It takes a travel delay of just 64 minutes for holidaymakers to see red

It takes a flight delay of just 64 minutes for holidaymakers to see red, research has revealed. A poll of 1,330 adults, who have travelled abroad in the last year, found 71 percent have had a flight either delayed or cancelled.

Nearly six in ten (58 percent) of these have struggled to find out why their plans have been thrown into turmoil – while 16 percent head straight to social media to bemoan the airlines.

As a result of these hold-ups, 27 percent have missed a connecting flight, while 13 percent have been left out of pocket organising emergency accommodation.

However, 61 percent don’t always feel flight delays or cancellations are explained properly to passengers.

And 45 percent have also been frustrated because they haven’t been informed about how the issues will be resolved.

But 84 percent would be more understanding when it comes to delays or cancellations, if the airlines were transparent about the issues they are encountering.

A spokesman for IBS Software, the travel technology specialist which commissioned the study, said: “Nobody likes hold-ups, and this is especially true when travelling abroad – whether that’s for a holiday, or a work trip.

“It is understandable travellers get frustrated when they feel like their plans – which many have been looking forward to for a considerable amount of time – might be in jeopardy.

“But what this research shows is a significant number would actually be content with the delay, if they were just kept in the loop more effectively.

“Weather, secondary delays and issues are a daily challenge, but the industry can help regain confidence from passengers by using better technology to resolve these delays in minutes, not hours, and communicating with passengers.”

The study also found that at the early organising stages of a trip, 45 percent already worry they will incur problems with their departure time when at the airport.

And 45 percent expect their journey won’t run seamlessly, following many of the issues the travel industry has faced over the last 12 months.

More than half of travellers (53 percent) understand weather conditions are the most common causes for troubles before take-off, and 30 percent put it down to staff shortages.

But the knock-on impact of long waits has now caused holidaymakers to reconsider the airlines they will fly with next summer – with 18 percent now more likely to opt for a staycation in the UK because of this travel uncertainty.

The poll, conducted via OnePoll.com, also found 64 percent who have experienced delays or cancellations have not received any compensation for the problems they incurred.

But of those who have, 53 percent said it didn’t make up for missing out on the precious holiday time lost.

The IBS Software spokesman added: “This research really highlights the importance the travel industry needs to put on reducing the impact of delays and cancellations – especially the need to communicate clearly with passengers.

“This will have longer term ramifications, with many considering alternative airlines and travel plans altogether.

“Airlines need to rebuild trust with their passengers, and it’s clear better communication can go a long way to repairing this.

“Achieving this means managing flight disruption by giving airlines the insight they need to keep passengers informed – too often, the legacy IT systems many airlines use exacerbate delays.”