Our latest press release:
Many over 65s could be paying more for their flights than their younger counterparts when they book online new research published today by AA Travel Insurance suggests.
In an online survey of more than 9,000 people nationwide, the AA quizzed respondents on their habits when it comes to booking flights. While airline pricing technology does not factor in age, the AA’s research suggests that preferred search techniques could have a bearing.
43% of the 17 – 24 year olds who participated in the AA’s survey for example indicated that they will go directly to a price comparison website when pricing flights. This figure is three times higher than among the over 65s with just 14% of this age group stating it’s their go to method of booking flights.
Another factor likely to be influencing these figures is the nature of the journeys being undertaken with several participants sharing that they tend to be a more diligent shopper when booking long haul flights.
Concealing browsing history
The Millenials are also far more likely than the Baby Boomers to turn off their cookies or operate within an ‘incognito’ website when booking flights to conceal their browsing history according to the AA’s survey. 12% of those aged between 25-35 said they would typically do so compared to 2% of the over 65s in a bid to make it appear like they were first time visitors to the site.
The AA shares that it notes a similar trend vis à vis its insurance customers when it comes to the clearing of browsing history. However they clarify that it has no impact on the quotes that its customers receive.
“We also put the theory to the test looking up a series of flights from Dublin to Paris with multiple airlines. What we found is that the prices remained consistent irrespective of whether or not we had cleared our browsing history in advance of repeating the search.” Says Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs, AA Ireland.
Deleting cookies will however help to reduce the temptation by eliminating those ads linked to your search history that follow you around the internet.
In addition to encouraging the over 65s to seek out the best value on flights the AA also encourages this age group to be savvy shoppers when it comes to their travel insurance.
“The pool of policies available to you can start to narrow when you reach this age group or a little older. Having said that you can still get some excellent cover.” Says Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs, AA Ireland. “With flights we know that it’s all about the lowest fares however we’d encourage holidaymakers to think differently about their travel insurance policies. Look at the benefits that are most important to you and compare and contrast. For the sake of a few euros you can get a far superior product.”
Ends
Notes to the editor;
Fig. 1 When booking flights which of the following, if any, do you typically do? (Select as many as apply in your case)
(Based on 9,304 responses gathered via online poll issued mid November 2014)
| All respondents (9,304 resps.) | 17 – 24 yrs. (172 resps.) |
25 – 35 yrs. (1291 resps.) | 36-45 yrs. (2,130 resps.) | 46-55 yrs. (2,284 resps.) | 56-65 years (1,864 resps.) | 65+ years (1,347 resps.) | |
| Will run a search in Google/other search engine | 35% | 41% | 35% | 36% | 37% | 36% | 31% |
| I will go directly to a price comparison website (e.g. skyscanner/travelsupermarket.com) | 26% | 43% | 40% | 36% | 25% | 22% | 14% |
| I will go directly to the website of my preferred airline. | 61% | 43% | 58% | 36% | 61% | 62% | 66% |
| It depends on where I am going/who I am travelling with | 39% | 40% | 39% | 41% | 40% | 37% | 33% |
| I turn off my cookies/operate within an ‘incognito’ window | 6% | 9% | 12% | 7% | 6% | 4% | 2% |
| I don’t really know | 3% | 3% | 4% | 7% | 2% | 3% | 4% |
| Other | 3% | 1% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% |
