SWNYCURSE by Zoya Gervis
NEWS COPY - WITH VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
One in seven Americans fears they have a “travel curse,” according to new research.
A study examining the travel experiences of 2,000 Americans found 14 percent said they experience so much misfortune that they truly believe themselves to be cursed.
It turns out that, once cursed, people can’t seem to shake off the feeling. In fact, of the one in seven who feel that they have a travel curse, 73 percent feel they are forever cursed in this way.
The study, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with UpgradedPoints.com, examined the travel fortunes and approaches of 2,000 Americans and found that the average American polled experiences 240 stressful travel moments in a lifetime.
When it comes to traveling, just two people of the 2,000 polled revealed that they have NEVER experienced a nightmare-travel situation.
From seemingly endless delays to canceled flights and lost baggage, 47 percent find traveling to be a stressful experience – with 27 percent finding travel to be extremely stressful.
Perhaps it’s no surprise then that 26 percent say they often expect something to go wrong every time they travel, and a further 49 percent usually prepare themselves for the worst-case scenario.
But what types of experiences are causing Americans to feel cursed? Forty-five percent of travelers reveal that having a delayed flight can ruin their travel plans.
Another 34 percent blame themselves for their stressful travel troubles, claiming that they end up forgetting something which makes the travel experience less than enjoyable.
And 27 percent claim their travel experiences are stained when they end up sitting by annoying passengers and blame them for having a travel curse.
A quarter of Americans also claim that heavy, long security lines inconvenience them so much that they feel like they have a travel curse when they try to get away.
Other disturbing travel scenarios that Americans experience all too frequently include losing luggage (24 percent), having a flight canceled (22 percent), really bad turbulence (22 percent), and getting a flat tire (22 percent) – all of which cause travelers incredible stress.
With the daunting aspect associated with travel, one in five Americans have aborted a trip in the past and decided to just stay home instead.
“Travel can certainly be stressful or even chaotic at times — and it seems that many travelers feel they have terrible luck after too many bad, past experiences. Where possible, take every step you can to prepare and plan before your next journey as it’ll help to reduce stress and avoid running into issues when in transit,” said Alex Miller from UpgradedPoints.com.
With all the stress surrounding traveling, people are looking for ways to make their travel adventures better. Which is why 76 percent of Americans prefer to travel with someone else, revealing it makes them feel better about the whole ordeal.
But it’s not just having a companion to go through the travel experience with that allows Americans to create a more bearable and less stressful travel experience.
Over half (55 percent) of those polled revealed that free food and snacks are a great perk that helps them relax along their travels.
Having headphones (47 percent), reading materials (46 percent), and pillows (45 percent) round out the top five ways that people are looking to make their travel experiences more enjoyable and relaxing.
“Planning a trip is easier than it appears at first glance. But, facing the reality of actually traveling can be a whole other issue. However, that doesn’t mean people should avoid traveling just because they’ve had a bad experience. Getting out and exploring the world can be fun — travel can be easy, and enjoying it all in the process is doable,” added Alex Miller.
5 HELPFUL TRAVEL HACKS
• Pack with intention and “trim the fat.” Lay out everything you want to pack in your checked bag, and then go through each item a second time. I usually end up removing about 20-25 percent of items that don’t pass the “Do I really need this?” question.
• Give yourself more time than you think you need – for domestic flights, get to the airport 90 minutes early, and two hours for international travel
• Join the TSA PreCheck program and you’ll speed through security lines without having to remove your shoes or laptop and liquids from your carry on. Save time, reduce stress!
• Bypass the immigration line by signing up to Global Entry which can easily save you up to an hour or two by fast-tracking through customs and immigration. It’s not particularly expensive, at a cost of $95 for a five-year membership
• Gain access to lounges – amenities like food, beverages, and showers can make any delay easier to handle, and there are so many rewards cards that get you complimentary access without needing fancy airline status
TOP 10 TRAVEL DISTURBANCES
Having a delayed flight 45%
Forgetting something 34%
Sitting by annoying passengers 27%
Heavy, long security lines 25%
Losing luggage 24%
Having a flight canceled 22%
Having the person in front recline all the way 22%
Really bad turbulence 22%
Getting a flat tire 22%
Getting stuck on the tarmac 21%
TOP 5 WAYS TO MAKE TRAVEL MORE RELAXING
Water/drinks 57%
Free food/snacks 55%
Having headphones 47%
Having reading material 46%
Pillows 45%