Orbitz Business Travel Survey – April 2007

Orbitz, the online travel megasite has been conducting surveys of business travelers in recent months, with some interesting results. You know how there has been SO MUCH hype in recent months about lost luggage and the difficulties associated with the burden? Well, it seems like the overwhelming majority of business travelers are only experiencing the trauma by reading about it in the blogs. According to the survey, more than 75% of participants say it’s been more than a year since they’ve lost luggage while traveling, if ever. And only 4% of travelers cite lost luggage as their biggest pet peeve pertaining to business travel. I, personally, find dealing with car rental companies much more challenging.

Orbitz for Business, a brand within the Orbitz Worldwide family, announced the results of its monthly poll designed to examine the most prevalent issues currently affecting business travelers.

Findings of the April Corporate Traveler Poll include the following:

41% say it’s been more than a year since they’ve lost luggage.
36% have never had luggage lost.
16% have had a lost luggage incident in the past year (that would include me)
4% have lost luggage in the past three months.
3% don’t recall. (Whatever, they would remember if they had)
Only 4% of business travelers say lost luggage is their biggest pet peeve.

What is the biggest headache for business travelers? 33% of survey participants said flight delays and cancellations. Good one, that’s much better than my previous answer of rental car companies. 22% answered security lines, while 12% answered carry-on luggage restrictions. All very annoying.

What are business travelers REALLY doing on the road? When stuck in the airport waiting for a flight, catching up on work isn’t the most popular way for business travelers to pass the time. Not sure who would think that…

59% prefer reading a book or the newspaper. (Been there)
21% catch up on work, e-mail, phone calls. (Done that)
8% enjoy people watching. (Love it)
5% go to the bar for a drink (On the return flights…)
2% sleep, shop or enjoy a meal. (Not so much – airport food is garbage and I can’t sleep most of the time anyway)

Stay tuned for more enlightening information from Orbitz surveys…