Every year, Embassy Suites surveys hundreds of business travelers to see what their feelings are and what is most important to them during their trips. Some of the results, specifically around social media, were not surprising to me at all. However, the final paragraph baffles me. Read on for the results and my commentary.

• Nearly 80% of survey respondents report that the economic climate changed the way they traveled for business over the past five years. including an increase in teleconferencing (33%), more pressure to book accommodations that offer great value (29%) and only flying coach (25%). Many reported stricter travel rules, with approximately one-third of respondents reporting that their company’s business travel policies became more austere over the past five years.

I can totally relate to everything in this section. My company has definitely tightened the screws with regards to travel! At this time, every trip is scrutinized and alerts are sent to managers if any red flags are raised.

• Nearly 50% of survey respondents said a great value is most important when booking a hotel for business travel in 2013. Almost half (47%) of respondents said their biggest business travel “pet peeve” over the past five years is new fees for previously free items or amenities.

“Value” isn’t the only thing that is considered under my company’s travel guidelines, but I definitely don’t stay in the most expensive hotels anymore. Any fees (such as wi-fi) are covered, so those don’t really annoy me, but I can see how that would be really aggravating for others.

• An overwhelming 85 percent of survey respondents said they would follow a travel brand on social media in order to learn about travel deals (61%) learn about other travelers’ experiences with that brand (29%) or stay updated on the brand’s latest news (28%). And 2/3 of younger travelers (21-29) are more likely to deal with a customer service issue through social media (although half of the respondents said they would call a customer service line).

I’m not surprised by this at all. Social media is taking over everything, especially for younger generations. At 32, I have both called in and used social media to deal with a service issue.

• 85% of survey respondents said they find business travel to be more enjoyable now compared to five years ago.

This was the most surprising to me. Travel is being downsized and squeezed from all angles, less money is being spent, hotels are taking away previously free services and it’s harder to get an airline upgrade. Yet people are enjoying business travel more than ever? Good for them, but I’m not sure I am in that 85%.

Readers, what are your thoughts? Do you use social media or 800 numbers to deal with customer service issues? Is your company spending way less on travel? Are you enjoying your work trips more than five years ago?

(Click here for the full press release.)

The TSA recently announced they would be allowing pocketknives through airport security and on to planes starting in April. A lot of people are very concerned about the safety repercussions, including the flight attendant unions and some members of Congress. I have tried to stay away from the pocketknife controversy because, honestly, it’s been covered pretty adequately everywhere. But in case you aren’t aware, here are the details (from the TSA blog, emphasis mine):

Starting April 25, TSA will relax restrictions on certain items previously prohibited as part of its ever evolving efforts to focus on items that pose the highest threat. Relaxed restrictions will apply to knives that do not lock, and have blades that are 2.36 inches or 6 centimeters or less in length and are less than 1/2 inch in width, novelty-sized and toy bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs as part of their carry-on baggage.

The relaxing of the rules around knives has predictably drawn the most questions and criticism. I totally get why people get freaked out thinking about knives on a plane. It sounds so dangerous!! However, when you look at the knives in question, they are smaller than the sewing scissors that have been allowed on planes for years. As I have personally carried these tiny scissors (similar to these) on many trips (probably over one hundred) during the last few years, it’s hard for me to get too excited about pocket knives.

Now, I said earlier that I have purposely stayed out of the discussion. Obviously that’s changed today! The reason is a New York Times article from Monday. The author wrote about the TSA changes last week, and not surprisingly received a ton of comments from readers. What was surprising was that a large portion of the comments in support of the relaxed regulations were from women business travelers. As I happen to be a woman business traveler who finds the relaxed regulations not that big of a deal, I found this very interesting. Because other groups were so opposed to changing the rules, I kind of assumed I was a minority. Now that I know that’s not the case, I want to know what others in my situation think as well. (Pictured: a lovely Swiss Army knife. I don’t carry one, but if I did this one would top the list!)

So, Readers, what is your take on the TSA allowing small knives through security and onto planes? Does it seem dangerous, or no big deal? In your comment, if you’re comfortable with it please identify your gender. Just because I’m curious

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American Airlines and US Airways: The merger is finally supposed to happen. Or is it? Articles abound today about the merger and what it means for travelers. A secret board meeting is supposed to happen next week to vote.  Reports are that the company will be based in Dallas, will be called American Airlines, and that they won’t have to change their new livery. Also members of the loyalty programs can rest easy—neither program will disappear. I do think it’s interesting  that American’s labor unions want their CEO far, far away from the new company….

Delta and SPG will be launching a promotion March 1 where elite customers get perks from both companies. Even if you’re only elite with one, you get the benefits from the other. Sounds like a great deal to me! I hope other companies team up too.

And speaking of travel benefits! According to the BBC, studies say travel can make you healthier. And according to USA Today, studies show that travel can increase your sex life. Awesome! Sign me up. Except that I’m pretty sure they are not talking about business travel where you often eat lots of food late at night, have no time to exercise, don’t sleep enough, and your SO is thousands of miles away…. But it sure does sound nice!

