Travel Etiquette: Americans Answer “What Would You Do?”

July 10, 2017

In our survey, we identify these potential scenarios, gauge travelers’ reactions, and hope this helps start a dialogue on what would be the proper way to address these dilemmas. The results also allow our travel agent experts to better counsel their clients, whether traveling by air or cruise ship anywhere in the world.

Travel Leaders Group survey asks travelers about common travel dilemmas related to air travel, cruising and tourists behaving badly

 

New York, NY (July 10, 2017) — It’s a common sight at airports around the country – clusters of travelers in key locations hoping to eke out a little more “juice” for their smartphones and tablets before boarding a flight. So, too, is jockeying for position to get a seat, or be at the front of the line in the airline boarding gate area. In a recent survey conducted by Travel Leaders Group, Americans were asked how they would handle certain uncomfortable – yet fairly common – travel dilemmas. Examples are: “line cutters” boarding airplanes and while on cruise ships, people behaving badly by damaging historic tourist attractions or abusing airline flight crew members, proper etiquette for charging electronics in airline gate areas, what to do if the only open seats are for disabled travelers, and more. The survey includes responses from 2,854 consumers throughout the United States.

 

“Travelers are faced with countless choices as they plan their vacations, as well as a myriad of situations they encounter while on each journey. Occasionally, there may be some awkward incidents – ones that don’t have a definitive ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to handle,” explained Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko. “In our survey, we identify these potential scenarios, gauge travelers’ reactions, and hope this helps start a dialogue on what would be the proper way to address these dilemmas. The results also allow our travel agent experts to better counsel their clients, whether traveling by air or cruise ship anywhere in the world.”

 

Airline Etiquette – Gate Area:


(Participants could select “all that apply”)

 

When asked, “In an airport waiting area, if the only seats available are the seats reserved for disabled travelers, would you sit in one?” the responses were:

 

No, I would not56.7%
Yes, but only if there wasn’t a disabled traveler in the area24.8%
Yes, but I would move as soon as asked19.7%
Yes, but only if there was more than one seat available for disabled travelers11.1%
Maybe4.9%
I don’t know2.5%

 

When asked, “If there aren’t enough outlets in the gate area to charge your electronics before your flight, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Go to a different gate or area43.9%
Not an issue for me31.5%
Wait patiently25.0%
Sit or stand right by the outlet waiting to pounce on the next available outlet11.2%
Ask the others if they are done and will unplug8.5%
Give up3.2%
I don’t know2.1%
Secretly remove someone else’s device, if they aren’t next to it, to plug mine in0.2%

 

When asked, “If you are lined up to board a flight and someone cuts in front of you, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Do nothing, even though it bothers me37.4%
Say something directly to the individual35.3%
Do nothing, because it would not bother me19.2%
Say something to the other people in line with me7.8%
Say something to an airline staff member7.7%
I don’t know5.9%
Take a cell phone picture and post to social media0.5%

 

Airline Etiquette – On the Plane:

 

When asked, “If you were flying alone and a couple or family asked you to switch seats so that they could sit together, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Move regardless of what kind of seat it was45.3%
Move only if new seat was not a middle seat34.5%
Move only if new seat was an aisle seat11.2%
I don’t know8.7%
Move only if new seat was a window seat4.5%
Move only if new seat had extra leg room4.0%
Move only if it were closer to the front of the plane3.0%
I wouldn’t move for any reason1.2%

 

When asked, “If someone on a plane is watching a graphic video or program on their personal device or inflight entertainment – that a young child is able to see – what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Call a flight attendant and let him/her handle the situation47.7%
Say something directly to the person17.4%
I don’t know14.0%
I wouldn’t take any action13.7%
Sit quietly and say nothing, even though it bothers me7.2%

 

When asked, “If you saw an airline passenger mistreating a member of the flight crew, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Call another flight attendant and let him/her handle the situation59.9%
Step in and say something directly to the person21.1%
I don’t know16.9%
Pull out a cell phone and record it13.7%
Sit quietly and say nothing, even though it bothers me9.0%
I wouldn’t take any action3.5%

 

Tourist Etiquette: Travelers Behaving Badly

 

From smashing 18th-century candelabras in Rome’s Pantheon to breaking the finger off of a 600-year-old statue in Florence, more and more people are damaging centuries-old, historical sites.

 

When asked, If you were at a major tourist attraction and saw another visitor damaging the attraction, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Tell a security guard or official personnel89.7%
Take a video or photo of the incident with my mobile phone27.9%
Say something directly to the person22.3%
Not sure5.9%
Say and do nothing1.1%

 

Cruise Ship Etiquette:

 

When asked, “If you were on a cruise and someone cut in front of you in the buffet line, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

I wouldn’t do anything; it’s only food60.4%
Say something directly to the individual24.6%
Stay quiet, even though it bothers me14.5%
Tell a crew member and let him/her handle the situation3.5%
I don’t know3.5%
Take a cell phone picture and post to social media0.4%

 

When asked, “If you were on a cruise and passengers were laughing and not paying attention during the safety drill, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Stay quiet, even though it bothers me33.2%
I wouldn’t take any action, wouldn’t bother me31.5%
Tell a member of the crew and let him/her handle the situation16.8%
Say something directly to the individual(s)16.7%
I don’t know7.4%
Join them in the fun0.9%

 

When asked, “If cruise passengers near your stateroom were smoking on their veranda (balcony) when it is clearly stated that you are not supposed to do this, what would you do?” the responses were:

 

Call a crew member and let him/her handle the situation.72.0%
Say something directly to the individual(s).14.4%
Do nothing; it wouldn’t bother me12.4%
Stay quiet, even though it bothers me.5.6%
I don’t know.4.3%
Take a cell phone picture and post to social media.1.1%

 

Through the years, Travel Leaders Group has built a reputation for gathering extensive travel trends data from its vast network of travel agents and more recently from American consumers and travelers. This consumer survey was conducted April 3 to April 30, 2017; additional survey data also included Americans’ dream destinations (http://bit.ly/2s3WzPb), airport security (http://bit.ly/2rjhxIR) and Americans “Checking in” with work while vacationing (http://bit.ly/2rnkrZT).

 

American consumers were engaged 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 including the flagship Travel Leaders brand, as well as Cruise SpecialistsNexionProtravel InternationalSinglesCruise.com, and Tzell Travel Group units.

 

With over $21 billion in annual sales, Travel Leaders Group is the largest travel agency company in North America, comprised of approximately 30% of all travel agencies in North America that are wholly-owned, franchised, or member agencies. It’s a leader in both the retail travel agency space and corporate travel, and consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies nationwide.

 

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About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group (www.travelleadersgroup.comis transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers, Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands, including: All Aboard Travel, Andrew Harper Travel, Colletts Travel, Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, SinglesCruise.com, Travel Leaders Corporate, Travel Leaders Network and Tzell Travel. With annual sales of over $21 billion through over 7,000 locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest traditional travel agency companies.

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