More Than Just Surveys: How Travelers Are Building a Supportive Air Travel Community with Affordable Skies

By: Jennifer C Rykaczewski

As the fall travel season unfolded, we invited travelers across the country to share their experiences and the challenges they face when flying. The response was remarkable. Hundreds of people took the time to speak openly about what they see, what they feel, and what they hope will improve as we move into a new year.

But what we heard went beyond numbers and data points. Travelers told us they want a real community, a place where they can connect with others who face similar challenges, share honest experiences, and feel part of something bigger than a survey. They want a space where they can ask questions, learn about the industry, and be heard in a way that is personal and real.

Their voices give us a clearer understanding of the traveler experience today. They also give direction to the work of Affordable Skies as we continue building a national consumer voice focused on safe and affordable air travel.

Affordability Continues to Shape Travel Decisions

One of the most consistent themes in the feedback we received was the rising cost of travel. Many travelers said they are watching fares with far more caution than before. Some are delaying trips. Others are changing destinations or adjusting plans to stay within their budgets. For families, the financial pressure is especially noticeable, and several respondents said the cost of flying has become a limiting factor in how often they can travel.

Travelers understand that the aviation system is complex and that pricing reflects many operational realities. What they want is clearer information and greater transparency. People want to feel confident that they can compare options without being surprised later. They also want the freedom to choose how they would like to travel, including which ancillaries or added services matter to them. Travelers are not asking for every fare to look the same. They are asking for straightforward information that helps them make decisions that fit their needs, their budgets, and their travel style.

For many, affordability is not only about vacations. It influences their ability to stay connected with family, reach important life events, and access opportunities across the country.

Safety and Reliability Matter as Much as Price

Travelers also spoke at length about reliability. Many described the stress of uncertain departure times, crowded terminals, long lines, or sudden changes that disrupt even the best planned trips. Delays do not simply inconvenience travelers. They create uncertainty for parents managing children, for workers trying to make connections, and for older adults navigating busy airports.

What stood out most was how seriously travelers take the connection between safety and reliability. People recognize that delays often come from decisions made to keep passengers safe, and they respect that. What they want is a system that communicates clearly, functions smoothly, and gives them confidence that they will reach their destination without unnecessary stress. These expectations reinforce why research and education remain a core priority for Affordable Skies. When travelers understand how the system works, why certain decisions are made, and what factors influence their journey, they feel more prepared and more empowered. Clear information helps bridge the gap between what travelers see and what happens behind the scenes, and it supports a more confident and informed travel experience.

Communication Shapes the Traveler Experience

Another key theme was the importance of timely and accurate communication. Travelers felt far more prepared and patient when they understood what was happening and why. When communication is absent or conflicting, the experience becomes frustrating very quickly.

People shared moments when a single clear message would have eased stress. Others described situations in which gate changes, delayed flights, or altered boarding processes created unnecessary confusion simply because information did not reach them in time. Travelers do not expect perfect conditions. They expect clarity.

Families Face Unique Pressures When They Travel

Parents traveling with children described challenges that differ from those of other passengers. Many shared stories about seat assignments that placed family members in separate rows, or about tight connections that felt impossible to manage. Some described the difficulty of navigating crowded airports with strollers during peak travel seasons.

These experiences highlight the importance of viewing the aviation system through many lenses. Even small adjustments in communication or support can create a more positive trip for families. They also reinforce why Affordable Skies supports the AIRFARE Act. The AIRFARE Act makes air travel easier, safer, and less stressful for families and passengers who need extra support. By ensuring caregivers, parents, and guardians can accompany loved ones through security and to the gate, the bill removes unnecessary barriers and creates a more inclusive travel experience for everyone.

Travelers Want Their Experiences to Carry Weight

A meaningful thread throughout the responses was the desire for traveler experiences to matter in national conversations. People want to feel that their stories, concerns, and observations contribute to a broader understanding of what air travel looks like today. Across the board, travelers continue to focus on the same themes driving the national dialogue: Safety and affordability.

