Travel
Senior Air Travel Survey
Research Report
Carol Keegan, AARP Knowledge Management
Soheyla Taie, AARP Knowledge Management
Shereen Remez, AARP Knowledge Management
Linda Fisher, AARP Knowledge Management
January 2002
To what extent have the air travel security measures initiated since September 11, 2001 proven especially difficult for older adults?
This snapshot of passenger attitudes is the result of a national telephone survey of 1,000 adults which was conducted during January 2002 and found that:
- Concerns about inconveniences related to new security measures are nearly as common as more generalized fears about a lack of security. Roughly one in five adults says long waits (22 percent) or long lines (19 percent) made them hesitate to fly after September 11th. Ten percent say they hesitated to fly because of searches of personal property. Concerns about lack of security involved fear of another terrorist attack (25 percent) and concern about security lapses (29 percent).
- Among adults over and under the age of 50 who have flown since September 11, at least four in ten report that they are experiencing more inconvenience due to: long lines (54 percent), long waits (49 percent) or searches of personal property (43 percent). Four in ten (40 percent) report experiencing more inconvenience because of fear of a terrorist attack and 36 percent because of concern about security lapses.
- Age alone does not make a difference in either concerns about flying or reported inconveniences in air travel since September 11th. Having a mobility-related disability does make a difference, however, and adults 50 or older are five times as likely as those under age 50 to report that they have a motor disability (15 percent vs. 3 percent).
The report was prepared by Carol Keegan of AARP Knowledge Management who may be contacted at 202/434-6286 for further information. (11 pages)