Innovation is Magic

‎"Real innovation isn’t that much different from magic; it occurs when someone solves a problem by removing a constraint that everyone else had taken for granted." -- Glenn McDonald, Google UI Engineer

Credit the above quote to this article: Big Data: Bringing Magic Back to Travel Technology

What does this have to do with us?

For the most part, we all take one key part of the air purchase process for granted: We have zero flexibility when it comes to our budget meeting our schedule.  Perhaps I can find an airfare that fits my budget; but I can't travel on the days the fare is offered.  Alternatively, I can fly the best flight for me, but I'm lucky if it fits into my budget.

So, remove the constraint. Take control of the price.

Just like magic.

More soon....

Traveling Through the Sky

"It is a dismal experience that you simply put up with because you have to get from point A to point B. It used to be the part of the trip you looked forward to. As an industry, we've found a way to beat that joy of flying out of people." - Virgin CEO David Cush

Air travel, when it first began, was the apex of luxury. The fantasy of floating above the clouds captured the imagination of every person lucky enough to journey through the sky to destinations that were once inaccessible due to time, if not cost.

It is not news that this fantasyland of flight no longer exists.  As this recent AP article re-articulates, things are different.

For a variety of reasons, the airline ticket market is a race-to-the-bottom commoditized marketplace where price is the driver, and service is the cherry on top.  Will good service and brand delivery help an airline rise to the top?


Doubtful.


Here's a phrase you may be familiar with:


"I'd love to fly Airline X more, they have such great service, but the price is just too high.  Maybe I'd pay $20 more to fly them, but that's it."


We think consumers can take some control of the pricing of a seat for the benefit of both consumer and airline.  After all, the airline doesn't know consumers are willing to pay a premium unless the consumer speaks up.  The problem is, if an airline tries to raise prices, they get skewered and undercut by the competition.  It seems like a no-win situation.


But, if airlines were willing to let customers express their pleasure or displeasure with their experience with the brand by collectively setting the worth of a ticket, the airlines who perform the best would naturally rise to the top.


The race to bottom can be reversed, the interplay between consumer and supplier is one that can be done openly, with real time pricing driving high yield and better customer loyalty.


It's time airlines were able to compete on more than the promise of the lowest price.  It's time to enable airlines to win customers with their service, and get paid a commensurate amount that is not driven by the fear of competition undercutting the price, but by actual value delivered.


If the market was determining the worth of a ticket, that ticket's value could be matched, or undercut.  After all, no one knows what that ticket is actually worth to each individual.


It's interesting, when an industry becomes a price-driven commodity, that the best solution may be to turn the price over to the consumer.

Why We Fly

Travel has always been an intriguing part of my life.  I've been blessed to see many parts of this world, often with those whom I am closest with. The most memorable travel stories, of course, come from those times where the unexpected happens.  Whether that is meeting a friendly local who is willing to welcome you into their backyard to celebrate a Christmas feast, or the unexpected friendship forged from an experience on white water rapids, travel rewards the planner with unplanned joy.

It seems I hear often about someone's travels and the story's tone has much to do with the unexpected.  Was the unexpected a pleasant surprise? Or was it an unwelcome guest?  Travel, then, is an experience.  An experience best enjoyed with those you love and an experience that fuses hours of planning with unexpected happiness, experiences, meetings, sights, sounds and tastes.

And that's why we fly.  We fly to get those places.  We fly because the wonder of transport is what allows us to be free to see our world.  And flying is fun.

This anecdotal analysis serves to give you a glimpse into our passion at FlyinAway.  We love travel and we love flying.  We love everything travel brings with it.  And we think booking your flight ought to be a part of the pleasant experience of travel.

If you can get a travel deal for a price you never dreamed you could find, your whole experience will be made that much better; as it started with the happily unexpected and concludes in a place where you had only imagined you could go.

That's what we strive to do at FlyinAway.  To allow you to travel at the price you want to pay, so you can go play.  That's why we fly.

Why do you fly?