Is Travel Ever Too Much Trouble?
Read more articles on Life.June 10, 2008
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
June 10, 2008
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
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Many people feel that travel is becoming more trouble than it’s worth. It’s interesting to take a poll to find out if such opinions come from those who are elderly, too busy with work, overly tired-or if the travel industry is making things too complicated.
Many Choices, Much Empowerment
Some folks have been known to spend hours researching agendas, schedules and pricing, only to give up from the frustration of overwhelming choices. Travel becomes too much like “work” even when planning a vacation. Years ago, when someone traveled, life was easier: they’d make a toll free call to one of the airlines servicing their destination; the rep would offer a few choices-costs were fairly uniform back then since “discount” airlines didn’t exist-and the shopper would say OK. (Often, cancellations were refundable in full, which removed a good deal of anxiety.) Hotels were just as easy. But, today, online reservations and instant access to discounters has broadened choices considerably-possibly too much. It would be great if there was one single site where a customer can plug in their dates and every available hotel pops up, with standard and discounted prices from every source imaginable. (The person who invents such a system might become richer than Bill Gates.) To go through so many steps and find that a hotel is not available, and then to have to repeat the process on other sites, is maddening. But it’s doubtful that consumer’s frustration will disappear. As of 5 years ago, it was estimated that $79 billion would be made in online travel arrangements by 2005; it would be interesting to know what the actual amount was.
The Headaches of Flying
Add flight booking and the headache escalates. One interesting point of going onto an airline aggregator such as Travelocity or Orbitz is that not all airlines’ fares are included, like a traveler may believe. That means that the flyer may assume that his favorite airline’s prices aren’t comparable, when in fact they may be-just not on that particular site.
One way or the other, the determined traveler will find some available flights, but either the flight leaving or the one returning is at a difficult time, and if kids are involved, layovers are discouraging. Plus, everyone wants to get the most time at their destination without having to be inconvenienced by getting up at the crack of dawn, which negates some of the cheapest airfares. Some new discounter airlines don’t offer 400 different rates for the same flight, or increase their rates 50% within 12 hours, which proves that such actions really aren’t standard operation procedure. (Perhaps the airlines’ private motto is “It doesn’t matter how, or why-customers will have to buy.”) Articles have been published about the science behind why airfares change so frequently and how each flight is constantly being evaluated regarding cost effectiveness. The same sources assure the flying public that there are stratagems in place to guarantee fairness.
But, the price anyone finds depends on pure luck. Most people dislike paying that way, because they have this thing about equality. If the prices listed were pretty much the same, it would be clear they were based on time, distance, fuel and popularity of destination. With this in mind, most travelers wouldn’t mind sharing costs. But sudden price increases on several carriers makes it look like a competition to recoup overlooked costs, and consumers don’t appreciate paying for someone else’s errors. Furthermore, with penalties for cancellations, the airlines want customers to think valuable income from unoccupied seats is being lost, when, in fact, people are still bumped due to overbooking. Once one is on a plane, travel isn’t trouble because the majority of airline passengers are considerate and personnel are usually professional. Snacks are edible and, for the most part, seats are comfortable. But, wouldn’t it be nice to see first class turned into a nursery for people traveling with children? The carrier that does that would be inundated with parents embarrassed by screaming kids and adult travelers who don’t want to be trapped near them for hours on end. There’s nothing like being on an unpleasant plane ride to make a traveler start wondering if it was a good idea after all.
Other Worries
Add to the above issues those of pet sitting, arranging for absence at work or school, and decisions about packing and the traveler’s excitement starts to dim. Then, just as those concerns are handled, other questions arise: Were the lowest fares and best locations found? Are there too few days in which to get everything done? Could other side trips make the experience more beneficial? The once-enthusiastic travel planner starts asking if the potential fun is worth it.
Attitude Matters
If a person has a traveling spirit, most of these troublesome issues are replaced by thrill and anticipation once they deplane. Adventures beckon, and the immediate future is a blank sheet that’s ready to be imprinted with pleasant memories of a unique time in one’s life. As the traveler gazes out onto their new destination-whether for the first or thirty-first time, and feels their blood rushing, they realize it has been worth it. The planning and getting there may have been grueling, but in retrospect, it really wasn’t too much trouble after all.
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