Airline companies are essentially e-commerce sites and need to obey certain rules. At the top end, they also need to obey the rules of luxury websites.    
Who are the aviation websites?

As with any area of e-commerce, the providers range from small companies – for example, someone offering helicopter jaunts to big aggregators or brokers arranging multi-leg journeys with global flight companies. There is also boutique jet charter companies like YoungJets, who helped Rihanna and her sound crew perform seven gigs in seven cities in seven days. 

Requirements of e-commerce flight sites

Clive Jackson, CEO of charter flight company Victor, says that with flyvictor.com he has created a technologically advanced website that allows travellers to access private jets, smart deals, and quality operators. 

Customers who are familiar with aggregator sites like Amazon and Net-a-Porter and apps like Uber can apply the same thinking to the purchase of flights. Instead of looking at individual airline company sites, flyers can find them all in one place. Detailed flight information, such as tail number, onboard amenities, and pricing, is made available.

As well as being stylish and aspirational, the site is extremely functional, with the following key features:

• Ability to search global airlines

• Ability to search empty leg flights

• Transparency of pricing

• Smart tech that can be handheld 24/7 customer service

• Empty-leg flights

When a fully booked plane goes profitably from A to B, the empty plane needs to get back to A. Seats on an empty leg can be sold cheaply. The flyvictor.com website lets customers search for such flights globally with all pricing visible upfront. The technology behind the site solved the problem of finding that kind of flight and knowing exactly what the cost would be.

Requirements of multi-leg journey customers

At the other end of the scale, groups travelling the globe on multi-leg tours have more varied requirements than just pure cost efficiency. A touring orchestra needs to be fit to perform. A Middle-Eastern Sheikh’s family accompanying him to the Cheltenham races wants a luxurious experience.

For customers in that category, a faceless online experience may not suffice. A website needs to be supplemented with personal service and pricing by arrangement. Methods of handling large sums of money safely are imperative.

Requirements of private jet customers

Members of this group also appreciate a website with transparent pricing, not for weighty baggage but for their private jet’s taxiing time and fuel surcharges.  
These clients will want to customise their trip by choosing details such as the type of plane and food on the menu. Companies like Victor have trained staff ready to provide individual quotes.

Requirements of luxury sites

Good design matters, but customers who are paying for a high-end experience expect a good UX experience first of all. When balancing aesthetics with functionality, the basic requirements are as follows:

• Fast load times.

• Good readability.

• No intrusive splash pages or animations. They may add to the immersive luxury experience but they can also frustrate people.

• Clear navigation.

• Automatic sound switched off – mood building music can embarrass people if it cannot be switched off.

• Optimised for mobile use – should be a no-brainer.

• Optimised for search engines.

The future of aviation companies is likely to involve stronger links between operators and charter re-sellers (brokers). High-tech systems will make the booking and purchase process efficient and opaque.  

This has the potential to bring new customers to the market for private flights. In the future dynamic marketplace, we will see smarter new digital ways to better serve customers.
In real terms, your next office party might be at 40,000 feet. 

For more information on how ALHAUS manages dynamic content for luxury brands, contact us to discuss your requirements.