Sunday 16 December 2012

British Airways Survey Reveals Challenges Facing Australians When Packing for Travel

Packing for international travel can be a challenging experience for Australians, according to findings from a survey commissioned by British Airways.

The survey revealed two-thirds of Australian women have to pack their bags more than once before travelling and on average spend five hours thinking about what to pack, compared to just over three hours spent by men.

Three-quarters of Australian travellers struggle to pack everything they want to take with them on an international trip, and 64 per cent of people find packing for a holiday a stressful or frustrating experience.

The survey also revealed that over half of Australians have been forced to leave items behind due to baggage size and weight restrictions from airlines.

Over 600 Australians took part in the research, which was conducted last month in the lead-up to the 2012 holiday season.

"A holiday overseas is something we all look forward to, but our recent survey has shown that packing before a trip can cause some dilemmas," said Neil Ager, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, South West Pacific. "Our generous baggage allowances, particularly in our premium cabins, and our competitive excess baggage rates make holiday preparation for customers easier, and will hopefully help them save a little extra space for some holiday shopping."

In order to reduce the stress of packing for customers, British Airways provides generous baggage allowances - one bag up to 23kgs in World Traveller economy, two bags up to 23kgs each in World Traveller Plus premium economy, and three bags up to 32kgs each in Club World business class and First class. For those customers who are still worried about going over the weight limit, British Airways also offers a flat rate of GBP40 (approximately $65) for an additional bag of 23kgs, or GBP34 (approximately $55) for customers who purchase extra baggage allowance prior to arriving at the airport.

Top Australian stylist Sophie Hart has offered her advice on packing for travel as well as some of the must-haves for Australian travellers.

"The key to packing smart is to keep things simple and chic," said Sophie Hart. "You should pack things that require little or no maintenance, and ensure that you include a few coordinating separates, which will help you to create as many outfits as possible whilst you are away, leaving you with room for a few fun holiday purchases.

"If you're planning a trans-seasonal holiday, it's important that you understand your fibres. From hot to cold, I would recommend Cashmere. It's one of my favourite fabrics - it's luxurious and durable, so perfect for travel, plus it doesn't wrinkle and offers great insulation."

British Airways customers have even more reason to leave room in their baggage for shopping when visiting the UK, with the airline announcing new and exclusive retail offers from some of the UK's best-known brands, including a 10 per cent discount at Liberty and The Burlington Arcade and a discount VIP pass at Westfield London. For further information, visit
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/retail-offers.

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