Press Releases

New CarTrawler Ancillary Revenue Yearbook Catalogs $40.5 Billion in Revenue Boosts for 67 Airlines
“A billion here, a billion there − pretty soon you’re talking real money,” American politician Everett Dirksen once said. That’s precisely the case in the 2016 edition of the CarTrawler Ancillary Revenue Yearbook by IdeaWorksCompany, which reveals a total of $40.5 billion in ancillary revenue, comprising 8.7% of total sales, for 67 airlines covered by the survey.  IdeaWorksCompany researched financial filings made by 135 airlines all over the world, discovering 67 which disclosed qualifying revenue activity − four more airlines than in the 2015 Yearbook. Now available free online, the 105-page, 2016 Yearbook provides a detailed global review of a proven revenue source that delivers a whopping $6.2 billion for United Airlines, 36.4% of sales for Wizz Air, and $51.80 per passenger carried by Spirit Airlines.

Southwest, JetBlue Lead Average Reward Price Rankings Among Five Major US Frequent Flyer Programs
Low-cost carriers Southwest and JetBlue continue to offer US flyers the lowest average reward seat pricing, despite an industry shift to dollar-based rather than mileage-based loyalty points accrual. The rankings for the two airlines mirror the results from 2015—and from the year before, when miles flown was the universal accrual method.  These findings derive from the IdeaWorksCompany annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey. In May the firm released reward seat availability rankings for 25 of the world’s largest airlines.

Top Ancillary Revenue Rates Reach $52 per Passenger and $6 Billion per Airline
IdeaWorksCompany published the first ancillary revenue review of top-performing airlines back in 2008. The top ten airlines generated $8.4 billion that year. Fast forward to 2015 and the top ten tally has leapt to nearly $26 billion. Now, this group is a billion-dollar club with annual ancillary revenue ranging from just over $1 billion to $6.2 billion − which is #1 carrier United’s total. Top performer per passenger is Spirit, at $51.80 per customer; Spirit also tops the list for revenue share, at 43 percent of total sales.

Aer Lingus, AirAsia, Ryanair, and Spirit Use Email to Sell After Booking
The need for ancillary revenue requires airlines to venture beyond the booking confirmation email. The latest report from IdeaWorksCompany follows that path to learn how airlines gain more sales after a booking is made. IdeaWorksCompany assessed the full set of emails sent by six top ancillary revenue airlines to learn how they encourage customers to buy more.

Aer Lingus, Pegasus, Spirit, SWISS, and WestJet Provide Excellent Online Examples of a la Carte Promotion
Shopkeepers know the best store layout balances an efficient shopping experience with the placement of subtle detours that cause consumers to consider buying more. Retail methods can fill airline shopping carts too; airline websites can easily apply these practices to booking path design. This requires airline executives to think like retailers and to create websites that go beyond enabling simple transactions to becoming destinations that engage and excite consumers.  The latest report from IdeaWorksCompany reviewed the websites of airlines all over the world and details good practices regarding booking paths ─ and also what airlines should avoid

Air Canada, easyJet, Jetstar, LOT Polish, and United Among Airlines Using Non-Traditional Loyalty Methods
Loyalty is increased through a wide array of methods. To be exact, IdeaWorksCompany identifies six additional loyalty platforms beyond a traditional frequent flier program. Some may operate as replacements for traditional FFPs and others work to increase the loyalty of customers through a combination of rewards and recognition. The latest report issued by IdeaWorksCompany describes the many loyalty choices available, such as coalition programs, subscription plans, and credit-card based rewards.

Delta Air Lines Is 2015 Champ for Revenue Innovation and Marketing Leadership
IdeaWorksCompany continues a year-end tradition by identifying the airlines that have shown the greatest prowess in the areas of ancillary revenue, a la carte pricing, and loyalty marketing. Throughout 2015, we assessed the top ancillary revenue producing airlines and the most generous frequent flier programs, and issued reports that described the industry’s service innovation and product development; and offered practical advice for airline executives.

IdeaWorksCompany boycotts Trump
Presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a “total ban” of Muslims entering the United States at a campaign rally yesterday. In prior comments he has suggested creating a database to monitor Muslim Americans and proposed warrantless searches of their homes. His statements have gone far beyond normal political discourse and represent overt bigotry and xenophobia. Donald Trump has placed hatred and fear in the forefront of his political campaign.