Want gate waits to be less wrenching? - survey's insights

If you don't already belong to an airline club give yourself a Christmas present and join one. The cost ranges from about $300 to $400 per year. This will render your pre-departure wait wondrous. Consider, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates some 750 million of us boarded flights in 2007, and that number will swell to 924 million by 2012. It's nice to have a place to hide away for a while before going to the gate.

A recent survey by the HNTB Companies, an employee-owned organization of infrastructure firms, finds - not surprisingly - that getting to your departure gate in the first place is the biggest hassle at airports today.

One thousand Americans were surveyed. A full 59 percent of them wanted more efficient security and check-in. Thirty-three percent said more efficient movement of people within the airport was important.

“Efficiency is one of the biggest problems airports face today,” says Angela Gittens, HNTB's Vice President of Business Services. She says airports are squeezed from several directions: carry-on restrictions mean more space is needed for checked baggage, and more security screening necessitates more space. “To restore efficiency,” she contends, “airports need to change the way they're arranged.”

As for waiting at the gate per se, HNTB's polled says 38 percent of those surveyed say it would be neat to relax in lounge chairs, or watch television. Twenty-two percent want more eateries, and places to shop.

This makes sense, says Gittens, because most airlines are loath to serve in-flight meals these days, at least in coach.

Staying connected is important too. Nineteen percent of those surveyed want airports to provide more business amenities, such as laptop re-charging stations and Wi-Fi.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler