Monday, October 29, 2007

'But I'll be very pleased if I need to make a quick call'

PING! Press release from TripAdvisor kicking about today which will warm the cockles of the anti-mobile movement.

Apparently 90% of UK travellers gave a resounding thumbs down to a question asking if passengers should be allowed to use their mobile phones on flights.

The Brits are obviously a picky bunch as travellers elsewhere were marginally more accommodating (globally, 78% said no).

Does anyone really think that airlines will listen to a survey like this (when there's a rather tidy sum to be made)?

There is a little bit of hysteria about the whole issue: despite the overwhelming negative response, you can bet passengers would be mightily relieved to be given the opportunity if they needed to make a call during a flight. Something of the Mobile Phone Mast Location about all this.

Anyway, the survey brought up the usual gripes about "horrible Heathrow" (travellers love Schipol Airport in Amsterdam) and Ryanair (winning the airline wooden spoon for the second year in a rowa mongst UK travellers).

But here is the stat which concerns us the most:

45% of respondents (2,500 took part) said they wash and disinfect their hands more often when travelling, but only 40% of grubby Brits.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution

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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see a break-down of this stat: "27 percent of Americans either bring their own disinfectant and cleaning supplies, shower shoes, pillows, towels or linens, when going on a trip."

Call me a snaggle-toothed Brit with bad hygiene if you like but I have never, not once, packed my own disinfectant supplies. It wouldn't be British.

Anonymous said...

People using phones on planes is a technology problem that we won't have in 5-10 years time

See this article from the new scientist...
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7247

Additionally, http://www.theaudeo.com/ is looking promising

Instead of banning it airlines should be getting these systems commercialised.

Travolution Blogger said...

Alex: Bravo.

Travolution Blogger said...

Dan G: Remind me not to sit next to you (wielding my mobile phone), if the chance ever arises. :-)