Readers, any thoughts? News stories I missed?

The Home Warrior hates making a scene. He could go to a restaurant, have the worst food he’s ever eaten, and when the server asks, “How is everything?” he would say, “Great!” just to avoid making a scene. We have recently been planning our first trip with the Mini Warrior, and one of Home Warrior’s biggest concerns is disturbing people if the baby cries.

When I fly, I try to be understanding of the people traveling with their kids. However, I know a lot of business travelers who wish they could sit in a kid-free area of the plane (and to be honest sometimes I do too). According to CNN, an airline in Asia has decided to fulfill this wish. Passengers flying AirAsia X can have the option of paying more ($11-35) to sit in the first seven rows of Economy Class on certain flights, where kids under 12 are not allowed.

Honestly, I think this is a great idea. People who want to be away from kids so badly that they will pay for it, can. (Although I do wonder if these are the rows with more leg room, and if there are any of those rows in the other section. If not, I would have an issue with that.) The comments on the CNN article run the gamut from “Thank God, you people chose to have children and I shouldn’t have to suffer from it,” to “They are infringing on children’s rights.” Obviously I have a kid, and don’t hate children. I still think this is a good idea because it doesn’t penalize anyone for traveling with children, and it gives people who want to sit away from children the option to pay more to do so. It also allows parents who are concerned about their children crying and disturbing other passengers (like the Home Warrior) a little peace of mind.

Readers, what do you think? Good idea or a waste of time? Infringing on anyone’s rights?

ETA: CNN did a follow-up about the comments to the original article.

Last year I posted about my top 5 movies. Number one on the list was (and will always be) The Princess Bride. It’s my favorite movie of all time, and I watch it often. My younger sister and I used to watch it and compete to see who could say a line first (I bet watching it with us was super fun. not.). I watched it while I was getting ready for my wedding, and while I was in labor. So now that you know how much I love this movie, you get how any news story related to it catches my eye. Add travel to that mix, and it’s irresistible!

From NBC Travel Kit:

Mullins was wearing a shirt adorned with the image of a giant name tag with the slogan: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

Fans of the ever-quotable 1987 fantasy romance, “The Princess Bride,” will recognize it as one of the best-known lines from the film, but travelers on board the flight apparently found it threatening, Mullins told Stuff, a news outlet in New Zealand.

One of the flight attendants asked him to change, but he said he didn’t have anything else to put on. She went to try to find him something but couldn’t, so he wore it the whole flight while she “avoided eye contact with him for the rest of the flight.”

So okay. Obviously if you’ve lived under a rock for the last 25 years and haven’t heard of the movie, I can see how it would be off-putting. And since Mr. Mullins wasn’t inconvenienced in any way, this is kind of a non-story. Except for its relation to the best movie of all time, of course.

By the way I so love the beginning paragraph to this article:

He didn’t try to sneak shrieking eels past security or channel the menace of Dread Pirate Roberts, yet a recent flight turned into the Pit of Despair for a passenger with a fondness for “The Princess Bride.”

And….queue Princess Bride quote-off. The comments of the NBC article are pretty funny. Of course, I think anything related to this movie is incredibly fun. Also I kind of want this t-shirt now. And I just spent a LOT of my day watching Princess Bride videos.

If you haven’t seen this movie, you are missing out. Go watch it this weekend! Fun for the whole family.

Readers, have you seen it? What’s your favorite line? Or if it’s too hard to pick a favorite, how about the first one that pops into your head?

Have fun storming the castle!

From a CNN article this week:

According to a safety alert published on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website, the prepackaged coffee filters many airlines use are susceptible to pressure buildup and can explode when an unsuspecting attendant lifts the coffee pot to pour a cup.

Okay seriously? The coffee filters are dangerous? Yeah right.

Several cases of bursting java filters have caused flight crew and passengers to suffer first- and second-degree burns, according to the FAA’s warning.

“The coffee filter containing the hot coffee grounds can burst causing burns to the face, neck, hands, arms and torso in varying degrees of severity,” the FAA’s safety alert said. The alert was issued to airlines and aircraft operators on January 3.

Oh. Maybe they are actually dangerous….

When it looks like the coffee filter package is about to blow, passengers and crew nearby should get out of the way and not touch the coffee pot.

Don’t have to tell me twice!

It just seems like the manufacturers of this coffee filter should know a) the risks of doing things in a pressurized cabin; and b) how to avoid those risks! I mean, come on. First and second degree burns?? That’s a big deal! You can’t tell me there’s not a way to design these coffee filters so that this doesn’t happen.

The article goes on to say that the FAA is recommending airlines add information about how to safely use the coffee filters into their safety manuals. I definitely think that’s smart for the interim, but IMO this is a design flaw.

Now I’m going to be terrified every time my neighbor asks for a cup of coffee.

Readers, what do you think? Are the flight attendants responsible for using the coffee filters safely? Or should the manufacturer figure out a better design?

Pictured: Adorable vintage coffee pot (NOT of the exploding variety) from Etsy shop Zoe Designs.

