What’s one of the most important things to you when you travel? Do you look at the price of things and always go for the cheapest, or are you someone that focuses more on comforts and features? There are a lot of different ways to travel, but the limiting factor is, in most cases, your budget. Not everyone has a massive budget for travel, and most people are simply saving money from their job and spending it to have a fun and exciting holiday every year or two.
But these days, more and more people are starting to pay for premium travel services. They’re not ignoring the costs of their holiday, and they’re not earning a crazy amount of additional money either. So what gives? Why are more and more people paying extra for premium travel these days? And what kind of things are they splashing their money on?
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Holidaymakers are willing to spend more on expensive seats
Perhaps it’s because we were stuck in lockdown for over a year, or maybe it’s because people are fascinated by the luxury lifestyle, but more and more people are paying for first-class and business seats. In fact, it’s so popular that airlines are looking for more ways to upgrade their cabins. Some companies are starting to introduce basic business class tickets that bridge the gap between economy and more expensive options, and others are looking for ways to create an even more premium experience on board their planes.
This goes to show that yes, people are definitely paying extra for premium travel these days. Many people thought that the pandemic would lead to the opposite, that people would be wary about traveling and if they had to, they’d travel in economy class to save money. However, that’s simply not true. If anything, being locked at home for so long sparked a sense of wanderlust in people, and they’ve truly embraced the idea of experiential travel where the main focus is to discover new things.
People want the conveniences that come with paying extra
One of the big benefits of paying extra for premium travel is that you often get more conveniences. For instance, some people enjoy the idea of an airport transfer service because the last thing they want after a long flight is to navigate public transport or arrange for a taxi to take them to their hotel. They just want to land, get into a nice car with their group of friends, and then make it safely to their hotel. It’s one of those things that people will appreciate more when they get to experience it once by themselves.
Additionally, conveniences can also come in the form of extra service from airlines. For instance, access to lounges means that you have time to relax, take a shower, and even get a decent meal before you lift off. You might also have the option to skip certain annoyances, such as passing through customs and security gates without having to wait in line. Some people revel in the idea of skipping queues and being seen as a priority passenger, but others just don’t want to deal with the extra effort and time spent waiting around.
More travelers are starting to focus on the experience rather than the destination
There’s a growing group of travelers that focus more on the experience of traveling as opposed to just the destination. These are the types of people who don’t care so much for the destination itself, but rather how many unique things they can experience when traveling there. And instead of thinking of the travel portion as just a means to get to their destination, they’re turning into a part of that experience by spending more.
This could mean expensive flights, it could refer to taking scenic routes like using trains or even taking slower means of transportation for historic reasons. Don’t think of travel as just a way to get around–think of it as a part of the experience of traveling!
If you’re traveling for the first time, then you probably don’t want to spend too much money in case you decide that traveling isn’t for you. However, by spending a bit of extra money, you’ll get access to extra features and creature comforts that will make a huge difference in the long run. If you want your first travel experience to be comfortable, then paying extra for premium travel is usually worth it–assuming it’s in your budget!