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| World Airport Border Control Survey Gives Heathrow Wooden Spoon for Long Passport Queues, Luggage Wait and Damaged Bags |
JFK and LHR Tops for Security
US Passport Control the Rudest, UK One of the Friendliest
Travellers Support “Bare All” Security Scanners
London, February 12, 2009: WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?) the world’s largest online travel community and network with nearly 15m members, today announced the results of an international survey of more than 2250 travellers about passport control, baggage handling, customs and security issues at the world’s major international airports.
There were mixed results for Heathrow airport which suffered more blows to its already battered image by being voted the airport with the longest passport queues, most likely to have your bags damaged and longest wait for luggage. On a more positive note London’s main airport was considered to be one of the best for security.
No Welcome in the US but a G’day Down Under
US immigrations’ reputation for being less than welcoming was confirmed with 22 percent of all travellers putting the country top of the list of rudest passport control officials. India and Russia had the second and third rudest officials respectively.
UK travellers had an even lower opinion of US passport control with 31 percent saying that they were the rudest.
Australia passport control was voted most friendly by all travellers with the United Kingdom second and Canada third. Among UK respondents, British passport control officials were voted the most friendly with 30 percent of the national vote.
Waiting to be Allowed In
Heathrow was considered to be the worst major international airport for long passport control queues by all travellers followed by JFK New York and Los Angeles which were second and third respectively. And, despite their resident status, British travellers also think that Heathrow is worst for waiting with 23 percent saying that the London airport had the longest passport control queues.
Amsterdam Schiphol was deemed to have the shortest passport control queues.
Baggage in the Hall?
There were more brickbats for Heathrow’s tarnished reputation with the airport being voted the longest wait for baggage ahead of JFK and Los Angeles International (second and third respectively). The same trio also topped the list of major international airports most likely to damage baggage. A damning 23 percent of British travellers said Heathrow was most likely to damage bags.
Safety First
New York’s JFK and London’s Heathrow were somewhat redeemed by being nominated tops for security with 18 and 15 percent of world travellers votes
respectively. Heathrow was voted #1 for security by British travellers. JFK and Heathrow were also voted the major international airports where you were most likely to be frisked and have your bags searched. According to the WAYN survey Bangkok, followed by Amsterdam and Rome international airports, have the least thorough security.
See through Security
Despite concerns about privacy and embarrassment it seems the world’s travel community is broadly in support of plans to introduce new airport security measures using body scanners that would show all anatomical features. Thirty-six percent of all travellers in the survey said that they would greatly improve security, 18 percent said that were less intrusive than a body search and 17 percent said that would shorten security queues. Twenty three percent said they will cause great embarrassment. In addition to privacy issues the other main concern voiced by travellers had to with health and whether they would be exposed to dangerous rays.
Said Jerome Touze, WAYN joint founder and joint CEO, “The results of this survey may be pretty damning in terms of Heathrow’s reputation for passenger service but I guess all travellers would agree security is much more important. In this respect Heathrow can be proud to be considered among the best in the world.
“Meanwhile competition among countries to attract tourists is becoming increasingly fierce. Our survey would suggest that the US customs and immigration need address their attitude towards visitors, simplify the form filling, generally be a lot more welcoming and better reflect the personality of the American people.”
WAYN Border Control Survey 2009 Results
Major International Airport with longest wait for bags:
1. London Heathrow 2. JFK New York 3. Los Angeles International
Major International Airport most likely to damage bags:
1. London Heathrow 2. JFK NewYork 3. Los Angeles International
Major International Airport most likely to have bags searched:
1. JFK New York 2. London Heathrow 3. Los Angeles International
Country with most complicated customs declaration form:
1. United States 2. India 3. Australia
Country with most complicated passport control registration form:
1. United States 2. India 3. Australia
Country with rudest passport control officials:
1. United States 2. India 3. Russia
Country with friendliest passport control officials:
1. Australia 2. United Kingdom 3. Canada
Major International Airport with longest passport queues:
1. London Heathrow, 2. JFK New York 3. Los Angeles International
Major International airport with shortest passport queues:
1.Amsterdam Schiphol 2. Singapore Changi 3. Frankfurt International
Major International Airport with most thorough security:
1. JFK New York 2. London Heathrow 3. Frankfurt International
Major International Airport with least thorough security:
1. Bangkok 2. Amsterdam Schiphol 3. Rome
Major International Airport most likely to have a body search:
1. JFK New York 2. London Heathrow 3. Los Angeles International
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About www.wayn.com
WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?) is the world's largest travel and lifestyle focused social networking community website. The site operates in 193 countries and membership has grown from 45,000 users in March 2005 to over 14 million today. WAYN.com allows its members to keep track of their friends' whereabouts and make new friends based on where they are now, where they have been and where they're going. Services on WAYN.com include travel guide and trip planning tools, unlimited photo and video storage; interaction tools such as email, SMS and instant messenger, forums and travel related tools and products. Headquartered in London, UK, WAYN was founded by entrepreneurs Pete Ward, 30, and pal Jerome Touze, 29, who started the site in their spare time after returning home from a 'round-the-world' trip in 2003.
For further Information Ian Rumgay, 01732 760451, 07803903602 |
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