Air travel is a popular way to travel and it can be an enjoyable experience, but there are also some aspects that might not be enjoyable. TripAdvisor held a survey to determine flyer's preferences and pet peeves.
According to the TripAdvisor survey, air travel is on the increase as 91 percent of American said they plan to take at least one domestic flight in 2013 which is an increase from 86 percent who said they flew last year. International travel is also increasing as 67 percent said they're planning an international flight compared with 56 percent who said they did in 2012.
Flying can be a convenient way to travel, but it doesn't come without it's downsides. The five biggest complaints about air travel include uncomfortable seating or limited legroom, costly airline fees and ticket prices, unpredictable flight delays, long security lines and other passengers, including loud children.
"Flyers continue to voice concerns about the challenges associated with air travel, such as extra fees and limited legroom," says Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of TripAdvisor Flights. "However, it seems equally clear that these challenges are not limiting the increasing demand for flights."
If anything could be improved, 36 percent of respondents hoped it would be the legroom, however many aren't willing to pay more for a better seat. Forty-four percent of respondents said they never paid for a better seating assignment. Some said they would pay a bit more as 85 percent said they would pay less than $25 for a seat upgrade on a domestic flight and 81 percent said they would pay $50 or less on international flights.
If passengers had a choice of a seat, 58 percent would take the aisle seat while 42 percent would take the window. Only four percent would take the middle seat.
A majority of passengers (81%) said they would give up in-flight entertainment for a cheaper flight. For those who don't like loud passengers, 63 percent said they wouldn't pay more to sit in a "quiet" section of a plane, but 23 percent said they would pay less than $25.
As airline fees are a big pet inconvenience for travelers, TripAdvisor asked respondents which one are the most annoying. They top five included fees for checked baggage, carry-on baggage, seat selection, printed boarding passes at the airport and in-flight amenities.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
