The fact that airlines charge extra for a wide variety of items and services on planes is not a new concept. But a recent survey suggests that travelers might actually be willing to pay even more fees for an assortment of privileges, both on the ground and in flight.
Nearly 60% of travelers would pull out more cash for premium services during travel, according to the research from flight tracker site FlightView.
More than half of travelers would pay extra for an RFID tag on their bags to track the location of their luggage in real time, for instance. Another 37% would pay for priority baggage claim. A third would pay for curbside rental pickup.
And when it comes to what’s happening in the air, it looks like the country's “always-on” mentality makes them willing to pay more to stay connected, even at 30,000 feet. Some 64% would pay a premium for high-performance WiFi, 50% would pay for an in-seat charging station for electronics, and 31% would pay to be able to send and receive texts.
Then there’s this statistic: 22% of travelers would pay extra for early deplaning privileges. In other words, let them off first, please.
But other research finds that 84% of Americans don’t like airline fees, so what’s with this contingent willing to pay more?
“I’m not totally surprised with the survey results, because the items listed in the survey that passengers are willing to pay for are extras that didn’t exist before,” says Chris Lopinto, president and co-founder of ExpertFlyer.com. “Wi-Fi, power outlets and texting are new additions to the traditional flying experience, so the expectation that they should be included with the price of a ticket isn’t there.”
Other services that travelers would pay for:
- 40% - The ability to temporarily check luggage at the gate in order to shop and dine more freely
- 26% - Flight status alerts automatically sent to family, work, hotel, ground transport and other relevant parties
- 18% - The ability to pre-order food and drinks at airport restaurants and cafes via mobile
Millennials are even more on-board than the rest of travelers—75% of them would pay for premium travel experiences (like curbside rental car pickup) and 60% would be willing to pay for premium in-flight amenities (like WiFi).
What that might mean: There are lots of ways airlines could squeeze more cash out of consumers, so watch for these dreams to become costly realities. “The next wave of ancillary revenue will come from premium services that go above-and-beyond to improve the traveler experience and make the day-of-travel easier and more convenient,” says FlightView’s report.
FlightView surveyed 2,339 respondents, 37% of whom were business travelers and 63% of whom were leisure travelers.
(Photo: Matthew Hurst)
