Press Releases

Baggage, Branded Fares and Big Revenue: Top 10 things to know about ancillary revenue
The business upheaval that began in the air travel industry a decade ago has now grown to span the globe, has brought economic vitality back to the world’s airlines, enabled the worldwide boom in low-cost travel, and granted consumers the gift of choice.  And the ancillary revenue revolution is spreading its ideas and impacts from air travel into companion industries such as lodging, cruising, car rental, credit cards, dining and more.  Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Ancillary Revenue, the newest report from CarTrawler and the IdeaWorksCompany, describes the depth and breadth of this phenomenon, which has transformed the world’s largest industry.

Points, Pillows and Porsches: Hotel and Car Rewards at the Top 30 Airlines
Whether intentional or not, every frequent flier program creates a brand image in the minds of its members.  Some airlines take an approach that provides the bare troika of essentials:  reward tickets, partner airline tickets, and upgrade rewards.  Fortunately for consumers, more of the world’s top airlines choose a more robust retail approach by adding a global selection of hotel and car rental rewards.  Of the top 30 airlines assessed by IdeaWorksCompany, the majority provide more reward options with the likely objective being to make their programs more attractive to customers.

VIP for a Fee: Eleven Airlines Now Sell Airport Services Designed for High Value Customers
At the highest level of service and status, airlines will meet and greet passengers at the curb, provide private screening, and whisk them to planeside in a sedan car on the ramp.  This level of service eludes most elite-status travelers but is now within the grasp of anyone with the swipe of a credit card.  The latest report from IdeaWorksCompany reviews how airlines all over the world now sell extra pampering to passengers for a profit.  VIP treatment, such as early boarding, bonus miles, fast track screening, and first class upgrades, has proven to produce the revenue payback eagerly desired by airline management.

IdeaWorksCompany Creates New Master Classes Designed to Boost Revenue and Profits
Roster of presentations grows to 16 with addition of 7 sessions including a la carte products, fare families and reward management.  Master Class Workshops kick-start the ancillary revenue revolution within any airline by educating and engaging all stakeholders, such as finance, sales, operations, marketing, and revenue management personnel, in a forum led by one of the industry’s leading experts.

Economy Class Meals Get an a la Carte Upgrade
Air France, Austrian, Condor, Hawaiian, KLM, and US Airways hope customers will forego free and pay for better food.  This IdeaWorksCompany report describes how these airlines strive to create better comfort in the air for those willing to pay a little extra.

Airline Ancillary Revenue Reaches $27.1 Billion — More Than Doubling the 2009 Number
The most recent ancillary revenue analysis by IdeaWorksCompany, which was sponsored by CarTrawler, provides the most detailed global assessment of a bottom-line-booster that can represent more than 38 percent of a carrier’s revenue.  The research examines 53 airlines that disclosed revenue during 2012 from activities such as frequent flier miles sold to partners, fees for checked bags, and commissions from car rentals.

Premium Class Rewards Provide Best Value for Frequent Flier Members
One of the recurring debates about the booming loyalty marketing industry is whether rewards provide notable value . . . and which rewards are the most valuable.  To answer this, IdeaWorksCompany conducted booking research using United’s MileagePlus program (largest in the world) to determine which rewards provide members the greatest dollar value.  The answer was clear:  Booking first class travel to Hawaii, Europe or Asia provides best value for redeeming frequent flier miles.