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Survey finds business travellers sceptical about In-flight mobile use
Business travellers are sceptical about the ability to use mobile phone on flights.
According to a survey of over 4,000 UK frequent travellers by Barclaycard Business, 59% of business travellers said they would not want airlines to allow the use of mobile phones whilst flying, even if the technology was proved to be risk free.
Chief executives were more in favour than their junior colleagues, with 43% saying they would want airlines to introduce the facility of in-flight phone use, compared to 31% of company managers.
Female travellers (62%) were more against the introduction of mobile phone technology than their male counterparts (57%).
“There has been a lot of debate over the last two years regarding the pros and cons of mobile phone calls whilst flying,” said Denise Leleux, director of commercial cards, Barclaycard Business.
“A number of airlines have publicly announced in-flight mobile trials, however our research shows that a large number of business travellers are wary.
“This suggests that business people want to preserve this as a time to work or relax without fear of being interrupted, overheard, or having to listen to the person next to them.”
But travellers are readily embracing other types of technology, according to the survey.
The percentage of executives who had used self-service or mobile/online check-in has increased to 58% and 42% respectively in 2006, compared with 53% and 35% in 2005.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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