In what is undoubtedly another publicity stunt, RyanAir CEO Michael O’Leary says that seatbelts on a plane don’t matter. According to NBC News, he said, “If there ever was a crash on an aircraft, God forbid, a seat belt won’t save you.” His goal, supposedly, is to take out the back ten rows on a plane to create a “standing zone” where passengers would, I don’t know, hang on to bars or straps like on a subway.

I call so much BS on this I don’t know where to start. On the one hand, if there is a major crash, a seatbelt may not help. But that doesn’t mean it definitely won’t. Remember the Miracle in the Hudson? I bet seatbelts helped those passengers a lot! Plus, crashes aren’t the only dangerous things that happen. A few months ago a pilot mistakenly sent a plane into a dive, and passengers who didn’t have seatbelts on hit the ceiling of the plane. Turbulence can cause all kinds of issues and injuries if you’re not strapped in.

There is no way any safety agency would let him do this, so it is assuredly just a ploy for attention. Just like O’Leary’s idea to charge for using the lav. But, like most of is insane suggestions, it’s out there enough to get people to notice. Oh well.

Readers, your thoughts? Is this a real idea or just a publicity stunt? Do you think seatbelts matter?

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A recent study done by Concur (an expense management company) found nearly 90% of business travelers use apps on their trips. They also showed 62% of travelers use apps every single time. Not a surprise to me!

Some interesting specifics:

• Airline apps (44 percent), map apps (41 percent) and hotel apps (30 percent) top the list of the most-used travel-related apps.
•  Expense reporting apps are used by 43 percent of business travelers, despite more than 80 percent of travelers who cited expense reporting as a major pain point of business travel.
• Nearly a quarter (22 percent) of business travelers use five or more business travel-related apps during their trips.
• Thirty-two percent of travelers who are on the road at least three times per month were found to use five or more apps, compared to just 13 percent of those who travel less than two times per month.

On every single trip, no matter how short, I use TripIt, the app for whatever airline I’m flying, the maps app, Facebook (because I use it every day!), multiple news apps, and often The Weather Channel. I do not currently use an expense reporting app.

Readers, what apps do you use on your business trips? Five or more?

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Recently there have been several articles about passengers made to change clothes or even kicked off flights for “inappropriate dress.” The offenders have been accused of showing too much cleavage, wearing t-shirts with profanity, and sagging pants. Of course, part of the problem is that these standards aren’t written down anywhere visible, are purposefully vague, and are applied unevenly. According to an AP article on the Minnesota Public Radio site, US Airways says that passengers who pose a “threat to the comfort and safety of other passengers or employees” may be denied the right to board, and that it’s “not an issue of dress code, but of disruption.” Which I take to mean is that it’s really only an issue if someone complains.

I’ve seen people who have distracting clothing on flights, including cleavage, profanity, and sagging pants. Do I think those people could show better judgment? Of course. Can airlines ask people to cover up? Sure, I guess. But should they be kicking people off flights? And more, should they be kicking people off of flights simply because another passenger complained about their outfit? (It makes me wonder—why would they draw the line there? Why can’t we complain about people who put on too much cologne, and have them kicked off the plane? Or people who are super rude? But I guess that’s a question for another day.) The guy with the sagging pants was actually arrested for refusing to pull up his pants, which seems like an extreme overreaction.

(Check out CNN’s take on appropriate clothing for travel.)

Readers, what do you think? What’s appropriate and inappropriate attire for flying? Should airlines be able to kick passengers off of flights for what they’re wearing?

Boy, Alaska Air has been in the news a lot recently. Remember last week, when the guy went into a rage over his neighbor’s overhead light? And now this story from CNN.

Imagine you are on a flight. You’re super excited about your exit row seat, with all that extra room. You get settled, look out the window and see the wing….. with some writing on it? You look a little closer, and see the following message: “We know about this,” with an arrow pointing to the chunk missing from one of the wingflaps. Oh, dear.

When the passenger contacted Alaska Airlines to find out what exactly was going on, they were told that the wing flap had received an FAA-approved repair before the flight and was safe to fly. The note was left because:

“’…before every flight, pilots do a walk around the plane, and they kept seeing the section repair and pointing it out and kept filing a report saying, ‘you need to fix it,’ ‘ said airline spokesman Paul McElroy.

Maintenance workers wrote the note to head off further reports, which was ‘not the best approach,’ McElroy said.”

There is a spirited debate in the comments of the CNN story about the safety of airlines in general, today, and if you have a minute I encourage you to read it. I am not an expert and don’t know enough about airplane maintenance to know whether the plane was safe to fly, so I’m not going to comment on that. But what I do want to comment on is the incredibly unprofessional phrase used. “We know about this.” Really? Really. Is that what you were trying to say? I see that, and I think, Who knows about what? And was it fixed? Who is the message for? Passengers who keep pointing out the hole in the wingflap? There are a million other phrases they could have used, such as , “Repaired per FAA Guideline number XX.” Not that much longer, and looks way more official. I would be far less frightened to see a message like that, vs. “We know about this.”

Readers, what do you think? Did they handle it appropriately, or could they have done better?