In the complex landscape of travel planning, a new report from Forrester Research suggests that the worst part of a trip may not be the journey itself but rather the booking process on the web. The study, set to be released by Forrester Research, reveals a growing dissatisfaction among consumers with the complexity of planning and booking travel online.
Henry H. Harteveldt, a Forrester travel analyst, underscores this frustration, noting that while other websites, such as retail, banking, and media, have become more user-friendly, the travel sector is lagging behind in improving the planning and booking experience.
Consumers find themselves grappling with additional fees, deciphering fine print, and navigating industry jargon, adding to the already challenging task of educating themselves about destinations, flights, and hotels. According to Mr. Harteveldt, travel companies often expect consumers to act as travel agents, raising questions about the user-friendliness of their websites.
Interestingly, the report suggests a growing inclination among consumers to explore offline travel agencies as an alternative. Mr. Harteveldt notes that more people are considering the use of good offline travel agents, signifying a shift in sentiment towards the online booking process.
Further underscoring travel-related frustrations, J. D. Power & Associates released an annual airline survey indicating a decline in customer satisfaction for the third consecutive year. Despite recent fare cuts, customer satisfaction with costs and fees has diminished, with fees for checked bags and phone booking erasing potential savings on ticket prices.
While airfares have experienced a notable drop from their peak, the impact on passenger satisfaction remains questionable. Dale Haines, senior director for the travel practice at J. D. Power, emphasizes that the reduction in fares may not resonate with passengers if accompanied by increased dissatisfaction with costs and fees.
On the hotel front, the latest J. D. Power hotel survey rates the industry more favorably, scoring 756 out of 1,000. This suggests a more consistent performance in comparison to the airline industry, which faces challenges in meeting customer expectations.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index also provides insights into the overall dissatisfaction within the travel industry, with airlines scoring 64 out of 100 and hotels receiving a slightly better score of 75.
Amidst these challenges, the U.S. Travel Association recognizes the financial impact of what they term the “frustration factor.” A survey conducted in May 2008 revealed that more than a quarter of travelers had avoided at least one trip due to frustrations with the air travel system.
Geoff Freeman, senior vice president for public affairs at the U.S. Travel Association, emphasizes the root cause of the problem as outdated air traffic infrastructure and urges Congress to finance projects to update air traffic control technology. These initiatives aim to reduce delays, but their development may take years.
As the travel industry contends with a potential prolonged passenger decline, addressing consumer frustrations becomes imperative. Analysts argue that companies are under increasing pressure to tackle these concerns, emphasizing the need to enhance the overall travel experience.
Henry H. Harteveldt raises a crucial question for the industry: “Do you really want to run a business where you’re annoying one out of three of your customers?” The concern is that this frustration could escalate, underscoring the urgency for the industry to reevaluate and improve its current practices.
In an evolving market, the industry’s main trade group, the U.S. Travel Association, has recognized the financial impact of what could be called the “frustration factor.” Its survey in May 2008 found that more than a quarter of travelers had avoided at least one trip in the previous year because of the air travel system.
“Before the recession hit, you couldn’t turn on the nightly news without more discussion about flight delays and other air travel hassles people were having,” said Geoff Freeman, senior vice president for public affairs at the association.
The trade group says the root of the problem is an outdated air traffic infrastructure, and has been pushing Congress to finance projects to update air traffic control technology to reduce delays. Some of these initiatives, which could take years to develop, are included in Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bills under consideration.
In the meantime, despite some improvements in airline performance because of a decline in the number of people traveling, Mr. Freeman acknowledged that frustrations remain especially among the customers the industry counts on for its survival.
“Those who travel the most frequently are those who are most frustrated with the inefficiencies in the process,” he said. “As a society, we need to be thinking, what is the cost when someone says it’s not worth it to travel?”