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Survey Unveils Traveler Insights for Best Airports, Alcohol Limits
(Lebanon, N.H. – December 2, 2024) – The best international airport is Singapore Changi Airport, followed by Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Doha Hamad International Airport, according to the world’s most experienced travelers responding to the Global Rescue Fall 2024 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.
“These airports have consistently raised the bar for service, innovation and convenience, providing travelers with a seamless experience from start to finish,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world's leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “These airports are known for their efficiency, comfort, and overall passenger experience.” Conversely, travelers listed the London Heathrow Airport, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and Frankfurt Airport as the worst airports. Inefficient security processes, poor customer service, mishandling of traveler property, and overcrowding are among the main complaints cited by travelers about airports. The survey also revealed traveler attitudes about a pair of developing issues; cocktail limits and passport stamps. Travel industry leaders and staff have suggested limiting alcohol service in airports and in-flight. Most travelers responding to the survey (61%) said alcohol consumption should be left to the discretion of bartenders, flight attendants, or the individual traveler. Nearly a fifth (19%) said alcohol service should be limited to no more than one drink per 30 minutes, and 17% favored a limit of one drink per 60 minutes. Currently, none of the top-rated airports in the survey have strict alcohol limits. Individual airlines such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines have policies that allow flight attendants to stop serving alcohol if a passenger appears intoxicated. Richards pointed out the challenges in balancing customer service with safety, especially in airports and in-flight. "Travelers should always be responsible for their consumption," he said, "but airports and airlines also have a duty to ensure the safety of all passengers." Many travelers enjoy collecting passport stamps as souvenirs of their journeys, but those stamps are going away in Europe due to the introduction of the new automated Entry/Exit System (EES). The survey revealed that more than half of travelers (54%) would miss receiving passport stamps from the European Union's Schengen Area countries. “The green, blue, black, and red passport stamps are for many travelers’ nostalgic reminders,” Richards said. “The removal of passport stamps is part of the broader trend towards digitization in travel, streamlining border crossings and making travel more efficient.”
Holiday Travelers Cautioned Against Wrapping Gifts in Carry-On Luggage
(Lebanon, N.H. – November 26, 2024) Nearly half of the world’s most experienced travelers will embark on a trip during the winter holiday season, and one out of 10 will mistakenly pack wrapped gifts in their carry-on luggage, according to the Fall 2024 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.
The TSA doesn’t prohibit wrapped presents in carry-on baggage, but they recommend keeping gifts unwrapped in case TSA agents need to inspect them. “While it’s tempting to wrap presents before a trip and tuck them into your carry-on suitcase or backpack, it may cause delays at security checkpoints,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and associate director of security at Global Rescue.
When TSA or other airport security personnel see a wrapped item, they may need to open it to inspect its contents. This can lead to frustration, delays, and destroyed wrapping. “The best approach is to pack wrapped gifts in checked bags or travel with unwrapped gifts in carry-on luggage and pack wrapping paper separately. You can easily wrap the items when you reach your destination,” says Bush.
“Security is always a top concern during peak travel seasons,” Bush added. “Minimizing unnecessary complications at checkpoints, such as unwrapping gifts, makes the process easier for travelers and airport staff.”
Contact
Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560-1195 (phone/text) for more information.
About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey
Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,100 current and former members between October 1-20, 2024. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.
About Global Rescue
The Global Rescue Companies are the world's leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue
30% of Travelers Expect More International Trips in 2025 Due to Election Results
(Lebanon, N.H. – November 25, 2024) The recent U.S. election results are impacting 2025 travel decisions, according to the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. 30% of respondents expect more international travel next year, while 7% expect to take fewer foreign trips. More than half (55%) don't expect changes to their 2025 international travel plans.
Travelers identified multiple reasons for increasing trips abroad. Many travelers unhappy with the election outcome revealed a desire to escape. "I want to spend as much time as possible outside the U.S. over the next four years,” confessed one survey respondent.
Many respondents pointed to the post-election bump in the economy as their expectation of increased international travel. "The economy should show signs of improvement, and if the new administration can make peace deals around the world, then travel will be as good or better next year."
Most respondents said the election had no impact on their future travel expectations. Instead, they revealed their disposable income increased thanks to low inflation and had already booked their international trips for 2025. "I have a general feeling of being better off and secure. I anticipate increased disposable income available, and I'm already booked for 2025," admitted another respondent.
One of the most notable shifts in traveler behavior is the reduced impact of rising costs on travel plans. "With inflation at a three-year low, fewer travelers are canceling or postponing trips," said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the Department of Commerce. "In 2024, travelers embarked on their long-postponed dreams of global travel, fueled by a stabilizing economy and a renewed focus on meaningful experiences over material possessions."
Fewer than a tenth of respondents (7%) expected less international travel in 2025. Many of these respondents expressed elevated personal safety concerns while in foreign countries due to the U.S. elections. "The change of U.S. Administration makes me more apprehensive about being in a foreign country with the risk of anger and animosity toward Americans being higher," admitted one respondent.
But an equal number revealed their reduced foreign travel was not due to the election tally; instead, it was due to concern over ongoing geopolitical instability, from the current wars to terrorist activity.
Contact
Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560-1195 (phone/text) for more information.
About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey
Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,200 current and former members on November 20, 2024. The respondents revealed key insights to future travel in 2025 following the U.S. elections.
About Global Rescue
The Global Rescue Companies are the world's leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.
Survey: Travelers Seek Bolder, Safer Travel Using Satellite-Enabled Smartphones
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