Americans are loath to give up air travel despite rising fuel prices and a sluggish economy. That’s the conclusion of a customer survey completed by FastPark, an off-airport parking company that boasts 18 sites in a dozen markets.
The survey says 56 percent of leisure travelers will fly as often this year as they did last year – from one to four times. Fifty-five percent of leisure travelers polled say the economy wouldn’t affect their summer travel plans.
That doesn’t mean flyers aren’t responding to the tough times, however, tweaking their plans to wring as much value from their travel dollar as possible. Sixty-eight percent of respondents say they’ll be doing things to reduce expenditures on those leisure trips. Of those folks, 45 percent say they’ll look for online deals. Eighteen percent will travel closer to home, and another 18 percent say they’ll cut costs other ways. Thirteen percent plan to take a shorter trip, and 6 percent will book group travel or a vacation package.
So how about that vaunted tax rebate, how will it affect things? While 87 percent say it won’t affect summer travel plans, of the 13 percent who say it will, 57 percent believe it will allow them to take that vacation after all. Twenty-seven percent say it will help them to upgrade the experience.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler
