Surveys shows travelers want more PDA services

DUBLIN, California -- A recent My AvantGo Travel Survey show that travel decisions are primarily driven by price, followed by schedule, convenience and frequent flier accounts. Online travel has grown so popular and convenient that nearly a third of respondents report that they purchased 100% of their travel online last year. The survey also found that more than 65% of survey participants would be interested in receiving travel discounts on their PDAs, while 67% desire flight delay notifications via mobile devices. Driving directions, weather, flight schedules, flight status and airport maps also top PDA wish lists.

The new My AvantGo survey identifies which travel services its PDA users most want to carry in their pockets when they hit the road. The survey, conducted entirely via mobile devices, finds that travelers are most interested in mobile access to flight delay alerts, airline schedules, driving directions, weather updates and airport maps.

Mobile device users also expect no slowdown in their highly mobile lifestyle, continuing frequent travel for both business and pleasure."By their very nature PDAs are an indispensable tool for travelers, delivering critical information when it is most needed, even en route to the airport," said Neil Versen, senior director of My AvantGo at iAnywhere Solutions. "With this latest survey, we sought to identify consumer travel and purchasing preferences to help our customers in the travel sector best plan and provide services for the My AvantGo user base.

Business and pleasure

Survey results show that individuals are still traveling for both business and pleasure. Half of the respondents report that they have taken between one and ten airline business trips in the last year while over 64% have taken between one and five personal airplane trips. The decision to travel by plane these days is primarily driven by price, followed by schedule, convenience and frequent flier accounts.

A large majority (72%) of consumers purchased airline tickets online in the last year, while 67% bought hotel rooms and 50% rental cars. Regardless of whether they are traveling for business or pleasure, online now tops the method for purchasing travel, followed by the use of a travel agent. Online travel has grown so popular that nearly a third of respondents report that they purchased 100% of their travel online last year. Moreover, they don’t expect that number to decline, with over 90% of respondents saying they expect to increase or keep the same the percentage of online travel purchases this year.

The most frequently flown airlines among respondents are American Airlines (38%), Continental Airlines (35%) and United Airlines (32%). The most popular hotel destinations are Marriott Hotels & Resorts (30%), Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts (27%) and Hilton (26%). The most popular rental car agency purchases were made at Hertz (27%), Avis (21%) and Budget (20%). 

Active personal digital assistant (PDA) users with over 80% reporting they use their device several times a day while traveling, over 65% of survey respondents reported that they would be interested in receiving travel discounts on their PDAs. Sixty-seven percent report that they would like to get flight delay notifications on their devices.

Among the other offerings, they hope travel companies will consider providing to their PDAs are: driving directions (65%), weather (63%), flight schedules (60%), the ability to check flight status (57%) and airport maps (53%).

Price most important

Results of the recent My AvantGo Travel Survey show that travel decisions are primarily driven by price, followed by schedule, convenience and frequent flier accounts. Online travel has grown so popular and convenient that nearly a third of respondents report that they purchased 100% of their travel online last year. The survey also found that more than 65 percent of survey participants would be interested in receiving travel discounts on their PDAs, while 67% desire flight delay notifications via mobile devices. Driving directions, weather, flight schedules, flight status and airport maps also top PDA wish lists.

According to survey results, American Airlines, Continental and United are the most frequently flown airlines among respondents. Respondents also indicated that their most popular hotel destinations are Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Hilton. In the rental car category, respondents identified Hertz as the most popular rental car agency for purchases, with Avis and Budget close behind.

The 2003 Mobile Lifestyle Survey is based on responses from 1,058 My AvantGo users. The self-administered survey was completed over a two-week period in April 2003 and delivered on mobile devices via the My AvantGo service. Respondents were self selecting.