Long Security Line Slowdowns Anger Travelers
Slowdowns caused by increased security at airports in the U.S. and around the world since the tragic events of 9/11 are having a negative impact on how often someone flies according to the Safe Harbors Travelers Poll, an online survey conducted by Safe Harbors Travel Group, Inc., a travel management service.
The survey asked, “How have current security measures influenced your air travel?” with 37 percent of the more than 6,000 responders saying they were “traveling less.”
“That’s a very significant number,” said Jay Ellenby, president and CEO of the Safe Harbors Travel Group, “If nearly four in ten are traveling less, that doesn’t bode well for the travel industry, which does not want to have fewer passengers while its overall costs for fuel and labor are soaring.”
Mr. Ellenby said the survey showed that 42 percent of those responding said their travel habits were “the same” as prior to the security step-up, while 21 percent of the same group said they were actually “traveling more.”
“There have always been many factors to consider when deciding whether or not to fly to a destination,” he said. “There’s price, schedule, and of course, convenience, which used to mean a choice of flights, mainly non-stop, going where you wanted to go and leaving when you wanted to travel.”
“Now,” Mr. Ellenby said, “the added time and hassle of screening has become a problem too, here in the Baltimore/Washington area and around the country. The days of being just in time to board your flight are gone forever. Instead, airlines are requesting that travelers get to the airport from one and a half to two hours early, so as to leave time for them to go through the security process. I’m not sure how — or even if — we can fix this situation to the satisfaction of all and still be safe when traveling by air.”
“Maybe we’ll just ask for suggestions from the thousands who visit the Safe Harbors Travel Group website regularly. And just maybe,” he mused, “those travelers online will find a way to keep themselves from being in line at airports.”
For more information, visit Safe Harbors Travel.
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