A survey by American Express has revealed that 95% of business travellers think business travel is as stressful, or more stressful, than it was a year ago.
According to the latest Amex Business Travel ‘Loves & Hates’ survey, 42% of business travellers get stressed before they get to the airport, while 74% feel stressed out before getting on the plane.
The survey also found that 84% of travelling executives are annoyed by flight delays and cancellations, 69% struggle with long check in queues and 45% get irritated by not being able to easily change flight bookings.
Once on the plane, having either a middle seat or a lack of legroom is considered the most annoying aspect, mentioned by almost half of respondents (48%), whilst about a fifth of business travellers object to chatty neighbours and noisy children.
Almost two-thirds consider missing family and friends to be the greatest disadvantage of business travel.
Travellers also complain of being tired (49%), particularly those based in the UK (63%) with 31% of Germans following next.
The next most common complaint is having to catch up with things back in the office (43%).
For a fifth of business travellers, having to travel outside of business hours and not getting the time back is a particular gripe.
The research was based on 500 interviews conducted online with business travellers across the UK, France, Germany and the Nordics at the end of 2006.
By Bev Fearis
