India takes top spot for using technology while travelling abroad, shows a survey

Not only are Indians opting more for international travel destinations, but also are ahead of others when it comes to using technology while flying abroad, according to an Expedia survey.

From online hotel check-ins to sharing their flight experiences via social media, to recording bad airline experience — all that and more — Indians are increasingly shifting to technology for services, reports The Economic Times.

As much as 67 percent Indians check in online, taking India to number 7 spot globally. And when it comes to mobile check-in, the country ranks number one at 18 percent, said Manmeet Ahluwalia, the marketing head for brand Expedia in India.

For the number of people using the boarding pass on a mobile device, India stood second with Thailand taking the top spot.

Indians were ranked No.2 for recording bad airline experiences on their smartphone cameras.

Around 34 percent Indians engaging with airlines over social media about their travel experiences while at the airport, at the gate or on the plane and 72 percent of them listen to music or podcasts, taking India to rank number one.

The country ranks No.2 for playing video games in flights at 37 percent.

Expedia's 2018 global flight and hotel etiquette survey was conducted among 18,229 respondents from 23 countries, including the US and countries in Europe, South America and Asia Pacific.

The survey also found Indians to be the most likely to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi. And with Telecom Commission clearing a proposal for allowing wider in-flight connectivity that is available in most of the developed markets, millions of travellers will soon get to use internet and voice services on mobile phones during flights in the Indian airspace.

While mobile phone use will still be restricted during takeoff and landing, the Telecom Department's highest decision-making body has approved the lifting of a ban on the use mobile phones and internet services at cruising altitudes.

The in-flight connectivity facility is expected to be rolled out in 3-4 months, once the modalities of the niche licences and back-end agreements are worked out.