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Poll Says Smelly Passengers Most Disliked

The most disliked air travelers are the ones with poor hygiene who smell bad, according to a new poll by Travelocity. Almost half of respondents complained of unwashed masses. A close runner-up were air travelers who are “coughing and sneezing” (30 percent) followed by large-boned fliers (15 percent).Who wasn’t on the list.Chatty passengers and kids only got 5 percent of the vote each. Snoring passengers? Perhaps in a surprise, they got only one percent of the vote.

Business Travel Can Help Bottom Line: Study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Business travel -- often the target for cutbacks by companies seeking to reduce expenses -- actually boosts profits and could help the U.S. economy come back from the recession, a report found on Tuesday.

Research released by the global research firm Oxford Economics estimated that for every dollar invested in business travel, companies can expect an average $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits.

"Cutting back on business travel can in the short run have some benefits but, even over a 12 month period, (have) significant negative effects on corporate performance," said Adam Sacks, managing director of Oxford Economics. "As companies perform, so does the U.S. economy.

"When companies reduce their travel budgets there are negative consequences that we can now quantify, in terms of lost revenue and profit growth and in terms of giving competitors a distinct advantage."

The study was commissioned in part by the U.S. Travel Association, which represents the American travel industry.

Roger Dow, president of the association, said the report quantified how businesses can benefit from travel and from face-to-face meetings.

The analysis said executives and business travelers estimated 28 percent of current business would be lost without in-person meetings. They said about 40 percent of prospective customers are converted to new customers with an in-person meeting compared to 16 percent without one.

"In this economy especially, business travel has come under greater scrutiny than before," Dow told reporters.

"It's very important that business travel be seen as a solution. This industry could lead the economy out of the recession if people begin traveling and doing business."

The industry group said in the first six months of 2009, business travel spending is down 12.5 percent and business travel volume is down more than 6 percent.

Sacks said a 10 percent increase in business travel across the board could potentially boost U.S. gross domestic product between 1.5 percent to 2.8 percent.

The report was based on a combination of two separate surveys of corporate executives and business travelers and an econometric analysis of the effects of business travel on corporate performance. It covered 14 economic sectors over a span of 13 years.

The report comes as the world airlines announced they expect to post $11 billion in losses this year due to weak passenger traffic and cargo demand pressure revenue.

Tasty Airline News That’s Easy To Swallow

Surprise to passengers accustomed to munching on pretzels: legacy carriers are increasingly spending more on food to be competitive.

Food spending has risen by four percent in just one year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, though this generosity is not normally passed on to steerage passengers.

“To appeal to increasingly discerning palates, more and more domestic airlines are taking cues from international carriers, which have famously enlisted the help of boldface names to plan meals,” according to CNN.

For years American has relied on Southwestern cuisine chef Stephan Pyles and his Dallas colleague Dean Fearing to plan its in-flight menus.

More recently, United began working with Charlie Trotter to devise healthy meals with an international twist, like wild mushroom risotto and herb-rubbed chicken.

Delta, meanwhile, has tapped the skills of Michelle Bernstein, owner of Michy and Sra. Martinez restaurants in Miami, with nightlife entrepreneur Rande Gerber consulting on cocktails and master sommelier Andrea Robinson picking the wine.

According to airlines' studies, passengers are actually happier paying for something they want to eat rather than getting free food they don't want.

Virgin America points to research that revealed that economy passengers are willing to spend up to $21 on onboard services (including food and entertainment), but that the food needs to be fresh and cocktails high quality.

Though airlines insist their buy-on-board programs are primarily intended to offer passengers a better in-flight experience, they are also part of a larger effort to build up non-airfare revenue.