73% of Americans Prefer Road Trips to Flying, According to Latest Study
It’s no secret that air travel is a headache. From packing and airport security to increasingly cramped cabins, for a majority of Americans, the friendly skies are anything but.
A new Ford poll conducted by OnePoll found that most people are happy to add hours to their travel time if it meant avoiding the airport, Fox News reports. In fact, when choosing between planes, trains, and automobiles, Americans prefer traveling by plane least.
A survey of 2,000 Americans revealed that three in four (73%) people feel that road tripping is a much more pleasant experience than flying. According to the study, most travelers reported that delays (55%) are their biggest flying gripe. Going through security (50%), and the cramped seats (50%) were tied for the second least enjoyable aspects of air travel.
Respondents’ reasons for hitting the road? Scenic views reportedly topped the list (69%), followed by the freedom to stop whenever (69%), and being able to pack whatever you want (57%). With all that in mind, it’s no surprise that 63% of Americans say they would actually look forward to a trip more if they were road tripping.
“Millennials came of age in a time when air travel was democratizing. They were known as the globe-trotting generation, but now we’re seeing a shift. Many of them are choosing to stay closer to home, taking family road trips instead, and reliving their childhood for their kids, something we call the #RoadTripRewind,” Sheryl Connelly, chief futurist for Ford Motor Company, told Fox News.
WATCH: This May Be the Most Expensive Time to Buy Gas
Ford seems to be onto something. AAA predicts that this upcoming Memorial Day weekend the vast majority of travelers— 37.6 million—will travel via automobile, the most on record for the holiday.
Drive safe, y’all!
