Internet use has left most Britons with no patience for waiting in line, survey says

More than half of Brits admit they have a ‘want it now’ attitude and regularly lose patience waiting for web pages to load - or even for the next episode of their favourite TV show, it has emerged.

Research revealed millions of us are no longer happy to twiddle our thumbs while we wait for goods and services – thanks to the rise of new technologies available at our fingertips which leaves us wanting everything immediately.

Waiting for bags to arrive on the airport carousel, next-day deliveries and watching TV on demand to avoid the ads are other prime examples of our need for speed.

According to 59 per cent of Brits the desire to have everything instantaneously is due to our fast-paced lifestyles, with 40 per cent of us claiming apps and social media have made us familiar with to not having to wait long.

Interestingly, almost two thirds agree society is generally less willing to wait now days compared to 10 years ago.

And more than one quarter said they are prepared to spend more on goods and services if it means they arrive earlier.

The study also found we have little patience for internet buffering (75 per cent), waiting for computers to load (89 per cent) or cheques to be processed (71 per cent).

Holidays are also a source of frustration with 56 per cent fed up with the ‘faff’ of flight check-ins, waiting for luggage to emerge from the hold and boarding delays.

The research was commissioned by cruise line Royal Caribbean to celebrate the return of their family ship Independence of the Seas to Southampton.

Ben Bouldin, managing director of Royal Caribbean International UK and Ireland, said: “The research shows how the growth of apps and gadgets which allow us to have everything we want instantly have shaped our expectations – from food, to entertainment and now even our holidays.''

The research also identified the biggest hindrances to completely enjoying a holiday including flight delays, traffic before even arriving at the destination and waiting around for luggage.

Of those with kids, 44 per cent said the demands of modern life are too front of mind meaning it takes at least 24 hours to ‘switch off’, while one sixth put the stress of travelling with children down to transport delays.

On average, Brits are willing to wait just 11 minutes for their luggage to emerge following a flight before they feel frustrated, compared to just seven minutes queuing for check-in.

One third of the 2,000 adults polled via OnePoll believe too much time on holiday is spent ‘not relaxing’.

It takes just three minutes for frustration to kick in when waiting for a webpage to load and six and a half minutes for food to arrive in a fast-food outlet.