We have spent £8 billion on missed flights
Brits travelling abroad this Christmas may run the risk of ending up stuck in the cold, as binned passports, spending too much time at the pub and transport issues are revealed as reasons why a quarter of Brits are missing flights, according to new research released by Premier Inn.
As a result of missing a flight, the average Brit has spent £572 on replacement flights, food and drink and accommodation. With a quarter of us admitting to missing a flight, that means that as a nation £8 billion has been spent on missing flights.
The study, carried out by Premier Inn to mark the opening of its new hotel at London Gatwick Airport, showed that almost half of Brits have been let down either by traffic problems or from connecting public transport being delayed, making it the main cause of missed flights.
One in ten have mixed up flight details, getting the time wrong, and nine per cent admit to oversleeping which made them miss their flights.
James Ellis, Frequent traveller and travel journalist, said: “At a time when more airlines have fixed fairs that allow you to travel on a specific flight only, it’s incredible that so many people still miss their flight and then, more often than not, have to pay extra to take the next one available.
“If I have an especially early flight, I often choose to stay at an airport hotel the night before and I will set more than one alarm, ask friends to wake me up as well as making a check list of everything that needs to be done before leaving.”
Whilst many people are able to get on another flight, nine per cent of Brits who missed their plane didn’t end up flying at all causing their holiday to end before it even started. For the lucky ones that do make their flight, over a third (38 per cent) admit they had a near miss and only just made it in time.
Claire Haigh, spokeswoman for Premier Inn, said: “This research shows that as a nation people are regularly missing flights and with holidays being more precious than ever, we need to try and plan effectively to ensure breaks are not unnecessarily shortened.
“Spending the night before you fly at a hotel not only ensures you won’t get stuck in traffic on the way to the airport, but also gives you an extra night away. The new Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport is located directly opposite the North Terminal, giving guests the best possible opportunity for a great night’s sleep and a stress-free start to their holiday.”
The new 630 bedroom Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport is now open, with rooms available to book at www.premierinn.com
Premier Inn offers all guests a ’Good Night Guarantee’ – which means if guests are not 100% satisfied with their stay they can request a full refund. Premier Inn is so committed to its philosophy that everyone deserves a great night’s sleep, that they recently invested £70 million into refurbishing c. 13,000 rooms.
Have you missed a flight? Tell us what the reason was for missing it in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
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