Lounge Upgrades: Can Virtual Reality Reinvent the Pre-Flight Wait?
APEX Insight: No longer just a staid room in which to sit and sip a drink before a trip, airline lounges are seeing a renaissance as a destination unto themselves. Findings from a newly published YouGov-Spafax survey suggest younger passengers appear inclined to take that even further, with virtual reality (VR)-based experiences adding to the entertainment and ancillary revenue potential. What does this mean for the future travel experience inside airports?
Passengers are split on what makes for a great pre-flight experience, with many of the differences matching demographic borders. Younger travelers want a more engaging and interactive experience on the ground and in the air, according to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Spafax of 2,110 UK-based respondents. Could the results shape the way airport lounges operate in the future?
Charles Vine, head of Brand Alliances at Spafax said the study’s findings could help airport and airlines make more informed decisions about how to improve the way travelers experience airports.
“The findings of this survey support our proprietary research which highlights that airport lounges and the airport experience as a whole are going through a radical change. Customers expect an experience before they even get on the plane – and brands can take advantage of that moment where the customer is in repose and attentive or let it pass. We predict an increasing appetite for the clever use of lounge space by brands,” said Vine. “Artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and VR are vehicles through which to enhance the traveling experience. And that is precisely why we help airlines collaborate with external brands to help make that happen.”
See the full story here: https://apex.aero/2018/08/23/lounge-upgrades-can-virtual-reality-recreate-preflight-wait