Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic that grounded planes across the globe, most college students are still wary of flying. But students’ views on traveling in the midst of a pandemic differ considerably by gender and geography.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that a majority (60%) do not feel comfortable traveling by plane right now, compared to 40% who do. However, female students are more likely than male students to say they are not comfortable flying right now (63% vs. 50%).
Among students who say they are uncomfortable flying, more than three-quarters (77%) say sitting next to someone who might be infected makes them uncomfortable. It isn’t a singular concern, though. A majority also worry about airborne particles lingering in the plane (62%), being on a crowded bus or train to and from the airport (57%), and touchpoints on the aircraft such as tray tables, seats, and overhead bins (51%). Female students are more likely than male students to worry about all of the above, but particularly touchpoints on the plane (54% vs. 38%).
Female Students are More Uncomfortable With Every Aspect of Flying
What makes you most uncomfortable?
An overwhelming majority (82%) of students who feel uncomfortable flying say unoccupied middle seats and reduced capacity would make them more comfortable. About three-quarters of students also report that airlines requiring staff and customers to wear personal protective equipment (76%) and physical distancing during check-in and boarding (75%) would help alleviate their concerns.
Still, 7 in 10 (71%) students who feel uncomfortable flying right now say they wouldn’t feel comfortable until there is a vaccine for COVID-19. About 3 in 10 (29%) say they would feel comfortable before a vaccine is available.
Just 17% of students have flown domestically since mid-March, while 4% have flown internationally (including international students). About one-third (32%) of those students say their main reason for flying was to move on or off campus, while another 34% traveled to visit family or friends and 17% went on vacation. Male students are more likely than female students to say they flew for a vacation (21% vs 13%).
Male Students are More Likely to Fly For Vacation
What was your main reason for flying?
More than 4 in 10 (44%) students who haven’t flown since mid-March are not sure when they will fly again, while 17% expect to fly next summer and 19% expect to wait a year or longer before they board a plane.
In contrast to flying, far more students (47%) have traveled outside of their state by personal car since mid-March — particularly students from the Mid-Atlantic (63%) and New England (57%). About 4 in 10 (42%) say their main reason was visiting family and friends, while fewer were moving on or off campus (21%) or going on vacation (23%).
A majority (61%) of students who drove out of state didn’t quarantine when they got home, while 15% quarantined for less than two weeks and 25% quarantined for the full two weeks. Male students are significantly more likely than female students to say they didn’t quarantine at all (71% vs. 49%).
The need to see friends and family (34%) is the main factor that would influence students to plan a trip, even more than a COVID-19 vaccine (26%). However, students from New England (33%) are more likely than students from the West (22%), Midwest (25%), Mid-Atlantic (26%), and South (27%) to say a vaccine would influence them most. Students from New England are also significantly less likely than those from the Mid-Atlantic to say travel discounts and deals would most influence them (9% vs. 29%).
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