They want to know that flying remains dependable. They want to know that the system is being strengthened. And they want to know that it remains within reach for families, workers, students, and communities across the country.

How Our Insights Support Both the Industry and Government

The insights travelers shared offer real value to the broader aviation system. Industry leaders and government officials both would benefit from clear understanding of what consumers experience every day. Our research helps identify where communication breaks down, where reliability can improve, and where affordability pressures are most intense. When we share these findings, they help inform decisions that shape policy, guide operational improvements, and strengthen the programs travelers rely on. By elevating real traveler experiences, Affordable Skies helps connect the concerns of everyday passengers with the people who design, oversee, and regulate the system.

The Trust Consumers Place in Our Work

People also made it clear how much trust they place in our nonprofit. Many said they feel they can express themselves more openly with us because we are not an airline survey and we are not collecting feedback through a corporate lens. Affordable Skies is independent and consumer focused, and people appreciate having a place where their experiences are heard without being filtered through company goals or marketing language.

They also shared that they trust us because we take our mission seriously, and we respond to every email and every call that comes through. People want to know that someone is listening on the other end, and they want to feel that their stories matter.

That trust guides how we present our research, how we engage with the industry, and how we elevate traveler voices in Washington. It is a responsibility we carry with purpose.

Why Community Matters to Travelers

Consumers told us they want more than information. They want a real community. They appreciate having a place to connect with others who face similar challenges, ask questions, and share honest experiences. They want something more personal than a virtual space where a bot responds to them. They want a community where real people engage.

This is why we created our Members' Access Lounge. It gives travelers a place to gather, exchange ideas, learn from one another, and feel part of something larger. It is a growing space where conversations are shaped by real voices, not automated replies, and where the traveler experience is respected and valued.

How the Affordable Skies Ambassador Program Helps Carry These Voices Forward

These insights also reinforced why our Ambassador Program is an important part of the work ahead. Many travelers want their experiences to do more than sit in a comment field. They want a way to contribute meaningfully to a stronger national conversation about air travel.

The Ambassador Program gives travelers that opportunity. Ambassadors help share stories from their communities, highlight challenges they see firsthand, and bring attention to experiences that often go unnoticed. Their insight supports our research, strengthens our advocacy, and helps ensure that real traveler voices shape the larger conversation around safe and affordable air travel.

The program continues to grow, and the range of voices within it reflects the diversity of today’s travelers. Parents, students, seniors, aviation workers, and everyday passengers are helping us build a clearer picture of what people face when they fly. The program will officially launch on our one year anniversary on December 17. If you are interested in taking part, please email us at info@affordableskies.org so we can share more about the role and how to get involved.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Traveler feedback makes clear that people want a system that is safe, affordable, and easier to navigate, along with clearer communication when challenges arise. Many also shared how important it is to understand how the aviation system works so they can stay informed in practical ways. These expectations guide our priorities as we build the foundation for Year Two. They will shape our research, our public education efforts, and the stories we elevate through our Ambassador Program.

Our Advisory Council will also play an important role by offering insight and guidance as we strengthen the traveler voice across the national conversation. As we reflect on what travelers shared, we recognize how essential it is to support the work that brings their experiences forward.

Carrying Traveler Voices Forward

Travelers have been generous in sharing their experiences. It is our responsibility to bring those experiences forward and help build a system that works for everyone who flies. As we enter Year Two, we remain committed to strengthening the traveler voice, expanding our research, and continuing the national conversation that people across the country have asked us to carry.

Our end of year giving campaign helps fund the research, education, and consumer engagement that make it possible for us to carry these voices into Washington and the broader aviation community. We welcome your support and thank you for standing with us. If you would like to support this work, you can contribute to our end of year campaign at www.affordableskies.org/endofyearcampaign

Thank you for your continued support, dedication, and for helping us move Affordable Skies forward in the year ahead.