Leave Odiferous Food Behind, Says Most Air Travelers

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Jan 30, 2015, 01:07 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- When asked their opinion about fellow passengers bringing food with strong odors on planes, almost half (48 percent) thought it was rude but allowable, while 12 percent said airlines should ban foods with strong odors altogether.

Two hundred forty-eight people responded to this survey conducted by The GO Group, LLC, an international ground transportation service provider and GO Airport Express, a GO member and Chicago-based ground transportation company serving O'Hare International and Midway airports.

Thirty-one percent of respondents had no opinion on the subject, while almost nine percent said that as long as people pay for their tickets, they should be able to bring on whatever types of food they want.

There were some differences based on gender. Fifty-two percent of women think it is rude to carry on foods with strong odors compared to 43 percent of men. However, 18 percent of men think airlines should not allow passengers to do so, compared with six percent of women.

Some respondents noted that what is offensive to one may not be offensive to another but it should be a passenger's right to ask for another seat, especially if food allergies are involved. Others said that if the airlines served better food, at reasonable prices, this wouldn't be an issue. Another suggested that restaurants don't allow outside food to be brought in, so airlines shouldn't either.

"In general, airports have been steadily improving the quality of food offered on-site, so there should be something for everyone," says John McCarthy, president of GO Airport Express. "However, people should be considerate of other passengers, especially as planes reduce personal space and the number of flights offered which means fuller planes. We recommend that travelers tell their gate agents if they have any food-related allergies that may require seat changes."

One of the oldest companies in Chicago, GO Airport Express traces its founding to 1853 and the Parmelee Transportation Company, which provided a carriage service between Chicago's railroad stations and the downtown hotels. The GO Group, LLC is a one-stop source for door-to-door airport shuttle services. Its members transport some 13 million passengers to and from more than 60 airports in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe annually.

SOURCE The GO Group, LLC