Posts Tagged ‘event’
The Social Flying System
“Systems Thinking” is important in aviation. No single event acts alone from complex air traffic control to complex mechanical aircraft and complex weather systems. Economics is a complex system and markets are complex systems, human behavior is displayed in complex social systems. This is the way that Social Flights approaches business – we are a ride sharing “system” for private jets
It is not surprising then that Google identifies 5 stages of the consumer travel system.
The following is from Trent via Statistics and Research Studies for Travel, Tourism & Lodging:
More than 87% of travelers expect to take the same or more number of personal or business trips in 2011 versus years past. This outlook is positive, and with the rise of mobile, social and video behaviors, we are now seeing seeing travelers move through five key stages of travel. Here are some insights within each stage:
Dreaming: 68% of business travelers watch travel-related online videos. Among them, 68% are thinking about a trip.
Planning: The average traveler visits ~22 travel related sites during 9.5 research sessions prior to booking. 85% of leisure travelers consider the internet their main source of travel planning.
Booking: 37% of leisure travelers report that the internet prompted them to book, up from 28% two years ago. 53% of travelers plan to increase comparison shopping this year.
Experiencing: 70% of business travelers check into their flights/hotel with their mobile device. Almost 1 in 4 hotel queries come from a mobile phone. Over 50% of travelers use mobile phone or device for travel-related information.
Sharing: About 1 in 3 business travelers have posted reviews online of places they’ve been.
At Social Flights we have argued that there is a great need for travel related information to be made available for private aircraft and charter jet inventory. As such, we are developing tools such as our “Instant Quote” feature, and inventory listings to supplement travel information on line. Here’s why:
62% of personal travelers use search engines as the number one source for travel information.
51% of business travelers use mobile devices to get travel information, more than double the rate of two years ago.
46% of personal travelers are watching travel-related videos, versus 36% two years ago.
The quantity and the quality of information that a travel company can provide is directly proportional to the relevance in the 5 stages of consumer travel activity. The effort is paying off.
Social Flights will soon announce several deals with municipalities that are tired of being stranded by airlines
Social Flights will annouce a deal with a major vacation spot that is tired of getting gouged by brokers
Social Flights Instant Quote feature continues to disrupt the “secret handshake” of the charter jet industry
Social Flights will soon announce major deals at world class events where we shuttle people to the doorstep of the action
Social Flights is opening travel circles across the US for people to share their experiences and plan their adventures
At Social Flights, we are aviators, we are system thinkers, we are fully aware and intentional about the system that we are building. We thank all those who are helping, from our pilots to our partners to our investors and to our followers. Together we are developing a Social Flying System
Tales From the Ticket Counter: A Grateful Purple Heart
My aunt recently flew from Seattle to St. Louis on American Airlines. We’ll skip the horror part of this story including parking, baggage, security and enplaning. We’ll go straight to an on-board event and an exceptional man.
On this frigid morning, bleary-eyed, harassed passengers filed onto the MD-80 aircraft with the goal of getting to their seats, stowing their carry-ons and maybe catching a little cat-nap on the way to Dallas. Most passengers were wrapped in their own little worlds, paying minimal attention to fellow flyers. Most passengers were, but one man in first class saw more.
Passengers were boarded and seated. Luggage was stowed and the door was closed in preparation for push back when the Lead Flight Attendant walked from first class to coach to speak with the Purser. From row 25, my aunt listened to an astounded Lead F/A tell the Purser that there was a gentleman in first class who wanted to swap seats with a fatigue-clad, career soldier sitting in a center coach seat. The Purser informed the soldier who then followed her to the front of the aircraft. She returned to the main cabin with a gentleman who was greeted with applause from those within earshot of the flight attendants’ conversation. The passenger, who appeared to be uncomfortable with the recognition, was thanked by those seated across the aisle from his own new seat. His response? “It was the least I could do.”
Before push-back, the PA system crackled to life with the Lead Flight Attendant relating the story to everyone who had been puzzled by the applause. She added that the first class passenger now in a coach class, middle seat was, himself, a Purple Heart recipient.
Clearly, this man wanted to give the gift of his seat without fanfare, taking no honor for himself. However, I believe that his gift needs to be celebrated and repeated. I believe that his gift challenges us all to be aware, be grateful and be willing to express that gratitude to our soldiers, our police officers, our fire fighters and others who willingly put their own lives on the line to protect ours.
Sir, I don’t know who you are, where you are, or what your story is; however, having heard this one gesture, I am grateful to you for reminding me of the importance of gratitude. Thank you.
What is Aviation?
Photo by Mark Blanks
In just a few days, the aviation world will come together to experience the largest display of aeronautical hardware, services, and performances in North America at EAA’s annual AirVenture Oshkosh event. I have been blessed to attend AirVenture for the past two years and I now find myself sorely disappointed that I will not have the same opportunity this year. However, this provides me the perfect opportunity to reflect on my love of, some may say my addiction to, aviation and the way that I see others who experience the same passion of this singular activity.
I have attended many different airshows and have worked at an airport for most of my adult life. Yet, there is still something about watching an old warbird taxi by that makes my heart flutter and I often find myself hearing an old radial engine coming to life in my dreams. However, all of my love for aviation becomes insignificant when I watch a young boy tug at his father to point at another fascinating aircraft or a young girl ask her father to hold her higher so that she can see. What exactly is it about aviation that inspires so many? From the small boy to the old man, there is something inexplicable that strikes a common cord among mankind. So, what is aviation?
There are many explanations that could be offered to describe why people are so fascinated by aviation and flying. I could argue that taking to the sky is symbolic of man conquering a realm that for thousands of years was available only to creatures born with wings. Or, I might launch into a discussion of the freedom that flight provides and how we are able to experience the world in a completely unique fashion. Further still, I could provide examples of how aviation makes the entire earth accessible and allows us to interact with people and cultures from across the globe in a single day. However, none of these explanations could even begin to explain the glint in a child’s eye when they take their first plane ride.
I encourage you to take a window seat on your next business flight and ponder over the experience of flight. Better yet, fly on a private airplane and truly enjoy the freedom that you have to go where ever you want without any kind of hassle. And even better still, take a kid flying and watch for that spark in their eyes and then you will see what aviation is. The spark IS aviation.
Photo by Mark Blanks