Are Americans Bad Flyers? Survey shows poor flying habits may be impacting performance
1Above Launches “Jet Lag” Flight Drink in North America
PR Newswire, NEW YORK, N.Y., June 18, 2015
Flying takes a heavy toll on Americans’ performance: according to results released today from a 1Above survey conducted online in May by Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults, 81% of U.S. fliers (Americans who’ve ever flown) whose most recent flight was an hour or longer say they need one full day or more to recover after a flight. Yet results show poor hydration and flying habits abound - factors that greatly exacerbate jet lag symptoms and health risks long after each flight. 1Above, the New Zealand brand behind the flight drink designed to help people combat jet leg and arrive ready, is releasing these findings as they launch in North America this week.
Already popular across Australia and New Zealand, 1Above is now launching in the United States. Founder Roger Boyd’s mission is to introduce a healthier approach to flying to America - a market where, despite the fact that conditions on most flights are drier than the Sahara desert, people are not hydrating. Results show that 71% of U.S. air travelers whose most recent flight was at least one hour long1 did not adequately hydrate2 on their last flight. In fact, the longer the flight, the less people tend to drink.
“Flying takes its toll on our bodies, resulting in a set of symptoms that collectively most of us know as ‘jet lag.’ Yet whether we’re traveling for business or pleasure, most of us are expected to arrive at our destination ready to operate at 100%,” said Roger Boyd, founder of 1Above. “1Above was developed to dispel the misperception that jet lag is an inevitable side-effect of flying, and to help people feel better from take-off to landing and beyond. 1Above is about bringing back the love of flying, and our North American expansion brings us just another step closer to making that a reality.”
Gallery
The effects of flying and jet lag can be far reaching: from fatigue, low concentration and irritability to swelling in the extremities, headaches and dry skin, nasal and throat membranes. On top of that, the risk of DVT (venous thrombosis) more than triples on long flights, and studies show you are five times more likely to catch the flu or other illness. Dehydration exacerbates these risks, as cabin air at 35,000 feet creates conditions drier than the Sahara. Yet research shows U.S. travelers remain woefully unprepared and dehydrated when flying. Consider these stats:
- We don’t even realize the cause. Only 11% of Americans believe they experience dehydration when flying, putting the cause of their negative symptoms down to other factors. Yet 71% of air travelers whose most recent flight was at least one hour long1 did not drink sufficient liquids (all drinks excluding alcohol) on their last flight.
- The longer the flight, the less we drink. On their last flight more than a third of air travelers said they did not drink any water (37%). Instead, many drank beverages that actually cause further dehydration (e.g., coffee, alcohol, soda). In fact, fliers are drinking more of these dehydrating fluids than water.
- Eighty-one percent of American air travelers whose most recent flight was less than an hour said they need at least one day or more of recovery time after a flight before operating at their best again, and a recent Loughborough University study showed those driving dehydrated commit as many mistakes as those over the legal drunk driving limit3.
1Above was the first beverage of its kind, formulated specifically for the challenges of flying – to combat the effects of jet lag, support circulation and bolster the body’s natural defenses to help people maintain peak performance levels. The key active ingredient is derived from a natural pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®), that can help fight the severity and length of jet lag and also has been shown to support circulation and to reduce the average length of the common cold and flu-like symptoms. 1Above also contains a mix of six electrolytes to help combat dehydration from flight travel, and six essential B vitamins, which are vital to the body’s natural ability to produce energy to overcome jet lag.
1Above not only helps people hydrate, but overcome the major obstacles to proper hydration when flying. Available as a concentrate or lightweight effervescent tablet, 1Above can be added to a bottle of water once through security or on the plane – or purchased ready-to-drink after security at select airports. 1Above also takes the guesswork out of deciding how many liquids are needed to stay hydrated, as sizes are calculated based on flight length. Plus, the 34 fl oz iconic bottle features a clip allowing the bottle to fit snuggly on your carry-on or on the seat pocket without impinging leg space.
Purchasing 1Above:
Beginning June 2015, 1Above is now available in Toronto, Newark and Minneapolis airports via Cibo Express Gourmet Markets and airport restaurants with OTG iPad ordering systems. It is currently available online at fly1above.com, as well as in airports and cafes throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of 1 Above from May 4-6, 2015 among 2,034 adults ages 18 and older, among which 1,802 have ever flown, and 1,580 say their most recent flight was at least 1 hour long, 444 say their most recent flight was 1-2 hours long, 917 say their most recent flight was 3-6 hours long, and 167 say their most recent flight was 7-12 hours long. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Trisha Bruynell, [email protected].
1Adequate hydration level of 8 fl oz hydrating liquids per hour calculated based on recommendations by the US National Institute of Medicine, International Society for Mountain Medicine, and Mayo Clinic.
2Passenger hydration levels calculated based on self-reported non-alcoholic beverage intake on most recent flight, compared against most recent flight length to determine average intake per hour. Based on these numbers, 58% of American fliers whose most recent flight was 1-2 hours long consumed at least 8oz of non-alcoholic liquids per hour, 21% for passengers with 3-6 hour flights, and 11% for passengers with 7-12 hour flights. Overall, just 29% of American fliers whose most recent flight was at least 1 hour long consumed at least 8 fl oz per hour on their last flight.
3Study led by Phillip Watson, Andrew Whale, Stephen A. Mears, Louise A. Reyner and Ronald J. Maughan from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. Their paper was published online in Physiology and Behaviour on Sunday 19th April 2015.
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ABOUT 1ABOVE
1Above is the flight drink designed to help you fly well and arrive ready. 1Above features a natural pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®), a key active ingredient in reducing the severity and length of jet lag. It also contains a mix of electrolytes and essential B vitamins. 1Above comes in three great formats – lightweight effervescent tablets and a convenient 3 fl oz concentrate that both fly through security with ease, as well as a 18 and 34 fl oz ready-to-drink product. 1Above is available at 1Above kiosks at Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, via 1Above vending machines throughout NZ and Australia, and through leading convenience stores, airport cafes and pharmacies, as well as online, fly1above.com. Beginning June 2015, 1Above will also be available in Toronto, Newark and Minneapolis airports via Cibo Express Gourmet Markets and airport restaurants with OTG iPad ordering systems. For more information visit fly1above.com and #arriveready.