Flybe thought it would be fun to uncover just what is carried back home in all those bulging, heavy cases by many of the just over 1,500 first year students* who are currently gearing up to travel back to family and friends in Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man for the 2014 Christmas break.

Over 1,000 students across the nation have been contacted through a poll commissioned by the airline to find out what is likely to be discovered amongst this season’s luggage which results might, or might not, be something of a surprise.

This is of particular interest as the airline offers registered students travelling between their homes in Belfast City, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and their places of learning, the opportunity to travel with 40kg of luggage for the price of just one 20kg bag. 

With Christmas shopping still mostly needing to be done, almost half will be packing up dirty laundry; while 12 per cent will return to the family fold bearing left-over food items, such as unused noodles and crackers - although 16 per cent of students report their priority will be to take home books and other study material to try and find the time to catch up with uni and college work.

Bags and suitcases will contain:

1. Dirty laundry (49 per cent)
2. Study material (16 per cent)
3. Left-over food items (12 per cent)
4. Partner’s hoodie (9 per cent)
5. College souvenirs (9 per cent)
6. Presents (5 per cent)

It is hardly surprising then that students across the board revealed that the biggest bug bear of travelling home for Christmas was trying to take too much luggage home (39 per cent), the length of time spent in motorway traffic and struggling on crowded trains  (19 per cent), the length of time spent in travelling (17 per cent) and the cost of travel (12 per cent). 13 per cent said they weren’t planning to go home.

When students aren’t busy unpacking dirty laundry and left over food items, you’ll find them appreciating all the other comforts of ‘home.’ This is what they said they missed the most about life at home:

1. Pet (36 per cent)
2. Home cooking (21 per cent)
3. Getting laundry done (14 per cent)
4. Being looked after (12 per cent)
5. Boyfriend / girlfriend (10 per cent)
6. Friends (7 per cent)

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of students would prefer to spend Christmas with family, however when there, they would miss from their ‘new’ lives:

1. Friends (42 per cent)
2. Nights out (28 per cent)
3. Their ‘library life’ (12 per cent)
4. House sharing (12 per cent)
5. Lectures (6 per cent)

Paul Simmons, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, commented: 

“Interesting findings! Christmas is a peak time when students – and family and friends - travel to be together so it is really important to us to understand how we can make things easier for those who to fly with us.

We are delighted to be the preferred regional airline of choice for lots of young travellers through our partnership with STA Travel. We’re always looking to improve regional connectivity and ensure we are the fastest way from A to Flybe.  It is clear from this fun poll that our affordable prices and the extra 20kg allowance we offer our ‘over-water’ students is an important drawcard as they clear their halls of learning to head home for Christmas.”
 
Flybe will operate 104 routes over the weeks spanning the festive season with a choice of up to 2,625 flights a week (8th December 2014 – 19th January, 2015).

One way fares are from ?24.99 one way including taxes and charges.