From March 15 to April 8, 2013, Travel Leaders Group conducted a survey that polled 1,788 consumers throughout the United States. This was the fifth consecutive year for this travel survey. American consumers were engaged predominantly through social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as through direct contact with travel clients for the following Travel Leaders Group companies: Nexion, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders, Tzell Travel Group and Vacation.com. The most controversial survey topics were in regard to attitudes towards carrying pocket knives and cell phone use on airplanes.
Beginning April 25, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow certain items on onboard airplanes as part of carry-on baggage such as: pocket knives with blades less than 2.36 inches, toy bats, two golf clubs, and ski poles. When asked, “Are you in favor of this change or against it?” 73 percent of those polled said they are not in favor of allowing pocket knives on planes.
Studies are also underway to determine if full cell phone use (not just “airplane mode”) is safe while inflight. A decision on whether to allow such use is expected this summer. In Travel Leaders Group’s survey, nearly 80 percent of those polled are against allowing passengers to make cell phone calls during flight. Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben thinks that this high percentage of people against cell phone use may have to do with the fact that “so many planes are flying at near capacity and many passengers already feel a lack of personal space within the airplane cabin.”
Other topics that survey takers were questioned on included airport security satisfaction, which TSA security measures they would most likely eliminate, coach class complaints, and the average amount of time consumers allow at the airport before a domestic flight.
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