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Maybe they'd have to hold each other when it rose, all organe and full and close. Maybe that's where our romantic notions about the moon first came from. Two people holding each other to keep their hearts from breaking, because everybody they knew was dying in the cold rocks and dust piles a quarter million miles away...
The Brothers K
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mandag, november 29, 2004
I had a great many wonderful shower thoughts today. I am very pleased with myself :)
One of the more sharable - and perhaps profitable! - thoughts I had involved online airline ticket sellers. I am of the opinion that they are missing out on a HUGE opportunity here. My thought process evolved very naturally to this conclusion, beginning with me thinking, "I'm flying home soon!" The train of thought continued its motion with, "Where am I flying through? I hope it's not PHL, b/c they always have huge delays. But I am flying on US Airways, I think, and their hub is in PHL. If it were Delta, I could fly through ATL and then there wouldn't be so much concern about getting home on time." With that journey finished, I picked up on a thread that entered the previous one: "US Airways, hmm. I haven't flown them for ages. The last time would have to be like ten years ago, and I can't remember what they were like since then. Besides, it's probably not relevant anymore. Still, I should start keeping logs of the airlines I fly and what they're like. But then -" Here's the whopper!
"- it could be digital, and everyone could add to it. It would be an online consumer review system for airlines."
Ponder that for a second! No such centralized thing exists. People tend to write about their opinions in places like their blogs - and who knows when a blog search from Google is coming (hint, hint). Sometimes magazines award things like "Airline of the Year" or whatever, but no one reads those magazines except the industry. But think about how simple it would be for an online ticket seller - Cheaptickets.com, Travelocity, Expedia, possibly even Orbitz - to create it. Thousands of people are buying tickets for flights from them on a daily basis - that's millions of travelers' stories that could be shared! It would benefit the website, b/c they could use a feature like that to either increase their user base, launch targeted ads, launch targeted sales, or any number of other business opportunities. It benefits the repeat user because it would automatically determine preferred airlines, it would store your ratings, and it would allow you to make a more informed decision when you're purchasing. It benefits the new user because it gives them higher confidence in their decision, which makes them more likely to purchase through your business site. And it would be so simple to implement. It could be like the Amazon or Ebay user rating systems, where after every purchase you make you're allowed 60 days to rate the seller and experience. Same deal, but replace "seller" with "airline," and you're golden.
To me, it's unbelievable that no one has done this yet. I tell you what, I would trust a site so much more if they had that sort of established rating system. While many travelers already have an established airline preference, based on price or frequent flier benefits or something else, there are many, many travelers who are just looking for the cheapest possible deal - but are confused when presented with two airlines, equivalent flights and prices. Who do they pick? That's where the rating system comes into play. Also, if I knew that airline A was poor quality according to a large user base, I'd be more likely to buy the slightly more expensive ticket on airline B, that was rated high quality. Travelocity, you hear that? I'm offering you more money, if I only I had more information!
Now, there might be a more logical reason that no one has done this yet. Let's face it, most airlines suck these days. They all squish you in, they never give you food, and their cheap flights are always at weird times. But I know for a fact that Continental Airlines still serves meals at mealtimes, while American Airlines has almost enough leg room. With a detailed enough ratings system, people would be able to see these differences, and then purchase based on their desires (is more room more important, or free food?). Who knows, maybe it'll even motivate the airlines to change their practices! Wouldn't that be nice - the consumer would feel like their voice is actually being heard, that their opinions are valued, that they can make a difference. In the end, perhaps the ratings system will restore our faith in airlines.
Sigh. How do I always end up so idealistically? Yay for good brainstorming sessions, though :)
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