The average vacation is too short for most, Zogby polling shows. Most (36%) say their typical vacation is 4-6 days – but just as many wish they could stretch it out for 13 days or more. Traveling for a vacation was preferred by most (82%) – only 12% said they would rather just enjoy some time off without leaving home. But nearly three in four (74%) said they have taken a "home" vacation in the past.

Most make vacationing a family affair – 71% said they most often travel with relatives. Even so, most (60%) of respondents with children younger than 17 living at home said they have taken a vacation without the kids – nearly half (47%) send children to stay with a relative while they're away.

As for the pets, most respondents had someone come to their home to look after their pets while they were gone – 21% have a relative come to their home to stay with their pet, while 20% said a friend looks after their pet while they travel. Just 11% have a professional caregiver come and stay with their pet and another 11% sent the pet to stay at a relative's home. But some respondents don't have to worry about finding a place for their pets to stay when they travel – 7% said they always take their pet along.

Most Americans support new measures set to begin Jan. 23, 2007, requiring air travelers to have a valid passport to enter or re-enter the U.S. and most believe the requirements will make America safer, our polling shows.

The vast majority of respondents (87%) said they are aware of new passport rules starting in January requiring air travelers – including U.S. citizens – to carry a valid passport when re-entering the U.S. by air from countries in the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and Mexico.

Our polling shows broad support for the new requirements – 76% said U.S. citizens should be required to show a valid passport to re-enter the U.S. from Canada and Mexico by air. Republicans are most likely to favor the new requirements – 89% of Republicans support the measure, compared to 77% of independents and 63% of Democrats. Older respondents were also more likely to view the new requirements favorably.

Most (65%) said the new requirements for air travelers will help increase security – the vast majority of Republicans (85%) believe the increased requirements will boost security, but less than half of Democrats (48%) feel the same. Again, older respondents were more likely to believe stricter passport requirements would help increase security – 74% of those older than 65 support the new measures for security reasons. The youngest respondents were most likely (20%) to say they weren’t sure if the stricter passport rules would help increase security.

Border security since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 is a significant issue for the majority of respondents – 78% said they are concerned with border crossings between Canada and the U.S. and 82% are concerned with border security with Mexico.

While still a majority (71%), fewer respondents said they were aware of additional passport requirements planned to be implemented in 2008 for land and sea travelers than those who said they were aware of the January 2007 requirements. Fourteen percent said they are not aware the U.S. State Department plans to also require valid passports for land and sea travelers entering or re-entering the U.S. next year – 15% say they have little awareness of the planned new requirements in 2008.

Our survey shows a high level of support for the increased 2008 passport rules – 73% agree a valid passport should be required for U.S. citizens traveling by land or sea to enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico – slightly more (76%) believe a valid passport should be required for all travelers entering the U.S. from Canada or Mexico. Respondents showed even stronger support when asked about travelers who are non-U.S. citizens entering the U.S. – 91% believe they should be required to have a valid passport.

Increased travel requirements aren’t likely to stop U.S. travelers from going over the border – 85% said the passport requirements would make no difference in their plans to travel to Canada, while 86% say the same for traveling to Mexico. Of those respondents who don’t currently have a valid passport, nearly one in three (32%) said they plan to apply for a passport in the next year.

Our survey also gauged the opinions of those who fly at least once a year on their feelings about the trials and tribulations of air travel – 60% in our poll said they fly at least once per year. The majority of those respondents said their primary reason for flying is for vacation (37%), to visit family and friends (30%) or for business (30%). Unless otherwise specified, the following questions pertain to those respondents who fly at least once per year.

Half (51%) said they book flights most often online through the airline's Web site, while one in three (33%) prefer finding flights online though a discount travel site. Only 10% said they books flights through a travel agent most often, and 4% prefer booking flights with the airline over the phone.

Discount airlines such as Jet Blue or Southwest had a slight edge (33%) over full service airlines (32%) such as United or American Airlines as the preferred type of airline – but most (34%) say they have no preference.

Airline security measures seen as necessary

Just over half (51%) said they have been pulled out of line by airport security – 10% have missed a flight due to security delays. Nearly two out of five (39%) said they have had items confiscated by airport security. The majority (57%) said restrictions on what items can be brought on planes are necessary for the safety of the flight crew and passengers – but 38% said the restrictions are too stringent and more items should be allowed on flights.

Nearly half (52%) support the use of "backscatter" technology some airports may use in the future to better search for concealed objects. A backscatter X-ray would be able to view a 3-D image of a person’s body to allow security personnel to scan for hidden items. But 40% are concerned about potential privacy issues with the new technology and are concerned about revealing images possibly falling into the wrong hands.