Reports

IdeaWorksCompany report determines the scale of activity, how fees are implemented, and how this key ancillary revenue source can be improved for airlines and consumers.  The inclusion of seat fees in President Biden’s recent State of the Union address strongly suggests it is time to review the state of assigned seating fees.  The $4.2 billion estimate covers the assigned seat fee revenue generated by eight key US airlines (Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, and United) for their US domestic networks in 2022.  Airlines Assign Big Revenue Priority to Seat Selection was issued today as a 15-page report. It includes the results of booking queries conducted at six US airlines to sample the range of assigned seating fees from the back of the cabin to the preferred zone in front. Methods used by American and Spirit are featured to show distinctions between global network airlines and low cost carriers.

CarTrawler 2022 Global Estimate of Baggage Fee Revenue reveals 39% increase from 2021 figure of $20.9 billion.   IdeaWorksCompany, the foremost consultancy on airline ancillary revenues, and CarTrawler, leading global B2B provider of car rental and mobility solutions to the travel industry, recently estimated ancillary revenue at $102.8 billion worldwide for 2022.  This CarTrawler Global Estimate of Baggage Fee Revenue identifies baggage as a $29 billion component and provides a summary of baggage fee policies for 20 top airlines.  Baggage fees are now a regular revenue source for airlines in Europe, North America, and Latin America. For global network carriers, these are typically associated with “basic economy” fares; for low cost carriers, baggage fees are typically charged to all consumers.

Click here to download the color graphic referenced in the press release (free to use).

IdeaWorksCompany identifies eight ideas by airlines all over the globe: AirAsia, Cathay, Delta, easyJet, Eurowings, Emirates, Jetstar, United.  The desire to do something new, better, or unique, will almost always create disruption for competitors. Better yet, innovation can also be designed to please passengers and boost revenue. This is something the eight airlines featured in the latest report sponsored by global travel tech provider CarTrawler already know.  Airline Revenue Innovations: A Global Sample of the Coolest Products and Services describes how the carriers in the report are reinventing their services to be distinctive, more profitable, and industry leading.  The report closes with “7 Steps on the Path to Innovation” which offers practical advice to airlines.

IdeaWorksCompany identifies examples from easyJet, Jet2.com, Jetstar, Ryanair, Singapore, and Wizz Air which reveal responsive retailing methods at websites.  Cashiers and clerks just take customer orders. True salespeople identify the individual needs of a customer, and do their best to provide a solution.  This is something the six airlines featured in the latest report sponsored by global travel tech provider CarTrawler already know.  The 12-page Booking Path Magic Converts Consumers report describes how the carriers in the report are enhancing the capabilities of the booking path by making them more responsive to consumers.

New airlines compete by identifying customers who are not well served by larger and established carriers.  This is the secret to surviving as a start-up airline: find an underserved market and apply all the youthful passion and nimble moves you can muster.  That’s how these 10 low cost carriers hope to flourish in a post-pandemic era: Air Premia, Akasa Air, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Flyr, LIFT, Lynx Air, Norse, PLAY, and Vietravel Airlines.

All operate as low cost carriers, as this is the prevailing model of today’s airline industry.  Ancillary revenue is at the core of this movement because it honors customer choice and delivers the amazing alchemy of low fares and more revenue.  World’s Newest Airlines Embrace Ancillary Revenue at First Flight is a 13-page report sponsored by global travel tech provider CarTrawler and reviews the ancillary revenue efforts of ten airlines that leapt through challenging hurdles during the pandemic.

The CarTrawler global estimate reveals the “double benefit” of ancillary revenue; it provides needed income for airlines and delivers overall lower costs for consumers.  CarTrawler, the leading provider of online car rental distribution systems, and IdeaWorksCompany, the foremost consultant on ancillary revenue, project airline ancillary revenue will increase to $102.8 billion worldwide in 2022, compared to $65.8 billion in 2021 and the $109.5 billion record of 2019. The CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue represents an increase built upon a 2022 passenger jump, with consumer support for a la carte services and co-branded credit cards showing gains.  The ancillary revenue method represents a powerful airline retail system. The base fare will fluctuate as determined by supply and demand, while the ancillary revenue components provide a layer of stability in the topsy-turvy world of a global business.  The press release offers six consumer-oriented strategies which represent best practices for airline practitioners.  In addition, ancillary revenue data from the last 10 years is provided in two tables in the press release.

Click here to download the two graphics from the press release (free to use).

The 2022 edition of the CarTrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue by IdeaWorksCompany, released today, describes the 2021 ancillary revenue activities and results for 75 airlines. The gradual waning of the pandemic during 2021 – with passenger traffic improving 27.8% above 2020 – lifted ancillary revenue results for all categories of airlines, all over the world.  The pandemic has compelled airlines to become better at generating ancillary revenue. The “High Performing LCC” category includes Frontier, Jet2.com, Jetstar, and Volaris. The “Other LCC” category (defined as having a rate under 16%) consists of carriers such as AirBaltic, Cebu Pacific, and FlyDubai. The “Other Carrier” category has the largest number of airlines, 32 out of the 75 in the yearbook, and includes traditional carriers such as Aeromexico, Finnair, and Kenya Airways. The US Majors are: Alaska Air Group, American, Delta, Southwest, and United.

The Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue is now available for sale in the store.

Allianz Partners and IdeaWorksCompany release report filled with data from 122 airlines, 174 hotel brands, leading car rental companies and OTAs.  Allianz Partners, a global leader in travel protection and consumer specialty insurance, and IdeaWorksCompany, the foremost consultant on ancillary revenue, have released the first edition of The Allianz Partners Big Book of Travel Data by IdeaWorksCompany.  This new publication, which expands on IdeaWorks’ former Big Book of Airline Data, provides a world of industry data for airlines, hotel groups, car rental companies, and online travel agencies, and is collated by alphabetical order, size, region, and more.

The Big Book of Travel Data is now available for sale in the store.

This CarTrawler sponsored analysis reviews the baggage fee methods embraced by 18 carriers leading the pack.  From global network airlines to low cost carriers, baggage is the top a la carte revenue performer.  The latest report from IdeaWorksCompany describes innovations focusing on carry-ons, baggage check-in, and booking path displays.  Fees for carry-on bags are the latest development in the global quest for ancillary revenue.  Smart airline management teams also acknowledge new baggage services must improve the journey for passengers.  Baggage Belts Deliver Cash for Smart Airlines is sponsored by global travel tech provider CarTrawler and encourages airlines to build better baggage businesses.

CarTrawler-sponsored analysis describes how the pandemic, technology, and environmental concerns have changed airline business travel. It could be a year in which the airline industry recovers some of the profits lost during the pandemic. That’s the picture for leisure travel, especially in the burgeoning premium leisure sector. The recovery of business travel is complex and largely unwritten. Online meeting technology continues to march ahead, company employees are still working from home, corporations are setting carbon reductions tied to business travel, and the airline industry still struggles to find firmer footing. Innovation and resilience saved airlines during the pandemic, and these same traits will allow airlines to adapt to the changes wrought by new communication technologies and carbon emission concerns. The Pandemic, Technology, and the Environment Are Changing Airline Business Travel is sponsored by global travel tech provider CarTrawler and focuses on the new category of premium leisure travel as a market offering tremendous potential to fill the business travel gaps that may persist.