Travellers are willing to drop a $100 bill to make their travel a little more 'personalised', a new study has revealed.

New research from global travel technology company, Sabre Corporation, which surveyed travellers from 20 countries about what they would spend and why, showed that 80 per cent of travellers purchased air extras on their last trip, spending an average of $62.  When asked if they would spend more to personalise their trip, the answer was “yes” – up to $99 if it improved their travel experience.

The research was announced at the Iata World Passenger Symposium in Dubai today, as part of a Sabre-hosted industry roundtable on how airlines and hotels can deliver more tailored offers and services to customers.

Regional differences in ancillary purchases

The survey also found differences between what people from different regions would spend on extras.

African travellers, who currently spend $95 on air travel extras, were willing to spend the most ($144), while Middle Eastern travekkers were willing to pay slightly more ($91) from their current spend of $58. APAC travellers (currently spending $63) were identified as the least willing to increase their spend on extras ($76).

When asked what they would be most likely to spend money on, the most desired ancillaries were cabin class upgrades, on-board food and beverage and preferred seating and extra leg room – all at 11 per cent. This was followed by inflight wi-fi (9 per cent) and extra checked baggage (9 per cent). The popularity of each ancillary varied between travellers from each region, with North Americans and Europeans choosing preferred seating and extra leg room; Latin Americans opting for on-board wi-fi, and Asia Pacific travellers selecting extra checked luggage. For travellers from Africa and the Middle East, on-board food and beverage, and fast track security respectively topped their pick.

“It’s clear that while there are regional differences  in ancillary preferences, 80 per cent of all travellers spend on air extras, representing a significant revenue opportunity for airlines,” said Dino Gelmetti, vice president EMEA, Airline Solutions, Sabre.  “Airlines know what their travellers want based on the data they have of past purchases. Yet so much of this data remains unused today. However, by leveraging the latest technology, airlines can unlock this data and show they know their travellers by offering the right products at the right time and tailoring a personalised experience that will improve customer loyalty and generate much needed revenue.”

Personalisation

While technology is preferred by most travellers to plan and book travel, human interaction still plays a significant role in some countries. In Latin America, almost half (48 per cent) prefer the help of a consultant to plan and book travel, compared to around a third of travellers from other regions – 37 per cent in the Middle East, 36 per cent in Asia, 35 per cent in Africa and North America, and 33 per cent in Europe.

The study also revealed differences in the time it takes travellers around the world to book trips. African travellers were the fastest planners, with 33 per cent saying they spent less than a day planning their last trip, compared to just 12 per cent of travellers from Asia Pacific. At the other end of the scale, American travellers were the most likely to plan in advance with 9 per cent taking longer than a month, compared to just 3 per cent of travellers from Africa and the Middle East.

“Both airlines and travel agencies have a role to play in providing travellers with a complete booking service that combines the convenience of technology with the power of human interaction,” said Shelly Terry, vice president, product marketing, Travel Network, Sabre.  

“Airlines can maximise revenue by leveraging the expertise of travel agencies and ensuring their inventories are conveniently available to passengers through both direct and indirect channels, giving people the choice and freedom to book travel the way it suits them.” - TradeArabia News Service