Holiday Travelers Look to Make In-Flight Connections; One in five people have flirted with their seatmates, exchanged phone numbers; 40 percent have shared a drink or meal with a fellow passenger in the airport

Business Wire, Nov 21, 2005

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Travelers avoid talking dating, religion and politics; dish on pets, hobbies, travel plans

It's the holiday season and that can mean only one thing: the Chase United Mileage Plus Visa Card Holiday Travel Survey again unveils holiday travelers' behaviors and preferences as they take to the skies. Chase asked hundreds of travelers for the skinny on this year's holiday travel trends and found that the skies will be busy with passengers mixing, mingling and spreading the holiday spirit.

Not surprisingly, in this age of long commutes and endless work days, consumers most look forward to leaving their cars at home and letting the pilot do the safe driving (50 percent) and escaping from the office (49 percent) during a flight. Switching off their cell phones (21 percent) and taking a break from the family (8 percent) are also part of the relief of air travel. Southerners were more likely than Midwesterners to cite "traffic" as the reason they look forward to flying, while Northeasterners were more likely than Southerners or Midwesterners to cite "work."

"The Chase United Mileage Plus Visa Card Holiday Travel Survey takes a lighthearted look at how consumers will spend their time and money while traveling this holiday season," said Joe Venuti, senior vice president for JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s card services division. "We thought this was a great opportunity for us to better understand consumers' holiday travel habits and apply this information to make our card even more valuable to frequent flyers."

Proving that airline travel can be quite uplifting, 21 percent of passengers have flirted with their seatmate, 21 percent have exchanged phone numbers with a fellow passenger and 30 percent have exchanged business cards. Whether for business, friendship or pleasure, 40 percent have shared a meal or drink at the airport with someone they met on the plane. In the end, however, friendships are the mile-high match made most often during a flight: 15 percent said they have kept up a friendship, while only seven percent have formed a business relationship and only five percent actually went out on a date.

Men most often lead these behaviors and are more likely to have shared a drink or meal at the airport, exchanged business cards, flirted, asked someone for their phone number or gone on a date with someone they met on the plane. Those from the South and West have been asked for their phone numbers much more often than those from the Northeast.

Chatting Up Your Seatmate

Consumers who fall into conversation with their seatmates most often found themselves discussing their travel and holiday plans (51 percent), followed by their jobs (34 percent), their hobbies (24 percent) and their pets (13 percent). Ever conscious of Emily Post's sage advice, travelers generally avoid conversations surrounding political views (5 percent), religion (5 percent) and their dating lives (5 percent). While 70 percent of travelers are happy to share some holiday cheer, a whopping 30 percent say "Bah humbug!" and studiously avoid conversation altogether.

Even those who would ordinarily avoid conversation might deign to speak with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the famous couple our travelers would most enjoy sitting beside (13 percent). They were followed by are-they-or-aren't-they couple Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn (10 percent), newlyweds Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher (9 percent) and expecting couple Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck (8 percent). Surprisingly, though, many travelers prefer the company of an average Joe over a member of the rich and famous: 46 percent could not be bothered to speak to any celebrity couple, no matter who they are.

Fly and Buy

Family members picking up loved ones at the airport this year should be on alert for some last-minute gifts. Holiday travelers confessed to frequenting the airport gift shop for souvenirs and mementos (31 percent), books (10 percent) and T-shirts (10 percent). Discerning airport shoppers generally steered clear of perfume (3 percent), music (2 percent) and movies (1 percent). Women were more likely than men to buy presents at the airport gift shop and are also more likely to purchase souvenirs and mementos.

Travelers are not waiting for the last minute to buy their holiday tickets, however. Approximately 41 percent of forward-thinking consumers purchased their tickets between one and three months in advance, 27 percent purchased between two weeks and a month in advance, and 22 percent purchased their tickets three months or more in advance. Only a handful admitted they planned to wait until the last minute, purchasing their tickets less than two weeks before their flight (10 percent).

The survey, which was conducted by Ipsos during November 4-7, polled a national probability sample of 424 adults who will be flying for the holidays, living in private households in the continental United States. The margin of error is approximately /- 6 percent.

About United Mileage Plus

United Mileage Plus, with over 45 million enrolled members, has been voted the best frequent flyer program by readers of Business Traveler for the past nine years (Nov.1996-Nov. 2004) and by Global Traveler (Nov. 2004-Nov. 2005). It also received the 2005 Frost & Sullivan CEO Choice Award for Best Frequent Flyer Program. Members earn miles by flying on United, Ted(SM), United Express(R) or Star Alliance airlines, or by purchasing products or services through the comprehensive network of over 100 participating Mileage Plus partners at more than 10,000 locations worldwide. Mileage Plus also offers one of the most extensive selections of award travel destinations, including 790 destinations in 138 countries. For more information, a complete list of Mileage Plus partners, or to enroll, visit united.com.