Booking a flight can be more stressful than facing a visit to the dentist or filing tax returns, according to a survey of 1,000 Singaporean flyers conducted by Expedia. Approximately 32% of respondents found booking air travel more daunting than dealing with tax-related matters (22%) or a dental appointment (27%). James Marshall, the vice president of Expedia Group global air account management, pointed out that booking flights should not cause the same level of stress as getting a cavity filled, although he also noted that various tools, like Price Tracking, are being introduced to make the booking and flying process smoother.
Key Insights from Expedia’s 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report
Booking on Sundays, instead of Fridays, can lead to savings of approximately 11% on economy flight bookings and 36% on premium bookings.
Travellers booking 128 to 142 days prior to departure can save 10% on average compared to those who wait until the last minute.
International airfares tend to increase nine weeks before departure.
Sundays are the most expensive days, on average, to start a trip.
Flights departing after 9 pm have a 74% higher chance of being canceled than those leaving earlier in the day.
Metaverse Adoption: Is It Game Over?
A survey by EU-Start-ups questioned the adoption of the Metaverse. Among over 1,200 respondents, only 2% spent more than 20 hours per week on the Metaverse, while 93% spent no time at all. Some commented that Facebook might have been better off spending its resources elsewhere, and the results might differ if the survey targeted gamers or younger individuals.
Prisma AI Enhances Welfare at Indian Airports
Prisma AI, a specialist in computer vision technology, has expanded its partnership with the Adani Group to enhance the welfare of airport visitors, including elderly travellers, mothers with infants, and individuals requiring wheelchair assistance. Using visual AI algorithms, the system proactively identifies incidents like falls or unusual passenger behavior, alerting “goodness champions” stationed at an airport desk to provide swift assistance. The system has been deployed in several Indian airports, improving the well-being of travelers.
SITA Collaborates with Costa Cruises to Handle Trip Disruptions
SITA, a travel industry IT provider, is working with Costa Cruises to manage disruptions during trips. Using a cloud-based application, Costa’s operations team can link real-time flight updates to the relevant vessel and booking codes, optimizing guest transfers in the event of flight cancellations or delays. This partnership helps improve the embarkation and disembarkation process for Fly & Cruise guests and enhances planning for crew movements and allocations.
Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal A Promises Transformative Passenger Experience
Abu Dhabi International Airport is set to open its new Terminal A on November 1, offering a transformative passenger experience. Covering 742,000 square meters, it can accommodate up to 45 million passengers annually. The terminal features extensive retail locations, food and beverage options, health and beauty spas, and a hotel with 138 rooms. Technological innovations are also integrated, with biometric solutions at all nine airport touchpoints, including self-service bag drops, immigration eGates, and boarding gates, during the first phase, making it one of the world’s most biometrically advanced terminals.
