Reports

Path to Profits: How the Best Airlines Promote a la Carte Sales in the Booking Path
Website examples from all over the world illustrate best practices on fare displays, baggage pre-pay, seat upgrades, and other top a la carte items.  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.

How Do I Reward Thee? Let Me Count the Ways Dear Traveler
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.

The Airline Manual for Merchandising
The basic fare with a la carte extras has given way to bundling, branded fares,and the promise of personalized pricing. Visit the websites of leading airline retailers today and you will see a robust display of various pricing methods. Consumers encounter branded fares, service bundles, subscription plans with prices that are fixed, flexible, or dynamic. Someday they will also encounter pricing which is aimed at them as individual consumers. The latest report issued by IdeaWorksCompany is designed to prepare industry professionals for the decision-making required to take merchandising to the next level with examples from the world of airline retail.

Brussels Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, and United Rev Up Their Ancillary Revenue Engines
The most recent ancillary revenue report sponsored by CarTrawler celebrates retail and merchandising innovations that support ancillary revenue. It offers a collection of examples that rely upon technology and training to create a type of mercantile seduction that encourages consumers to open their wallets and spend.  Vendors were invited to share details of client success stories. These were included with other examples, such as JetBlue and Tuifly.com, to create a report filled with services and products that stimulate the imagination and a carrier’s income. The examples in this report demonstrate the revenue power harnessed when companies engage their customers with attractive storefronts, be they in the city center, online, or up in the air.

Airlines Woo Members with Wild, Weird and Wonderful Rewards
IdeaWorksCompany recently reviewed the frequent flier programs of 160 airlines around the world to gather examples of alternative rewards such as unique experiences, event tickets, and retail goods. Beyond the benefit of reducing reward liability, alternative rewards can encourage members to interact more frequently and deeply with the program. In addition, a thoughtful selection of rewards can create a personality for the frequent flier program and ultimately the airline. Does the program wish to be playful, luxurious, or socially aware? Through its review of programs worldwide, IdeaWorksCompany offers examples of 25 alternative rewards ranging from the extravagant to everyday comforts.

Boost Ancillary Revenue Through Empathy, Competence, and Kindness
Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, recently admitted “If I had known being nicer to our customers was going to work so well, I would have done it years ago.” As notable as O’Leary’s epiphany is to the airline industry, it’s worth pointing out that the proven value of empathy, competency, and kindness precedes his recent directives to be nice to customers. The latest report from IdeaWorksCompany explores how airline management teams can work together for the greater good of their customers, employees, and investors.  Call it a back-to-basics mantra, but sometimes in a technology riddled world, we all can benefit from a few therapeutic reminders to reset our moral compasses. By using the inherently human qualities of empathy, competence, and kindness, the report offers advice to airline management teams to boost ancillary revenue.

Profit From Innovation: Ancillary Revenue Examples From Around the World
Buckle up for a global tour featuring network carriers, LCCs, and companies outside the airline industry.  IdeaWorksCompany and CarTrawler offer a global a la carte buffet from 20 companies including Aer Lingus, Amazon, American Airlines, Lufthansa, and Tune Hotels  The latest IdeaWorksCompany report reviews innovations that rely upon consumer desire for more comfort, convenience, and certainty. A la carte places consumers in control of the travel process. The companies featured in this report know that when a service provides good retail value consumers will click to buy it.

Revenue-Based Accrual as the New World Order
The latest IdeaWorksCompany report reviews how the frequent flier business is positioned for change due to moves made by key players and their desire to revolutionize accrual methods. For many fliers, gone forever as of 01 January 2015 is the notion an economy class fare accrues miles on the basis of distance flown. Instead, the almighty US dollar will determine the miles posted to member accounts.  “Revenue-Based Accrual as the New World Order” was released today as a free 15-page report and is available at the link above.  The 2014 Loyalty Marketing Report series is sponsored by Switchfly, a global technology company that powers travel commerce and loyalty redemption solutions for leading travel, financial services and ecommerce brands.

Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Ancillary Revenue
After 10 years, a new business model has transformed the world’s biggest industry.  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.  The report identifies many key elements of this phenomenon, including:  baggage charges, branded fares, subscription programs, high value customers, transparent pricing, and frequent flier program revenue.

Points, Pillows and Porsches: Hotel and Car Rewards at the Top 30 Airlines
It’s no surprise the largest loyalty programs – American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, and United MileagePlus – offer car rental and hotel rewards.  The biggest surprise is posed by the high profile global carriers that don’t, such as Air China, Turkish Airways, and US Airways.  Reward activity, survey results, and the prevalence of broad-spectrum rewards indicate they have become a “must have” amenity for frequent flier programs wishing to compete on a global scale.  The report describes how better airline brands engage their top customers in a deeper relationship by going far beyond a basic selection of reward tickets and upgrade rewards.