The survey reveals an increase in business travel, with executives taking on average 21 business trips annually.  Trips are also increasing in duration with the average executive spending 48 nights away from home - 3 more nights than a year ago.

This increase in travel is changing the preparations and satisfaction of frequent business travelers. Key findings from the survey include:

• Major increases in Internet usage, with more than 20% of all business travelers now using it to plan flights and book hotels. This is a seven percent increase from 1998.While the �personal touch� remains important - use of agents is slipping. Of the most frequent travelers, 56% use agents for air travel information, and 37% for hotel information - down 3 and 4% from respectively from last year.
• An intolerance of harsh limits on carry-on luggage. While boarding, 23% of travelers had baggage refused last year, up three percent from 12 months ago. Forty percent of those surveyed would actually change airlines for more flexible luggage policies.
• More disruption to schedules. A staggering 95% were forced to change their itinerary after departure in the last year, and 20% say they are often affected by flight schedule disruptions.An increasing use of e-mail. Half of all business travelers contacted colleagues at least once a day, while one in 10 e-mailed home during the average business trip.

But, regardless of rank, the corporate �handcuffs� are tightening their grip. At least 80% of the world�s business travelers are restricted on class of air travel�up from 67% in 1998. Airline choice is also increasingly restricted with 40% bound by choice of airline, another 13% increase.

This increase in corporate travel policies is also reflected in the growth of in-house travel departments. A quarter of those polled sought flight information through their corporate travel department, an increase of 4% over last year.

The 1999 OAG Business Travel Lifestyle Survey represents the views of nearly 3,000 business travelers from the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.

Commissioned by OAG and conducted by independent market research company Plog, the survey is renowned in the travel industry as the ideal way to track the traits and trends of international business travelers.  OAG Worldwide, a division of Reed Business Information and a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group, publishes travel information products in print and electronic format under the OAG brand. The OAG brand has evolved from the 1993 merge of the business travel information companies, ABC in the UK with the Official Airline Guides in the U.S.