Aviation

Partnered Post: The changing face of the new-age traveler

Updated : September 20, 2018 06:41 AM IST

The past few years have seen a noticeable change in the way we travel. Earlier, travelers were more focused on basic sightseeing at popular destinations; mostly opting for a planned holiday and settling for affordable air travel options. They didn’t mind waiting in long queues to go up to the Eiffel Tower or sit through hours in a cramped seat, often compromising on the fine experience that flying was always meant to be.

In the age of social media, the way we travel is also changing. People today gain travel inspiration from a variety of sources, and that, coupled with the rise in disposable income—and in the number of people treating travel as an investment to improve their quality of life rather than an expenditure—is opening up travelers to more immersive experiences.

On a quest for experiential travel

Today’s generation of travelers believe in collecting experiences instead of just ‘visiting’ a destination. As per TripAdvisor’s 2018 travel trend report, travelers are seeking new experiences and their trips are often centered around activities, such as going to music festivals such as Sunburn and Tomorrowland, adventure sports like heli-skiing, or crushing grapes in a vineyard rather than selecting a destination and planning to see ‘touristy’ spots.

But this quest for immersive experiences isn’t limited to the destination alone, it includes the journey to get to the destination as well. For instance, with air travel, the desire for comforts may change between cabins and seats, but many travelers also seek added perks such as access to technology as well as better streaming options, as per the 2018 Air Travel Outlook Report by ARC and Expedia. In fact, FCM Travel Solutions and KPMG’s recent whitepaper, ‘The Digi-Smart Indian Business Traveller’ forecasts that 86% Indian travelers would prefer flying with an airline offering in-flight Wi-Fi. So travelers’ expectations from in-flight experience are changing just as dynamically as their tastes and preferences.

What travelers really want

They want to add a slice of luxury to their trip, and they want that experience to start right at the airport. They no longer want to wait in long queues to board the plane or sit through hours in the flight in a cramped space to get to their destination. They are frequent travelers—both for business and leisure—aspiring for the added perks of an upgrade, such as extra legroom or a cup of gourmet coffee. They know good value when they see it and they don’t mind spending that extra bit to get the added comfort.

When it comes to leisure travelers, they are looking for perks that offer more value for money. For instance, they are constantly concerned about paying additional money for baggage allowance. Since many of their travels are related to family visits or occasions like weddings, they often carry a lot of clothes, accessories and gifts. Thankfully, Vistara’s Premium Economy has managed to eliminate this issue. With Premium Economy’s check-in allowance ranging between 20kg and 30kg (depending on the fare you select from Vistara Freedom Fares), they no longer need to worry about paying for excess baggage. In fact, they can even carry a total of 10kg in hand baggage in addition to the check-in baggage. So feel free to carry all those extra things without worrying about it wrecking the weighing scale!

In understanding the modern business traveler’s needs, Vistara has enabled them to make the most of the time they have. With their Premium Economy, business travelers can now escape the long queues using a dedicated check-in counter and boarding lane to ensure they are seated quickly and can also claim their checked-in baggage before other passengers to further save time while exiting the airport. As business travelers are often rushing to catch early morning flights, fatigue is part of their lifestyle. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Vistara’s Premium Economy provides extra legroom and adjustable winged headrests to help them feel well rested before their upcoming meeting of the day. And while they rest, they can sit back and enjoy a curated gourmet meal with a hot cup of the finest Starbucks coffee.

This is a partnered post.

Partnered Post: The changing face of the new-age traveler

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