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[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ew Delhi: Expedia released the results of the 2018 Flight & Hotel Etiquette study, an annual survey on Flight and hotel behaviour of travellers across 23 countries in the world.
Indians are #1 globally to often engage in a conversation, when sitting next to someone they don’t know (59%) and probably the reason why 70% Indian travellers also dread sitting next to someone who talks too much. Indians find seat kicker/bumper/grabbers (32%, #1), inattentive parents (30%, #1) and audio insensitive passengers (30%), most annoying in a flight or at the airport. Despite these factors, Indians agree that generally, airline travel is fun and exciting (89%, #1), and for most part, fellow passengers are considerate of other passengers (80%).
Indian travellers prefer big chain hotel (29%) followed by vacation/holiday rental (22%, #1), boutique hotel (15%) and short-term room rental (11%, #2) the most. The least preferred accommodations include hostels (39%) and bed and breakfasts with shared bathrooms (29%).
Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Brand Expedia in India says “The findings are a testimony of the growth in traffic being experienced by the aviation industry, as Indians are the 3rd most frequent travellers in Asia-Pacific region, with average 7.6 flights per year after Thailand and Japan. Indians are also increasing shifting to technology as 67% Indians check-in online (#7) while 18% check-in on mobile (#1) and the country stands at #2 in number of people using the boarding pass on a mobile device (29%) after Thailand”.
He also added, “The study also highlights that there is a higher preference of booking the flight first followed by the hotel (37%) while 36% book a flight and hotel together as a package. Only 15% Indians are driven by the hotel properties as they book a hotel first followed by the flight.”
FLIGHT ETIQUETTE
Behaviour Onboard
- Majority of Indians (79%, #1) prefer window seat
- 53% of Indians (#1) recline their seats only when they are going to sleep, 48% of Indians (#1) recline if it’s a long flight (3 hours or more) and 23% recline when the person in front of them does (#2) New Zealand (24%, #1)
- Indians are the largest number of people who listen to music/podcasts (72%), talk to other passengers (38%) and second largest to play video games (37%)
- To get to the airplane aisle, the most appropriate way to pass a sleeping passenger according to Indians is to wake them up (52%, #6) and ask them to move
- 77% of Indians (#4) always keep their shoes and socks on during a flight – Mexico (85%), Thailand (81%), Italy (80%), India (77%) & Spain (77%)
- 41% Indians (#1) have asked a fellow passenger to move seats so they could sit with a friend, colleague or loved one including a child.
- 30% of Indians (#1) have asked the passenger in front of them to un-recline their seat
- 25% of Indians (#1) read confidential material or work on documents in flight
- 34% (#1) have engaged with an airline over social media about their travel experiences while at the airport, at the gate, or on the plane
- 14% (#2) Ignored carry-on baggage rules (e.g. bringing on more bags than the airline permits or bringing oversized bags)
- 13% of Indians (#2), after South Korea (24%)) got drunk on a flight
- Indians #1 at being sexually intimate with someone on a plane with 8% people accepting this
Not Happening!
When flying on an airline, Indians would never be under the drug/alcohol (61%) and 63% would never watch an X-rated movie with violent or sexual scenes. Indians are the least to Read confidential material or work related documents (44%, #2), drink the coffee offered on an airplane (19%, #1) & use the airplane restroom (19%, #1)
Misbehaviour Not on!
If case of a passenger misbehaving, Indians would Indians notify airline staff on the plane (68%), 14% would confront a misbehaving passenger directly (#4), while 11% would remain quite/ignore it and 7% Indians would record the incident using their phone video/camera (#2)
Important Aspects
The most important factors important for Indians, when booking air travel are the departure/arrival time (96%, #1) followed by total cost of flight (94%), airline (93%, #1), Fees (bags, seat selection, etc.) (91%), selecting their own seat (#3), number of stops (89%), Seatback/in-flight entertainment (84%, #1), perks (free beverages/snacks, free checked bags) (83%, #5) and status/frequent flyer (81%, #1).
When travelling, Indians would consider paying for in-flight Wi-Fi (43%,#1) and to upgrade their seat at the gate/check-in kiosk (40%,#1). 39% (#4) would also volunteer to give up their seat in exchange for an airline voucher and other incentives while 26% (#1) would consider leaving their travel companion in another service class to take a free upgrade.
