Travellers happy to pay extra for comfort

ASAP Tickets found that 93 per cent of air passengers in its recent consumer travel habits survey were willing to pay for in-flight upgrades that add more convenience and comfort to their travel experience. This is in spite of the overall rising cost of travel.

The research, which surveyed over 1,000 adult respondents using the ASAP Tickets and Skylux travel agency services, also found that the most popular extra among those surveyed was checked-in luggage. Almost a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents were willing to pay for that add-on.

Other top add-ons included flight travel insurance (20 per cent) to cover unexpected disruptions to flights; seat selection (18 per cent); extra luggage (10 per cent); extra leg room (8.6 per cent); Wi-Fi services (six per cent); and in-flight meals (4.9 per cent).

Good departure times are a priority

The study also found that time of departure and arrival is the top factor influencing travellers’ preferences for just under 26 per cent of respondents. Travellers stated that they try to avoid early morning and late night flights if possible – despite these typically being the cheaper option.

A further 23 per cent said they prefer to book flights with a preferred airline that they usually travel with.

The number of connections was a priority for 21 per cent of respondents – however, there was a much higher number of female passengers (25 per cent) who said this was a priority, compared with 17 per cent of male travellers.

“The increasing costs of travel have been a hot topic in the recent post-Covid-19 period, leading to consumers looking for more budget-friendly travel options,” said Alex Weinstein, Founder of ASAP Tickets. “However, the majority of them do not want to sacrifice their comfort and are therefore ready to spend more on different in-flight upgrades that take the travel experience to the next level.”

Weinstein added that ‘as people are still prioritising travel over other costs, we can currently see an increased demand for affordable luxury’ in the travel sector in 2024.

Allianz Global Assistance’s seventh annual Vacation Confidence Study recently found that Canadians were prioritising travel in 2024, despite financial pressures.