Bad Attitudes Don't Have to Make You Say Ba Humbug: Travelocity Reveals Survey On Rudeness in Travel and Tips to Make Trips Merr
11 December 2003 - 11:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Bad Attitudes Don't Have to Make You Say Ba Humbug: Travelocity
Reveals Survey On Rudeness in Travel and Tips to Make Trips Merrier
This Holiday From Unruly Kids to the Infamous Airplane Seat-Kicker,
Travelocity & Public Agenda Poll Reveals Rudeness Seen as a
Serious Problem in Travel, Especially At Holiday Time SOUTHLAKE,
Texas, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Tis the season of merriment, unless
you're traveling next to a loud talker or an incessant cell-phone
chatterer, says a new Travelocity poll on the state of rude
behavior amongst travelers. This survey of more than 1,000
travelers was conceived by Public Agenda, a nonprofit public
opinion research organization which conducted a major national
study of rudeness in America that was supported by the Pew
Charitable Trusts. The study shows that one of the most festive and
celebrated seasons of the year, the winter holidays, can bring out
some not-so-merry behavior in travelers. While 35 percent of
travelers don't think rudeness is a serious issue, the majority of
travelers think it can be. However, most travelers (60 percent) are
able to shrug rudeness off within a few minutes. With this survey
in mind, Travelocity is sharing ways to make the holiday journey a
merrier experience through education and some helpful hints.
Unfortunately, travel is considered always stressful by many (29
percent), while the survey showed that an equally large group (28
percent) feels that travel during the holidays is the most
stressful travel time of the year, even above business trips and
summer vacations. Airports around the country work to counter this
anxiety by offering special holiday programs, such as local
musicians and gift-givers for kids. Major airports such as
LaGuardia, Chicago Midway, Atlanta, and Dallas/Fort Worth are among
them. According to the survey, one third of respondents feel rude
travelers and travel personnel are the factors that most negatively
impact their trip. "Contrary to popular opinion, our study shows
that travel is more of a stressor at holiday time than spending
time with relatives," said Travelocity editor-at-large, Amy Ziff.
"Compare a 28 percent response rate for those who say travel is the
most stressful to the 10 percent who cited family." What bothers
people most? It isn't the much talked about food on-board, although
respondents do find fish, ethnic food, items with garlic and fast
food to be amongst the most bothersome items brought on board.
Instead, respondents vote that uncontrolled children as well as
fellow passengers who kick the seat-back in front of them are the
most aggravating. The survey results were accumulated in Nov. 2003
and consisted of responses from more than 1,000 Travelocity
members. Complete results can be found at
http://www.travelocity.com/rudenesspoll . Additional survey
findings as follows: The top 5 factors most likely to elicit rude
behavior when traveling: 1. Rude company personnel 2. Lost luggage
3. Reservation problems/complications 4. Rude fellow travelers 5.
Long lines Root causes of rude behavior: * Largest group (65
percent) cited waiting in long lines and losing one's patience as
the most common trigger for rude behavior * The second largest
group (63 percent) attributed rudeness to a deeper factor, saying
it was a result of parents' failing to teach their children proper
respect Fortunately, travel morale is a problem with a remedy.
Following are a few tips from travel expert Amy Ziff that can help
deter travelers from being rude on the road. For more travel tips,
trends and data, visit http://www.travelocity.com/atoz . "It's
important that we all take time to examine our own actions to see
if there are things we can do to help modify or eliminate rude
behavior on the road," said Ziff. * Know the rules at the airports
ahead of time so you can move through security quickly and avoid
holding up others whenever possible. * Space is limited when you're
on the road, so try to keep your things neat and within your own
limits. * Avoid packing smelly food and be sure to dispose of it as
soon as you are done. * Limit cell phone usage, and remember to
keep your voice down when you use it. * When on the road, remember
to say it with a smile as you're more likely to get a smile in
return. * Be considerate of those around you in every situation.
Think of yourself as a guest, rather than as an owner. "Changing
negative behaviors in general is perhaps more important than ever,
as travelers wield a lot of buying power and can assert their
preferences by voting with their wallets and showing what they like
and dislike. In fact, our survey shows that after encountering
rudeness by company personnel, half of those polled said they
stopped conducting business with that provider again," said Ziff.
Other Key Findings: * While the majority of respondents get over
rude behavior quickly, almost three out of every four respondents
tell their friends when treated rudely by travel service personnel
and 50 percent say they refuse to do business with the company
again * Twenty four percent of respondents indicate that they are
likely to encounter rude behavior all or most of the time * While
the majority feel it is not rude to bring food on a plane, two out
of every five feel it is if food smells offensive * Fellow
travelers and drivers are considered ruder during the holiday
season by more than half of respondents (while travel personnel are
seen as behaving the same as usual) * Flying is considered the most
stressful mode of transit by 48 percent of respondents, even above
road trips About the Travelocity/Public Agenda Rudeness Poll The
Travelocity study was fielded from Nov. 4 - 6, 2003 via a survey of
Travelocity members who have traveled in the last 12 months to
obtain information about travelers' experiences with rudeness while
on the road. Results were accumulated by more than 1,000 responses
received. About Public Agenda Public Agenda is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to nonpartisan public policy research.
Founded in 1975 by former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and
Daniel Yankelovich, the social scientist and author, its mission is
to inform leaders about the public's views and to educate citizens
about government policy. In 2002, Public Agenda published the
landmark study titled Aggravating Circumstances: A Status Report on
Rudeness in America, which documented America's growing concern
about incivility as a serious problem that should be addressed by
our society. About Travelocity Travelocity, a Sabre Holdings(TM)
company, pioneered the online travel space and continues to be the
most popular travel service on the Web, giving consumers access to
hundreds of airlines, thousands of hotels and cruise, last-minute
and vacations packages, and best-in-class car rental companies, all
backed by 1,000 customer service representatives staffed to provide
24-hour assistance. With 41 million members, Travelocity is the
sixth largest travel agency in the United States. It has been
recognized worldwide for its leadership in the online travel space,
and it operates or powers Web sites in five languages across four
continents. Additional information about Travelocity can be found
on the Web at http://www.travelocity.com/ . Sabre Holdings
Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce,
retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology
solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre
Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com/ . CONTACT:
Judy Haveson () 212/554-7425 Amanda Borichevsky () 972/488-4790
VOLLMER DATASOURCE: Travelocity CONTACT: Judy Haveson,
+1-212-554-7425, or , or Amanda Borichevsky, +1-972-488-4790, or ,
both of VOLLMER, for Travelocity Web site:
http://www.travelocity.com/ http://www.travelocity.com/rudenesspoll
http://www.travelocity.com/atoz http://www.sabre-holdings.com/
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