Article from BTNews 6 JUNE 2016
Frequent fliers like airports
While others may complain about queues, delayed flights and lost luggage, more than half (53%) of frequent travellers polled in a new survey agree the airport is something to be enjoyed.
The report comes from the independent airport lounge access programme Priority Pass.
In another finding, 56% of regular fliers admit they would be encouraged to arrive at the airport early to take advantage of duty-free and shopping discounts.
The study involved almost 3,000 respondents in the UK, UAE, US, Germany, France, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Priority Pass said the survey revealed “unusually positive” attitudes, including the fact that half of European travellers believe digital boarding passes and e-tickets make the airport experience much easier.
More than a third (35%) of frequent flyers look at the airport for something luxurious they would not ordinarily buy.
Conversely, 40% of frequent business flyers admit to going straight to the lounge and avoiding the shops altogether. And nearly two thirds (59%) consider access to a premium airport lounge “important” or “very important” when selecting an airport.
On the rise of the digital flyer, separate research by Priority Pass showed 24% of travellers using airport mobile apps, rising to 41% of frequent business flyers.
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John Davidson, France/Paris
It really depends on the airport. It seems odd to generalise. After many, many trips through LHR to make BA connections, I told them the last time (in May) that I would never travel through LHR again, because it is so long and complicated. A member of BA's personnel agreed with me, oddly enough. Compare that with flying out of Amman on RJ in business class. The first stop at the airport's departure floor is RJ's check-in for business, which is a few steps from the taxi drop-off. A small lounge welcomes PAX and check-in is done from seats at desks rather than at a counter. A 300% difference compared to LHR. Then, there's a dedicated line for security and admittance to the airport proper. Never any problems with lines.