Bluetooth trackers in demand amidst ongoing airport strike chaos

The Easter weekend (and Easter holiday travel in general) is set to again be disrupted by strikes from various airport personnel. Amidst strikes taking place on and off over recent months, research from PriceSpy, the impartial price and product comparison service, indicates that people are taking precautions to minimise the risk of further disruption.

The popularity of bluetooth trackers has skyrocketed over the past 12 months - increasing in popularity by a staggering 330% in the last 12 months compared to the year before - as people take greater care to prevent losing their luggage amidst anticipated airport chaos.

Most popular bluetooth trackers on PriceSpy:

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, UK country manager at PriceSpy, comments: “With so much disruption at airports in recent months - not just in the UK, but in popular holiday destinations too - travellers are getting increasingly anxious about things like longer queues at security plus the risk of their luggage going missing. Bluetooth trackers are an easy, and relatively affordable, way of keeping track of bags and easing that anxiety.”

Travel trend indicators based on consumer behaviour

And it’s not just bluetooth trackers that have taken off. Other travel-related trends that PriceSpy has witnessed on its site include:

• Keeping an eye on home: The popularity of smart-home sensors and sirens has increased by 13% of the past year, as a way of people remotely monitoring and controlling their home security whilst way
• Popularity of cabin-size luggage: Three out of the top five most popular suitcases on PriceSpy are cabin-size, as people again look to reduce the risk of lost luggage in-transit and keep costs down
• Sun protection: Searches for suncream are up 44% in the last three months, as people look ahead to warm weather during Easter and summer holidays

And, with passport office workers on strike for the next month, data suggests that many people may be looking closer to home for their next holiday - be that out of necessity or choice:

• Tents have increased in popularity by 12% in the last six months compared to the same period a year ago, demonstrating the higher demand for camping gear than this time last year
• Searches for roof racks and boxes are up by 7% in the last three months, compared to three months prior, as people opt for road travel over flying

Liisa continues: “The pandemic set in motion a seachange in how people choose to holiday, with concerns over the climate also contributing to the increased trend for staycations and road trips.”

“We’re seeing clear signs that camping and road travel are going to be popular again this year. With severe disruption caused by the passport office workers strike, we expect to see this trend significantly pick up in the coming weeks as international travel gets ruled out for many people.”

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Notes

All data cited is correct as of 3rd April 2023