 8. Travelling in style Photo of boarding pass, check in or seat etc 12% 9. Pictures of wine glasses Having a drink with friends, while on holiday! 9% 10. Beach bodies You ve worked hard all year, time to show it off 9% 3%
Social Media - Travel Brags 15 Which is your favourite social media platform to use on holiday? 14. Feet in the sand Beach time! 21. Arty vista Professional photographer are we? Facebook None 3 4 15. Holiday tattoos Never a good idea... 2% 16. Mouth-watering meals Exploring the local cuisine? 17. Writing in the sand One way to get around the character limit 18. Picture of aeroplane wing over coastline Look at us going on holiday! 7% 22. Child eating ice cream Even the kids are having a good time! Instagram Twitter Snapchat 3% Tumblr 1% Periscope 1% Vine 0% Other 1% 19. The size/standard of the hotel room My room is bigger and better than yours 7% 20. Picture of amazing experiences Such as swimming with dolphins 12%
Survey of 2,550 UK adults who have flown in the last year commissioned by Cheapflights and conducted by OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society code of conduct.