Seats in economy class stress out Kiwis

Photo / Sarah Ivey

New Zealand business travellers are more worried than others about flying economy but they're far more relaxed about airport security and immigration.

A survey for business travel specialist Carlson Wagonlit Travel also found New Zealand and Australian businesspeople were more strung out about poor internet connections.

A "travel stress index" developed by CWT after analysis of millions of transactions found that travellers estimated 38 per cent of their time on business trips could have been more productive if they had been able to rid themselves of stress.

The algorithm-based tool is based on data from nine different sources, including 15 million air transactions, traveller demographic information, worldwide employee compensation benchmark data, flight statistics on delays and lost luggage, and information relating to geopolitical risks.

While the global average stress level for flying in economy is 73 per cent, Australasian travellers are pushed to 74 per cent.

"For travellers from our part of the world it's predominantly a long-haul flight so the pain is more evident," said Mike Orchard, a senior director at CWT Solutions Group. He said travellers from this region were also more concerned about poor or no internet connections - 2 per cent higher than the global average.

But we're more laid back about delays, airport security and immigration - 1 per cent, 9 per cent and 8 per cent lower than average, respectively.

Orchard said Australasian travellers were also more health conscious, wanting access to workout facilities and quality food.

"It seemed that that old adage of Kiwis and Aussies being health freaks did bear fruit."

CWT calculates the possible lost time for a company taking an average of 5000 trips per year was US$3.3 million ($3.9 million) and of this US$1.1 million could be saved through improved traveller productivity.