Survey says travelers feel misinformed, misled and mistreated

The results are in! In the first Consumer Travel Alliance poll, we asked you what issues were most important when it comes to travel. Basically, you feel misinformed, misled and mistreated.

Here are the top 10 issues as ranked as “most important” by this Consumer Travel Alliance poll of newsletter readers. Delayed/canceled flights and hidden fees/surcharges topped the list of issues.

1. Delayed and canceled flights at the top of passenger’s concerns — 68 percent of the respondents noted that this was their primary worry.

2. Hidden fees and surcharges — 64.7 percent registered as major irritants.

3. Poor customer service — 63.2 percent of the respondents noted poor customer service as a top problem.

4. Bait-and-switch advertising — was noted by 48.2 percent of our readers.

5. Tarmac delays — were registered as a major issue by 43 percent of respondents.

6. TSA screening — came away with 44.1 percent of those polled.

7. Airline safety — was voted as most important by 41.1 percent.

8. Maintenance procedures — 41.1 percent highlighted maintenance as most important.

9. Credit card foreign transaction fees — 35.9 percent.

10. Lost luggage handling — 28.1 percent.

The bottom line? Passengers are feeling mistreated, misled and misinformed when it comes to travel with delayed flights, poor customer service, tarmac delays, misleading advertising and hidden fees and surcharges.

Other issues that normally don’t get national media attention such as airline safety, maintenance procedures, TSA screening methods and foreign transaction fees all registered as most important with our readers.

Climate change and telephone roaming charges were ranked as the two issues with the lowest importance.

(Photo: Ian Kershaw/Flickr Creative Commons)