10/09
It Pays to be Flexible
Price is key, but flexibility is a tool that many in the travel industry are beginning to understand. Rigid rules & regulations are common in the industry, but with the realization that people are very concerned about their jobs and the economy, companies have reacted.
Three diffierent companies have announced insurance policies that will cover you if you lose your job.
The US airline, JetBlue, has made a promise to all their customers: Lose your job, and we will refund your airfare. This is a tremendous marketing initiative, but it is also very smart. It attaches the message of caring and flexibility to brand which is already strong in those areas.
Regional carrier, Flybe out of Exeter, has offered a similar program. They are offering free redundancy cancellation insurance. Programs like this allow the consumer to make strong choices and book with confidence. In the end, people are still traveling, as outlined by this CBC report, and flexible programs only incentivize people to continue that trend.
Finally, Norwegian Cruise Lines will offer their cruise passengers a full cash refund in case of job loss. There may be many more companies that follow these announcements, but we compliment the ones that began the trend as it will pay in the end to offer flexibility along with price and value.
Related posts:
