Holidaymakers typically spend nearly three hours packing their luggage for a holiday – with their checked baggage and hand luggage adding up to a combined total of 27.6kg per traveller.
But one in three admit they usually regret over-packing – as having to haul heavy luggage to the airport is one of the biggest travel stresses, for 26% of the 2,000 adults polled.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) have made their loved ones carry luggage for them, leading to arguments about overpacking – while 12% have even been bought to the brink of tears of frustration over having to lug heavy bags to their airport.
And a quarter of those polled have even questioned booking a holiday altogether, when thinking about how much luggage they'd be taking.
Other top travel-related stresses include getting to the airport on time (57%), and misplacing important travel documents (23%).
And over half feel these elements in the lead-up to going on holiday even take the glow off the trip altogether.
In fact, 41% say they would feel less stressed if they had someone to carry their luggage to the airport.
The research was commissioned by London Luton Airport, to mark the launch of its new connection between Central London and London Luton Airport, via the Luton Airport Express.
A spokesman for the airport, which has also teamed up with American football team, London Blitz, to help passengers make journeys on the service easier, said: “We know that carrying heavy suitcases and bags can make the beginning of a holiday feel like hard work.
“And our research shows that luggage is one of the main causes of contention for travellers before embarking on their next adventure.
“That's why we’ve teamed up with London Blitz, to literally take the weight off their holidaymakers’ shoulders this weekend.”
The research went on to find that, on average, those who travel start the process of packing their suitcases five days ahead of their trip – though some will start two weeks early.
And this takes the typical traveller a whopping 2.8 hours in total – with a tenth of respondents (11%) doing the packing for themselves, their partner, and the kids, according to the OnePoll.com data.
The spokesman from London Luton Airport, which is offering complimentary luggage-carrying service for passengers on the Luton Airport Express train from London St. Pancras on Saturday 10th June, added: “With our research finding just how much luggage passengers are carrying – as well as how long it takes to get everything packed – we want our passengers to be able to start their holiday as soon as they board.”
TOP 15 STRESSES WHEN HEADING TO THE AIRPORT:
- Worrying about getting to the airport on time
- Getting through security
- Carrying heavy luggage
- Carrying multiple bags
- The journey to the airport
- Forgetting something at home
- Checking-in on time
- Unexpected travel delays/cancellations
- Losing important travel documents (e.g. passport, boarding pass, etc.)
- Going over the luggage weight allowance
- Being searched at security
- Keeping the children occupied
- Losing luggage/bags
- Being unable to hold/carry children along with luggage and bags
- Not being able to find a luggage trolley
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