Media Releases
24 June 2010
Travellers rate comfort and entertainment most important
Business travellers on a budget airfare are prepared to pay more for extra legroom and entertainment but balk at having to pay for a reading light or to use the toilet.
An online survey by SME business travel specialist Corporate Traveller revealed that most people would pay over and above the price of a low cost ticket for the privilege of having more legroom, more entertainment options and for personal seat selection.
Passengers were least likely to pay extra for carry-on luggage storage, toilet facilities or to use an overhead reading light while flying.
A total of 124 people participated in the survey, which asked respondents to choose which in-flight services they would be prepared to pay more for, when travelling on a budget fare. Respondents were given seven options to choose from including toilet facilities, extra legroom, more entertainment options, seat selection, comfort packs, reading light and carry-on luggage storage. Respondents could vote for as many options as they wanted to, which produced a total of 253 votes cast across all options.
First on the list of services that people agreed to pay extra for, was extra legroom, which scored 33 per cent or 83 of the 253 votes, this was followed in second place by more entertainment options with 19 per cent or 49 votes, being able to choose your seat scored 14 per cent or 36 votes, comfort packs came in as next important with 11 per cent or 27 votes, toilet facilities and carry-on luggage storage received 10 per cent or 25 votes and reading lights scored a tiny three per cent or eight votes. (percentages rounded up to nearest whole percent).
Corporate Traveller national marketing manager Chris Preston said the poll showed that while most passengers were prepared to pay extra to enhance the overall enjoyment of a flight, most were not happy if they had to pay for amenities that traditionally have been included in the price of a ticket.
"There has been plenty of discussion in the travel industry recently about airlines charging passengers for certain on board amenities," Mr Preston said.
"While some of these features or privileges such as seat selection, already are attracting an additional fee on some carriers, passengers don't seem to like the idea of having to pay extra to use the toilet, turn on a reading light or store luggage in an overhead locker.
"These are items passengers expect to be included in the price of an airfare, just like you expect to get linen, soap or toilet paper in most hotel rooms.
"Generally travellers understand and accept that nowadays an airfare is only part of what it costs to fly, but our survey shows there are some things that very few people would agree to pay extra for - like the toilet and an overhead light."
