A new air travel survey finds more Americans are planning to take a domestic flight this year. TripAdvisor surveyed more than 2,000 respondents and found 91 percent intend to take a domestic flight in 2013, up from 86 percent who said they flew domestically last year.
The survey also found 67 percent of respondents making international travel plans this year, compared to 56 percent in 2012.
The TripAdvisor survey also reveals flyer preferences and annoyances:
-- The top five biggest complaints about air travel:
- Uncomfortable seats/limited legroom
- Costly airline fees and ticket prices
- Unpredictable flight delays
- Long security lines
- Other passengers (e.g. loud children)
-- The five most annoying airline fees, according to respondents:
- Checked baggage
- Carry-on baggage
- Seat selection
- Printed boarding pass at airport
- In-flight amenities
Additional findings:
-- 38 percent of respondents say providing more legroom is the number one thing airlines should do to improve the in-flight experience.
-- 44 percent have never paid extra for a better seating assignment.
-- 85 percent of travelers said they would pay less than $25 for a seat upgrade on domestic flights.
-- 81 percent would pay $50 or less on international flights.
-- If air travelers had their way, 58 percent would take an aisle seat and 42 percent would choose the window. Four percent prefer the oft-dreaded middle seat.
-- 81 percent would be willing to go without in-flight entertainment for a significantly cheaper flight.
-- 63 percent are not willing to pay to sit in a designated “quiet” section of the airplane if airlines offered such a section, while 23 percent said they might pay less than $25.
-- 87 percent of respondents participate in a frequent flyer program.
-- 73 percent have exchanged points for a free or discounted flight.
-- 26 percent have successfully used points for seat upgrades.
-- 51 percent of respondents say the brand of airline is important or extremely important when making a booking decision. Southwest Airlines tops the most popular airline list, with 19 percent of travelers selecting it as their favorite.
-- 25 percent of respondents say they would choose one airline over another if it offered WiFi.
-- 37 percent consider their iPad or tablet a carry-on essential, a five percent increase from 2012.