Most annoying behaviours: Airport and airplane
Seat Kicker/Bumper/Grabber (32%, #1), Inattentive Parent (30%, #1), Audio Insensitive (30%), Personal Space Violator (28%, #3), Baggage Mishandler (26%, #1), Queue Jumper (24%, #2), Aromatic Passenger (23%, #1), Security Newbie (20%, #2), Pungent Foodie (19%, #2), Armrest Hog (19%, #1), Airplane Mode Violator (18%, #3)
Indians agree
A little small talk is fine, but I prefer to keep to myself for most of the flight – 87 % (#4)
- It’s ok to wake a passenger if they are snoring- 71% (#1)
- They have been treated unfairly or felt a ticketing agent, flight attendant or another member of airport staff was rude to them (42%, #1)
- Would like reclining seats banned or at least restricted to set times on short-haul flight- 62%
- The person seated in the middle of the row is entitled to both armrests – 58% (#1)
- They often drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages during air travel (including beverages consumed at the airport or onboard)- 34% (#1)
HOTEL ETIQUETTE
During hotel stay:
- 21% Indians have complained about another guest to the front desk (#1)
- 18% Indians have been locked out of their room in a bathrobe because they forgot their key or misplaced it (#1)
- 17% Indians have used the minibar items and replaced them to avoid paying additional charges (#1)
- 14% Indians have let multiple people sleep in their room without notifying the hotel (#3)
- 14% Indians have haggled with the check-in clerk regarding room rates (#2)
- 13% Indians have smoked in a non-smoking room (#2)
- 14% Indians have deliberately eavesdropped on a neighboring room
- Majority of Indians think that $2-3 or more is an acceptable tip per interaction for the porter/baggage carrier, the housekeeper, the Concierge, the valet, & room service
X-Rated
- 28% Indians have booked a hotel room for the purpose of being intimate with someone (#3), 21% have had a fling with someone they met in the hotel (#1), 21% have invited a stranger up to their room that they met online/on a dating app (#1) and 14% have ordered an X-rated adult movie to watch on TV (#1)
Booking Considerations
- Important factors while booking a hotel are location (96%, #6), price (95%), family-friendliness (94%, #1), room size (93%, #1), food & beverage options (room service, minibar, bar & restaurant on premises, vending machines, etc.)- (92%, #1), eco-friendly (91%, #1), star rating (91%, #1), complimentary wi-fi (91%), room with a view (ocean, city, etc.) (88%, #2), recommendations from family/friends (88%, #2), uniqueness of hotel, property, room design, etc. (87% (#1), hotel brand (86%, #1), complimentary parking (85%), outdoor space or grounds (85%, #1), accessibility (wheelchair, handicap parking, automated door, elevator, wide entry doorways, etc.)- (85% (#1), 3rd party reviews (83%, #3), ability to earn and redeem rewards points (80%, #1), adult-only (54%, #1), pet friendly (54%, #1)
- Important hotel amenities are room service (96%, #1) followed by Wi-Fi (93%), in-room entertainment options (93%, #1), in-room compact fridge to store items such as food + drinks, medicine, etc. (89%,#1), complimentary toiletries (89%, #4), freebies such as spa credits, Wi-Fi, food & beverage credits, etc. (87%, #5), complimentary snacks (85%, #1), bar and restaurant on premises (77%), pool (74%,#2), mini-bar stocked with food and beverages for purchase (74%, #1), gym/fitness center (72%, #1), spa/masseuse (66%, #1), babysitting/day care/nanny service (62%, #1)
Most annoying behaviours and things at the Hotel
- Most annoying hotel guests as per Indians include Bar Boozer (35%), In-Room Revelers (33%, #3), Inattentive Parents (32%, #1), Hallway Hellraisers (31%, (#3), Party-goers (29%), Complainers (27%), Loudly Amorous (27%, #4), Bickerers (25%), Hot Tub Canoodlers (16%, #3), Elevator Chatterbox (16%, #1).
- The most annoying things Indians find upon checking into their hotel rooms include bed bugs (41%, #5), cigarette smoke or foul smell (38%), hair in the bed (35%), finding a used condom or opened condom wrapper (32%, #1), hair in the shower (25%), no windows (22%, #6), room key malfunction annoying (22%, #3), no TV remotes (20%, #1), inconveniently placed outlets to plug in devices (18%, #2), no robe/slippers (9%, #1), no iron or ironing board (9%, #1).
- Indians switch hotel rooms if, the room is dirty (displeasing smell, stained linen, etc.) – (73% #1), they are generally displeased with the state of the room (46%, #2), they are near noisy neighbours or common areas (52%), room is too hot or too cold (35%), it has a bad view (27%, #1), or it is too close to elevators (17%, #1).GET BREAKING NEWS ON YOUR EMAIL:https://goo.gl/forms/BhU0lfuxcAUBlcWo1
