Expedia's etiquette study reveals do's and don'ts when
travelling and staying in vacation rentals
TORONTO, June 11, 2019 /CNW/ -- Today, Expedia®
released the results of its annual 2019 Airplane and Hotel
Etiquette Study, offering a deep dive into Canadian travellers'
preferences, behaviours, and pet peeves. And while we all have
travel horror stories to tell, this year's findings call attention
to the many ways travellers spread kindness and goodwill.
According to the study, Canadians ranked above the global
average in terms of delivering acts of kindness, with almost half
(47% vs. 41% globally) expressing that they have helped someone
lift their suitcase into the overhead compartment. Though this
gesture may be because Canadian travellers like to push the
boundaries when it comes to carry-on and they know when they see a
fellow traveller doing the same. Canadian travellers were the
second most likely, behind US travellers, to stuff their belongings
into a carry-on to avoid checked baggage fees.
And, kindness in the sky isn't limited to boarding the plane,
over thirty per cent (33% vs. 29% globally) of respondents offered
to switch their seat so another party could sit together. And, over
a quarter (28% vs. 25% globally) of Canadians indicated that
they've shared travel tips and recommendations with fellow
passengers, which was highest among travellers from British Columbia.
"There is a lot of time and effort that goes into planning a
trip, and no one wants to start or finish a vacation on the wrong
foot. The average Canadian takes three flights and spends twelve
nights in a hotel per year so having a relaxed and respectful
experience is important," said Mary Zajac, PR Manager for Brand
Expedia. "No matter where you're going or who you're travelling
with, we believe patience and politeness are key elements of a
pleasant journey."
Standing up against bad behaviours on board
While
being confined to an airplane seat can bring out the worst in some,
Canadians like to deal with things directly, but often reach out to
others on board to help manage the situation. This demonstrates
that even in difficult or awkward circumstances they continue to
show acts of kindness and poise, versus combative behaviour. The
report revealed:
- Almost half (47%) of Canadians indicated they would get the
flight attendant to deal with a situation if one passenger was
being rude to another.
- Over forty per cent (43%) expressed that if someone next to
them was spreading across into their space and hogging the arm
rest, they would just place the arm rest down when the chance
arose.
- And over half (52%) would politely ask the flight attendant if
they could be reseated, if they were sitting next to a passenger
who smelt extremely bad.
The drunk passenger takes first place as most
annoying
This year, a new annoying traveller topped the
charts for Canadians – the drunk passenger, after ousting the seat
kicker/bumper/grabber from the number one spot last year. Almost
forty per cent (39%) identified this traveller as the most annoying
person on a plane, and respondents globally felt the same way
(43%). Luckily, results show that Canadian travellers do what they
can to avoid being that person – only 6% reported ever getting
drunk on a flight. The top five most annoying flight passengers
are:
- The Drunk Passenger (39%)
- The Seat Kicker/Bumper/Grabber (38%)
- The Germ Spreader (34%).
- The Aromatic Passenger (34%)
- The Inattentive Parent (31%)
Off limits! Vacation rental etiquette for
Canadians'
In planning your trip, consider booking a
vacation rental. These are great options for larger groups of
friends, or families, allowing for more space, a kitchen for the
freedom to have some meals in, and typically multiple bathrooms to
help with the morning hustle. And when it comes to vacation rental
etiquette, Canadians had strong views about what was considered to
be 'off limits,' proving that most people highly respect the
personal spaces of others. The study showed:
- Almost eighty per cent (77%) of Canadians said peeing in a pool
was inappropriate behavior at a vacation rental, and in fact,
Canadian guests were the most likely to take issue. This sentiment
though was felt worldwide, with it coming in as the most
universally agreed upon inappropriate action to occur.
- Canadians also indicated that going through personal items of
the host (77%) was also a big no-go, as well as wearing the hosts
clothes and shoes (68%).
- The "special touch" of having a stocked fridge (22%) was what
Canadian travellers appreciated the most when arriving at their
vacation rental, and 21% expressed enjoying a quick in-person intro
to the sights and restaurants in the area.
Below are some tips to keep in mind to make your travel
etiquette top-notch and up your kindness game whether in the air or
on the ground:
- Be mindful of the space around you. When flying, consider
paying a bit extra to upgrade your seat and giving your legs some
more room to stretch out. This will also allow you to encroach less
on your neighbour.
- If looking for more space on the lodging side, additional
privacy, and a quieter setting, think about booking a vacation
rental for your group.
- When staying in a vacation rental treat it like your own and
leave everything as you got it. From keeping things clean, to not
touching any personal belongings that may be out, having respect
for others is a simple, but important action.
- And whether you're the guest or host of a property, consider
leaving either a 'thank you' or 'welcome' note, either highlighting
what you loved most about your experience, or possible local
insights about the area for your visitors to explore. These
personal touches are impactful and memorable.
- Pay it forward! This could be as small as buying a fellow
traveller a coffee, or as grand as even offering to pay for
someone's seat upgrade. For vacation rentals, surprising guests
with passes to a local activity is another way to keep spreading
the kindness.
To learn more about which country's travel etiquette matches
yours, take a quick quiz here.
About the 2019 Airplane and Hotel Etiquette
Survey
This study was conducted on behalf of Expedia
by Northstar Research Partners, a global strategic research
firm. The survey was conducted online from April 12-29, 2019 across North America, Europe, South
America and Asia-Pacific
using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. The study
was conducted among 18,237 respondents across 23 countries. For the
Canadian specific data, a sample of 1000 random adults who
travelled by airplane and stayed in a hotel or vacation rental in
the past year was surveyed. Those that had not travelled by air or
stayed in a hotel or vacation rental were disqualified.
About Expedia
Expedia is one of the world's largest
full-service travel sites, helping millions of travellers per month
easily plan and book travel. Expedia aims to provide the latest
technology and widest selection of top vacation destinations,
affordable airfare, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings,
cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services
and travel apps. ©2019 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia
and the Airplane logo are either trademarks or registered
trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other
product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of
their respective owners. Visit our web site https://www.expedia.ca
or use our mobile app to book cheap flights, hotels, and
packages.
SOURCE Expedia.ca