Saturday, July 2, 2011

Airports Most Distressful Place in the World Says New Report

Many people believe airports to be among the most stressful places they visit, new research has revealed. Carried out by credit card protection organisation CPP, the study showed nearly 25 per cent of individuals in the UK view travel hub experiences as equally distressing as moving home.

The survey found travellers often despair when it comes to delayed flights, lost belongings and making their way to departure gates - despite the notion that holidays are supposed to offer a chance to relax.

Indeed, the investigation showed that around one in ten of UK adults choose not to fly because of the stresses of airport travel.

Joanne Gibbons, from the group, noted it is a shame that people dislike their airport experiences to such an extent.

She said: "We'd urge families to have a strategy for staying calm – by checking in online, minimising the amount of luggage they check in and taking advantage of airport lounges."

Professor Robert Bor, Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, commented: "Air travellers often feel that they have little or no control over their travel experience, whether at the airport or on board the aircraft. This is not helped by the intense focus on security and related procedures - the impersonal processing of large numbers of passengers as well as high expectations of the air travel experience.

"Delays, separation from luggage - not infrequenty misplaced or lost - and poor levels of communication from airport authorities and airline representatives compounds the problem.

"Air travel is stressful but how we prepare for this will determine whether the stress is overwhelming or a survivable irritation to be endured."

In recent years, air travel has been hit by a number of disruptions, including volcanic as clouds and heavy snowfall.

Contacts and sources:
British Psychological Society (BPS)

0 comments: