Airline Customer Experience Management

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Airline Customer Experience Management: A Comprehensive Guide



Author: Dr. Anya Sharma, PhD in Aviation Management, 15+ years experience in airline operations and customer service strategy, currently consulting for several major international carriers.

Publisher: SkyHigh Insights, a leading industry research and consulting firm specializing in aviation and travel technology, providing data-driven solutions for optimizing airline operations and customer experiences.

Editor: Michael Davis, seasoned editor with 10+ years experience in the aviation industry, specializing in technical and business publications.


Summary: This comprehensive guide delves into the crucial aspects of airline customer experience management (ACXM), examining best practices and common pitfalls. We explore the entire customer journey, from booking to post-flight feedback, highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making, personalized service, and proactive problem-solving in building brand loyalty and driving revenue. The guide also offers actionable strategies for implementing effective ACXM programs and avoiding common mistakes.

Keywords: Airline customer experience management, ACXM, airline customer service, customer journey mapping, airline loyalty programs, passenger experience, air travel, customer satisfaction, data analytics, CRM in aviation, airline feedback management.


1. Understanding the Airline Customer Experience Journey



Effective airline customer experience management begins with a thorough understanding of the entire customer journey. This involves mapping every touchpoint, from initial website browsing and booking to check-in, boarding, in-flight experience, baggage claim, and post-flight communication. Identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement at each stage is crucial for optimizing the overall experience. Modern airline customer experience management relies heavily on data analytics to identify these points, track key metrics (e.g., Net Promoter Score (NPS), Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)), and understand customer behavior patterns.

2. The Importance of Personalization in Airline Customer Experience Management



Generic service is no longer sufficient in the competitive airline industry. Airline customer experience management strategies must incorporate personalization. This involves leveraging data to understand individual customer preferences and tailor the experience accordingly. This could range from offering personalized recommendations for in-flight entertainment and meals to proactively addressing potential issues based on past travel patterns. A personalized approach fosters loyalty and creates a sense of value for the customer.


3. Proactive Problem Solving and Service Recovery



Airline customer experience management isn't just about preventing problems; it's also about effectively addressing them when they arise. Proactive problem-solving involves anticipating potential disruptions (e.g., delays, cancellations) and taking preemptive measures to minimize their impact. Equally important is robust service recovery. When issues do occur, airlines need clear protocols for swift, empathetic, and effective resolution. This may involve offering compensation, providing alternative travel arrangements, and ensuring clear communication throughout the process. Efficient and empathetic service recovery can often turn a negative experience into a positive one, strengthening customer loyalty.

4. Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Airline Customer Experience Management



Technology plays a vital role in modern airline customer experience management. Mobile apps, online check-in, self-service kiosks, and personalized communication channels all contribute to a smoother and more convenient customer journey. Advanced analytics tools can help airlines track customer sentiment, identify areas for improvement, and measure the effectiveness of their ACXM strategies. Furthermore, the use of AI-powered chatbots for quick customer support can significantly improve response times and customer satisfaction.


5. Building a Strong Airline Loyalty Program



A robust loyalty program is a key component of effective airline customer experience management. These programs should offer personalized rewards and benefits, fostering engagement and encouraging repeat business. Beyond simple points accumulation, loyalty programs can include exclusive access to lounges, priority boarding, and personalized service. Analyzing customer behavior within the loyalty program allows for further personalization and targeted marketing efforts.


6. Gathering and Acting on Customer Feedback



Continuously gathering and analyzing customer feedback is essential for continuous improvement in airline customer experience management. This can be done through various channels, including online surveys, social media monitoring, and post-flight feedback forms. Analyzing this feedback provides valuable insights into customer pain points and areas for improvement. Airlines must actively respond to customer feedback, demonstrating a commitment to listening and acting on concerns.


7. Training and Empowering Employees



Frontline employees are the face of the airline and play a crucial role in delivering exceptional customer experiences. Comprehensive training programs are essential to equip employees with the skills and knowledge to handle diverse customer situations effectively and empathetically. Empowering employees to take initiative and solve problems independently can significantly enhance the customer experience.


8. Common Pitfalls in Airline Customer Experience Management



Ignoring customer feedback, failing to personalize the experience, inadequate communication during disruptions, inconsistent service quality across different touchpoints, and a lack of data-driven decision-making are all common pitfalls that can negatively impact airline customer experience management. Avoiding these pitfalls requires a proactive and data-driven approach, focusing on continuous improvement and customer-centricity.


9. Measuring the Success of Your Airline Customer Experience Management Strategy



Measuring the effectiveness of airline customer experience management initiatives is crucial. Key metrics like CSAT, NPS, customer retention rates, and revenue per passenger provide insights into the success of implemented strategies. Regularly tracking these metrics allows airlines to identify areas for improvement and ensure that their ACXM initiatives are delivering the desired results.


Conclusion:

Effective airline customer experience management is a continuous process that requires a holistic approach. By focusing on personalization, proactive problem-solving, leveraging technology, building strong loyalty programs, and continuously gathering and acting on customer feedback, airlines can create positive experiences that foster brand loyalty and drive business success. Remember, prioritizing the customer at every touchpoint is the key to thriving in the competitive aviation industry.



FAQs:

1. What is the difference between customer service and customer experience management? Customer service focuses on resolving individual issues, while customer experience management encompasses the entire customer journey and aims to create a positive overall impression.

2. How can airlines measure the success of their ACXM initiatives? Airlines can measure success using metrics like CSAT, NPS, customer retention rates, and revenue per passenger.

3. What role does technology play in modern ACXM? Technology enables personalization, automation, proactive communication, and data-driven decision-making.

4. How can airlines personalize the customer experience? Data analytics and customer segmentation allow airlines to tailor offers, communication, and services based on individual preferences.

5. What are the key elements of a successful airline loyalty program? A successful program offers personalized rewards, exclusive benefits, and opportunities for engagement.

6. How can airlines improve service recovery? Swift, empathetic communication and efficient resolution of issues are vital for effective service recovery.

7. What are the common pitfalls of ACXM? Ignoring feedback, failing to personalize, poor communication, inconsistent service, and lack of data-driven decision-making are common pitfalls.

8. How important is employee training in ACXM? Employee training is crucial to ensure consistent, high-quality service and empower staff to handle diverse situations effectively.

9. How can airlines gather customer feedback effectively? Airlines can utilize various channels like online surveys, social media monitoring, and post-flight feedback forms.



Related Articles:

1. The Impact of AI on Airline Customer Experience Management: This article explores how artificial intelligence is transforming ACXM, from chatbots to personalized recommendations.

2. Building a Customer-Centric Culture in the Airline Industry: This article discusses the importance of creating a company culture that prioritizes the customer at every level.

3. Optimizing the Airline Check-in Process for Enhanced Customer Experience: This article focuses on streamlining the check-in process to reduce stress and improve passenger satisfaction.

4. Managing Airline Disruptions: A Customer-Focused Approach: This article offers strategies for handling delays and cancellations effectively while maintaining positive customer relationships.

5. Leveraging Big Data for Improved Airline Customer Experience Management: This article delves into the use of big data analytics for understanding customer behavior and improving ACXM strategies.

6. The Role of Social Media in Airline Customer Experience Management: This article examines how airlines can leverage social media for customer engagement and feedback management.

7. Measuring and Improving Airline Customer Loyalty: This article focuses on strategies for building and measuring customer loyalty within the airline industry.

8. The Future of Airline Customer Experience Management: This article explores emerging trends and technologies shaping the future of ACXM.

9. Case Studies in Successful Airline Customer Experience Management: This article presents real-world examples of airlines that excel in ACXM, highlighting their best practices.


  airline customer experience management: A Practical Guide to Airline Customer Service Colin C. Law, 2018-04-16 A Practical Guide to Airline Customer Service is a textbook written for airline executives and undergraduate students who are preparing for a career in the airline service industry. Those working in similar functions and fields can also benefit from this book. This book primarily focuses on the importance of customer service in the airline industry. This includes basic airline operations and essential communication skills, and how airline service agents interact with passengers at every contact point of the travel process. A Practical Guide to Airline Customer Service is a must-read for those who seek a rewarding career in the airline industry.
  airline customer experience management: Improving the Airport Customer Experience Bruce J. Boudreau, Greg Detmer, Susan Tam, Stephanie Box, Ryan Burke, Joanne Paternoster, Lou Carbone, 2016 TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 157: Improving the Airport Customer Experience documents notable and emerging practices in airport customer service management that increase customer satisfaction, recognizing the different types of customers (such as passengers, meeters and greeters, and employees) and types and sizes of airports. It also identifies potential improvements that airports could make for their customers. -- Publisher's description
  airline customer experience management: Customer Experience Management Bernd H. Schmitt, 2010-07-09 In Customer Experience Management, renowned consultant and marketing thinker Bernd Schmitt follows up on his groundbreaking book Experiential Marketing by introducing a new and visionary approach to marketing called customer experience management (CEM). In this book, Schmitt demonstrates how to put his CEM framework to work in any organization to spur growth, increase revenues, and transform the image of your company and its brands. From retail buying to telephone orders, from marketing communications to online shopping, every customer touch-point offers companies an opportunity to maximize the customer experience and establish a bond that will never be broken. Customer Experience Management introduces the five-step CEM process, a comprehensive tool for connecting with customers at every touch-point. This revolutionary marketing guide provides cases of successful CEM implementations in a wide variety of consumer and B2B industries, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, beauty and cosmetics, telecommunications, beverages, financial services, and even the nonprofit sector. A must-read for senior executives, marketing managers, and anyone who wants to drive growth, increase income, and spur organizational change, Customer Experience Management demonstrates the power of collecting truly relevant customer information, developing and implementing winning strategies, and measuring their results.
  airline customer experience management: Managing the Customer Experience Shaun Smith, Joe Wheeler, 2002 You need loyal customers, not just satisfied ones. Managing the Customer Experience: Turn Customers Into Advocatesshows you how to manage your customer experience and reap the rewards.
  airline customer experience management: Air Travel Consumer Report , 1991
  airline customer experience management: Building Great Customer Experiences Colin Shaw, John Ivens, 2002-09-13 This book is about building and delivering great customer experiences. Many companies neglect this, but the physical execution and emotional impact of customer experiences, companies and brands may ultimately determine customer satisfaction and loyalty and commercial success. With the use of compelling examples and cases the authors show that this is key for all companies and organisations.
  airline customer experience management: Moments of Magic Shep Hyken, 1993
  airline customer experience management: CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT - THE EXPERIENTIAL JOURNEY James Seligman, 2018-09-19 Organizations that want to deliver required outcomes can do so by shifting gears from traditional 'command and control tactics', to a more collaborative way of working with customer interactions, ensuring relevant skills and capabilities are made available. By investing in technology, organizations that support the customer experience can provide accurate forecasting, customer in sight, and the skills and capabilities regardless of their location and time zone. Processes that span the back office to the front office should provide real time insight into the interpersonal experience journeys and enable co-creation of goods and services.
  airline customer experience management: Customer Experience Management Rebooted Steven Walden, 2017-03-02 Walden shows why most customer experience management fails to improve the customer’s real experience and how to concentrate on the subjective emotional perceptions that drive the customer’s actual “experience” rather than the quantitative service efficiency metrics gathered by most CX tools. Customer experience management is not about managing every objective “experience” your customers have with you. It’s about understanding, measuring and creating “experiences” that customers “value”. So while service and efficiency are wonderful things, they represent business as usual; the ticket to the game, the platform from which “experiences” are created not the experience itself! The message of this book is that businesses are at risk! Their uber focus on efficiency is leading them to miss the chance to connect more closely with their customer base and deliver on the creative potential of their brand. They ignore the fact that technology is an enabler of the “experience” it is not “the experience”. Customers are not data – they are people: living, breathing, contradictory, infuriating bundles of cognitive and emotionally-driven responses to stimuli. “Experience” deals with how customers think, feel and behave – the things that motivate them to act which go beyond frequently forgettable efficiency. This means differentiating by providing new and better experiences based on a deeper understanding of what motivates customers to buy. To do that we must leave the objective, quantitative, world of quality management and enter the subjective, qualitative, world of customer’s psychology. Walden reboots our understanding of customer experience, showing us what it means, how to measure it, what we need to do to manage it and how we can gain financially from it. Understand, measure, create and do – but first of all, understand.
  airline customer experience management: Fundamentals of Airline Marketing Scott Ambrose, Blaise Waguespack, 2021-05-27 Applying fundamentals of marketing to commercial passenger air transportation, this textbook puts the emphasis on marketing principles and illustrative ways in which airlines can distinguish themselves within the highly competitive global marketplace. Fundamentals of Airline Marketing begins with a survey of current airline business strategies and the macro forces that have shaped the airline industry in the past and will continue to do so in the future. The growing importance of technology is discussed both from the perspective of better understanding customer needs and engaging more effectively with them. The central role of the customer is explored through the lens of modern segmentation and branding approaches. Coverage then shifts to the tactical decision areas consisting of the 4Ps—product, place, promotion, and price—in which marketers shape and execute their strategies. The book concludes with a focus on executing marketing initiatives internally through customer-facing employee groups and externally through the measurement and management of the customer experience. Fundamentals of Airline Marketing: • is an accessible textbook on the fundamentals of marketing for commercial passenger air transportation; • chronicles the marketing innovations and controversies that have been central to the historic shift in airline fortunes; • demonstrates how airline decisions fit within the fundamentals of marketing and how the marketplace is continuing to evolve; • provides a bridge between key marketing principles and their specific application to the airline industry in each chapter. This textbook is written primarily for undergraduate college students enrolled in aviation business administration programs and related courses. It will also serve as an accessible primer on airline marketing for industry professionals not presently working in marketing and for frontline airline employees seeking to learn more about marketing.
  airline customer experience management: Airline Marketing and Management Mr Stephen Shaw, 2012-10-01 Through six previous editions, Airline Marketing and Management has established itself as the leading textbook for students of marketing and its application to today's airline industry, as well as a reference work for those with a professional interest in the area. Carefully revised, the seventh edition of this internationally successful book examines an exceptionally turbulent period for the industry. It features new material on: ∗Changes in customer needs, particularly regarding more business travellers choosing - or being forced - to travel economy, and analysis of the bankruptcy of 'All Business Class' airlines. ∗ An explanation of the US/EU 'Open Skies' agreement and analysis of its impact. ∗The increase in alliance activity and completion of several recent mergers, and the marketing advantages and disadvantages that have resulted. ∗ Product adjustments that airlines must make to adapt to changes in the marketing environment, such as schedule re-adjustments and the reconfiguration of aircraft cabins. ∗Changes in pricing philosophies, with, for example, airlines moving to 'A La Carte' pricing, whereby baggage, catering and priority boarding are paid for as extras. ∗Airline websites and their role as both a selling and distributing tool. ∗The future of airline marketing. A review of the structure of the air transport market and the marketing environment is followed by detailed chapters examining business and marketing strategies, product design and management, pricing and revenue management, current and future distribution channels, and selling, advertising and promotional policies. The reader will benefit from greater understanding of both marketing and airline industry jargon and from knowledge obtained regarding the extraordinary strategic challenges now facing aviation. Written in a straightforward, easy-to-read style and combining up-to-date and relevant examples drawn from the worldwide aviation industry, this new edition will further enhance the book's reputation for providing the ideal introduction to the subject.
  airline customer experience management: Airlines: Managing to Make Money Stephen Holloway, 2017-05-15 Drawing on recent developments in the services management, strategic management and brand management literatures, this stimulating and well-illustrated book presents critical new approaches to developing customer-centered airline strategies. Designed for a wide audience of aviation management students and professionals it acts as a linking text , using a services management approach to integrate strategy, marketing, human resources management and operations. Written in an accessible and practical style, it is the first book to draw together a broad range of knowledge from contemporary management fields to produce a framework specifically relevant to the airline industry. It is an unparalleled resource for students and airline managers alike.
  airline customer experience management: Why I Hate Flying Henry Mintzberg, 2001 Provides an irreverent look at waiting at check-in, security gate, crowded seating, and airline food.
  airline customer experience management: Managing Customer Experience and Relationships Don Peppers, Martha Rogers, 2022-04-19 Every business on the planet is trying to maximize the value created by its customers Learn how to do it, step by step, in this newly revised Fourth Edition of Managing Customer Experience and Relationships: A Strategic Framework. Written by Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, Ph.D., recognized for decades as two of the world's leading experts on customer experience issues, the book combines theory, case studies, and strategic analyses to guide a company on its own quest to position its customers at the very center of its business model, and to treat different customers differently. This latest edition adds new material including: How to manage the mass-customization principles that drive digital interactions How to understand and manage data-driven marketing analytics issues, without having to do the math How to implement and monitor customer success management, the new discipline that has arisen alongside software-as-a-service businesses How to deal with the increasing threat to privacy, autonomy, and competition posed by the big tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google Teaching slide decks to accompany the book, author-written test banks for all chapters, a complete glossary for the field, and full indexing Ideal not just for students, but for managers, executives, and other business leaders, Managing Customer Experience and Relationships should prove an indispensable resource for marketing, sales, or customer service professionals in both the B2C and B2B world.
  airline customer experience management: Moments of Truth Jan Carlzon, 1989-02-15 The president and CEO of Scandinavia Airlines (SAS) shows how to adapt to the new customer–driven economy.
  airline customer experience management: Right Away & All at Once Greg Brenneman, 2016-02-09 An expert in business turnaround shares his inspiring approach to problem-solving: “A fascinating read” (Mitt Romney). Visionary leader Greg Brenneman believes that true business success and personal fulfillment are two sides of the same coin. The techniques that will grow your business will also help you achieve a rich, purposeful, and integrated life. Here, Brenneman takes what he’s learned from turning around or tuning up many businesses—including Continental Airlines and Burger King—and distills it into a simple, clear, five-step roadmap that anyone can follow. He teaches you how to: *prepare a succinct Go Forward plan *build a fortress balance sheet *grow your sales and profits *choose all-star servant leaders *empower your team For more than thirty years, Brenneman has seen these steps foster dramatic results in a variety of business environments. But he also came to realize that he could apply these same principles to improve his life and build a lasting moral legacy. He found he could make better decisions by carefully taking the most important facets of his life—faith, family, friendship, fitness, and finance—into consideration. Brenneman’s inspiring examples, from both his business and his life, demonstrate the astounding effects these steps can have when you apply them—right away and all at once.
  airline customer experience management: Airimagination Nawal K. Taneja, 2022-09-29 Unprecedented social changes, accelerated by facilitating technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic, are calling for airlines to think deeply and non-conventionally on what will be important to existing and new travelers, as they change their lifestyles. New thinking requires airlines to extend the boundaries of their businesses to go beyond their traditional domains. This need goes beyond the renovation and iteration of conventional products to the transformation of products requiring new ideas and ways to scale them. Examples include the development of cost-effective urban air mobility, intermodal passenger transportation, door-to-door travel that is sustainable, and personalized offers. Airimagination: Extending the Airline Business Boundaries raises some thought-provoking questions and provides a direction for practical solutions. For example, what if airlines developed products and services that finally meet end-to-end needs of customers seamlessly by collaborating in the value-adding open ecosystems, using platforms that facilitate effective engagement with both digital and nondigital customers and employees in real time and at each touch point? Ironically, the current time is an advantage for some airlines as they already have had to deal with a deep and wide disruption caused by the pandemic, leading operations to start from ground zero. This book, the latest in a long and well-regarded series by Nawal K. Taneja, explores innovative best practices within the airline business world, complemented by numerous insightful perspectives contained in multiple forewords and thought leadership pieces. This book is aimed primarily at high-level practitioners within the airline industry and related businesses.
  airline customer experience management: Best Practices in Customer Service John A. Woods, 1999
  airline customer experience management: Airline Customer Service United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 2004
  airline customer experience management: Airline Customer Service Commitments United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Aviation, 2001
  airline customer experience management: The Customer Service Solution: Managing Emotions, Trust, and Control to Win Your Customer’s Business Sriram Dasu, Richard B. Chase, 2013-06-28 Understand Consumer Psychology to Drive Profits and Growth Want to know exactly what’s driving your customer's behavior? NOW YOU CAN! The Customer Service Solution explains how consumers perceive services and shows you how to enhance the customer experience--every time. In this economic climate, the customer service experience is more critical than ever. Most leading service firms advocate the TLC mantra: Think Like a Customer. That's a good practice, but first you have to understand what your customer is thinking and feeling. Today's business leaders cannot afford to neglect the psychological principles that govern customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty. What are the factors that really determine customer satisfaction? Two of the nation's leading authorities on service psychology, Sriram Dasu and Richard Chase, have written this groundbreaking guide that identifies and demystifies the psychological triggers behind customer behavior. You'll go where customer satisfaction surveys, mystery shoppers, and focus groups can't--and learn exactly why customers respond and behave the way they do. With findings drawn from behavioral science research, this book provides all the tools you need to evaluate your current service platforms and design future strategies to enhance customer perceptions positively and drive your sales. The Customer Service Solution illustrates why even companies with high levels of satisfaction are missing tremendous opportunities by neglecting the emotional elements that govern consumer interactions. This book will show you how to: Shape and manage customer perceptions Understand implicit versus explicit outcomes Develop the roles of control and choice among buyers Design emotionally intelligent processes Build trust among customers Whatever your business may be--healthcare, hospitality, financial services, e-commerce, and more--this book is an essential tool to help you increase profits by leveraging your company's customer experience. PRAISE FOR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SOLUTION: Harnessing the power of emotions will help to drive an exceptional customer experience creating customers for life to help your business thrive. Finally, a guide to help us better understand how to do this. -- James Merlino, MD, Chief Experience Officer, Cleveland Clinic Required reading for anyone designing a service encounter. -- James Heskett, Professor Emeritus, Harvard Business School, coauthor of The Service Profit Chain and Service Future I have always known that our customers shop with us because they want to, not because they have to. How to make them want to is the secret that this great book unlocks. -- Kevin Davis, President and CEO, Bristol Farms [Dasu and Chase] share easy-to-understand ideas and guidance to operations managers who typically do not think about the psychology of customers in designing their services. -- Mary Jo Bitner, PhD, Professor and Executive Director, Center for Services Leadership, W. P. Carey School, Arizona State University Dasu and Chase provide an excellent set of ideas for delivering emotional customer service experiences through systems and operations. -- Rodolfo Medina, Vice President, Marketing & Commercial, Rock in Rio This book provides valuable insights to managing and molding the customer's emotional journey, leading to ultimate satisfaction and sustainable loyalty. -- Ali V. Kasikci, Regional Managing Director, Orient-Express
  airline customer experience management: Aviation and Airline Management Rambabu Athota, 2024-09-20 Aviation and Airline Management: University-Based Syllabus Rambabu Athota, with three decades of extensive experience in the aviation industry and five years in academia, bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application in this comprehensive guide. His book meticulously aligns with the university syllabus for B.B.A. Aviation courses, making it an essential resource for students of aviation courses, professionals, as well as aviation enthusiasts. Organized into seven detailed chapters, each divided into five units, this book covers various topics essential to understanding aviation and airline management. Clear explanations, current examples, and detailed illustrations make complex concepts accessible. Each unit concludes with model questions, reinforcing learning and preparing readers for academic success. Aviation and Airline Management: University-Based Syllabus equips readers with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their studies and future careers. The book provides a solid foundation and a forward-looking perspective in the ever-evolving aviation industry.
  airline customer experience management: Hug Your Haters Jay Baer, 2016-03 Includes a detachable folded poster of The Hatrix.
  airline customer experience management: Up in the Air Greg J. Bamber, Jody Hoffer Gittell, Thomas A. Kochan, Andrew Von Nordenflycht, 2013-07-15 And you thought the passengers were mad. Airline employees are fed up, too-with pay cuts, increased workloads and management's miserly ways, which leave workers to explain to often-enraged passengers why flying has become such a miserable experience.—New York Times, December 22, 2007When both an industry's workers and its customers report high and rising frustration with the way they are being treated, something is fundamentally wrong. In response to these conditions, many of the world's airlines have made ever-deeper cuts in services and their workforces. Is it too much to expect airlines, or any other enterprise, to provide a fair return to investors, high-quality reliable service to their customers, and good jobs for their employees?Measured against these three expectations, the airline industry is failing. In the first five years of the twenty-first century alone, U.S. airlines lost a total of $30 billion while shedding 100,000 jobs, forcing the remaining workers to give up over $15 billion in wages and benefits. Combined with plummeting employee morale, shortages of air traffic controllers, and increased congestion and flight delays, a total collapse of the industry may be coming. Is this state of affairs inevitable? Or is it possible to design a more sustainable, less volatile industry that better balances the objectives of customers, investors, employees, and the wider society? Does deregulation imply total abrogation of government's responsibility to oversee an industry showing the clear signs of deterioration and increasing risk of a pending crisis?Greg J. Bamber, Jody Hoffer Gittell, Thomas A. Kochan, and Andrew von Nordenflycht explore such questions in a well-informed and engaging way, using a mix of quantitative evidence and qualitative studies of airlines from North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Up in the Air provides clear and realistic strategies for achieving a better, more equitable balance among the interests of customers, employees, and shareholders. Specifically, the authors recommend that firms learn from the innovations of companies like Southwest and Continental Airlines in order to build a positive workplace culture that fosters coordination and commitment to high-quality service, labor relations policies that avoid long drawn-out conflicts in negotiating new agreements, and business strategies that can sustain investor, employee, and customer support through the ups and downs of business cycles.
  airline customer experience management: Adoption and Implementation of AI in Customer Relationship Management Singh, Surabhi, 2021-10-15 Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into customer relationship management (CRM) automates the sales, marketing, and services in organizations. An AI-powered CRM is capable of learning from past decisions and historical patterns to score the best leads for sales. AI will also be able to predict future customer behavior. These tactics lead to better and more effective marketing strategies and increases the scope of customer services, which allow businesses to build healthier relationships with their consumer base. Adoption and Implementation of AI in Customer Relationship Management is a critical reference source that informs readers about the transformations that AI-powered CRM can bring to organizations in order to build better services that create more productive relationships. This book uses the experience of past decisions and historical patterns to discuss the ways in which AI and CRM lead to better analytics and better decisions. Discussing topics such as personalization, quality of services, and CRM in the context of diverse industries, this book is an important resource for marketers, brand managers, IT specialists, sales specialists, managers, students, researchers, professors, academicians, and stakeholders.
  airline customer experience management: 21st Century Airlines Nawal K. Taneja, 2017-09-08 In 21st Century Airlines: Connecting the Dots, Nawal Taneja addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the airline industry as it tries to innovate and create products and services that are radically different by ‘connecting the dots’ at four key levels: recognizing the implications of global events, improving cross-functional collaboration within the organization, working more closely with the travel chain, and providing much higher engagements with connectors within the social networks. The book synthesizes insights gained from the experience of non-traditional businesses, such as Uber, that have no physical assets and that focus on scalability through platforms, as well as traditional businesses, such as Mercedes-Benz, that are transitioning from operators of physical assets to adapt to the on-demand and sharing economies. These insights show pragmatically that digitizing airline businesses would require digital mind-sets, digital technologies, digital strategies, and digital workplaces to explore new frontiers in value for both customers and airlines. Moreover, forward-thinking airlines need to consider working with bimodal organizational structures, in which one group optimizes current business models (network, fleet, and schedule planning, as well as revenue management) while a second group explores innovative ways to add digital features to physical products to provide a consistent experience throughout the journey. The book is written for all senior-level practitioners of airlines and related businesses worldwide, as well as senior-level government policymakers.
  airline customer experience management: Trends, Challenges, and Practices in Contemporary Strategic Management M?zrak, Filiz, 2024-01-10 Modern business dynamics are an intricate and strategic landscape that underpins organizational triumphs despite today’s turbulent market. Those fervently exploring the symbiosis of theory and reality within the strategic realm of contemporary strategic management require a solid understanding of the concept, and they can now enhance this journey with Trends, Challenges, and Practices in Contemporary Strategic Management. This seminal work unfurls a tapestry of erudition, guiding its readers through the corridors of contemporary strategic management. Targeting a diverse readership encompassing academicians, researchers, students, and industry leaders, the book’s scope is as expansive as its subject matter. For scholars and researchers, its pages unfold a treasure trove of contemporary strategic management theories, their evolution, and cutting-edge practices. Practitioners entrusted with steering strategic compasses will glean a pragmatic arsenal of insights and best practices, their leadership acumen fortified to navigate the most tempestuous waters of organizational strategy. Covering from disruptive innovation and strategic leadership in a digital epoch to sustainability, global strategy, and the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in shaping strategies, this book mirrors the ever-evolving cadence of contemporary strategic management.
  airline customer experience management: Transforming Airlines Nawal K. Taneja, 2020-03-19 This book provides a flight plan for riding the impending connectivity transformation curve. It takes the perspective of actionability, highlighting initiatives that executives in airlines and related businesses can use from the insights of multi-industry executives. The emphasis is on execution, not on the concepts themselves. There is a cluster of at least four distinct megatrends that may converge to form disruptive conditions: (1) elevated expectations of existing and new customer segmentations, those who expect available and accessible air mass transportation systems, and those who expect connected services and seamless travel on different modes of transportation; (2) new emerging technology, incorporated in the air and ground vehicles, that will create new opportunities for existing and new service providers to offer new value propositions; (3) platforms developed around the ecosystem of customers; and (4) the impact on travel that the fast-changing demographic and economic characteristics of two major countries: India and China. These megatrends could lead existing or new businesses to create value propositions specifically dedicated to the new segments once each reaches a critical mass. Drawing on the author’s own experience in the airline industry and related businesses, this book discusses the how, relating to reimagining the business, re-entrepreneuring the organization, innovating through partnerships, reengaging with customers and employees, and rebranding the business in response to these trends. This book is recommended reading for all senior-level practitioners of airlines and related businesses worldwide.
  airline customer experience management: Managing Customer Experiences in an Omnichannel World Taşkın Dirsehan, 2020-11-26 Managing Customer Experiences in an Omnichannel World explores how organizations integrating both the physical and virtual environments for consumers will enable them to effectively manage the customer experience.
  airline customer experience management: Re-platforming the Airline Business Nawal K. Taneja, 2019-01-10 Airline business models continue to be shaped by powerful forces relating to customers, complexities and regulators. However, at the same time, there are emerging technologies that can help airlines cater to the needs of their changing customer bases and manage the complexities of the business. In his previous books, Nawal Taneja has deliberated on these forces and how the airline industry is poised for disruptive change that could come from within or outside of the industry. He also discussed the point that the airline planning systems and process in use are neither contemporary nor sufficiently integrated to meet the changing needs of customers who now are looking for outcomes, not products. In Re-platforming the Airline Business: To Meet Travelers' Total Mobility Needs, Taneja not only reiterates the need for transformation of the airline business but provides a map of the transformational process. This book proposes that different sectors of the aviation industry, particularly airlines and airports, should consider using not just a wide array of technologies (Artificial Intelligence, biometrics, blockchain, and the Internet of Things), but also specifically-designed customer-centric platforms to make informed decisions and to develop and implement transformative strategies to meet travelers’ total mobility needs. These technologies and platforms can enable airlines and airports to achieve scale and scope as well as agility and flexibility (through strategic partnerships) to offer intelligently aggregated travel-related services right now. Subsequently, they will enable various members in the travel chain to provide solutions to travelers’ global mobility requirements, effectively and with better experiences.
  airline customer experience management: Enhancing Customer Experience in the Service Industry Levent Altinay, Surya Poudel, 2015-11-25 This book provides a new and definitive overview of customer experience and how it can be managed and enhanced in one of the most dynamic industries in the world—the service industry. Its highly qualified international team of contributors ensures that it adopts a global perspective, and clearly outlines the key theoretical perspectives of customer experience, covering customer experience both from demand and supplier perspectives. Fully informed by the latest research, it explores different country contexts and how they impact upon the customer experience; investigates the social, cultural and economic dimensions of customer experience; provides case studies from a wide range of service industry sectors; and includes industry perspectives and examples.
  airline customer experience management: Looking Beyond the Runway Nawal K. Taneja, 2016-12-05 The global airline industry, facing significant changes and discontinuity is prompted and forced to deal with a new normal. Who would have imagined a few years ago that: - a significant percentage of consumers in the US now prefer to fly low-cost airlines instead of full-service airlines because they perceive the product to be better, - airlines would generate up to a third of their total income from non-ticket revenue, - many low-cost airlines would add complexity to their original simple business models through the development of code-share agreements, the use of global distribution systems, and travel agents to distribute their seats, - Jetstar, a low-cost subsidiary of Qantas, would grow faster and be more profitable than its parent, - a survey carried out by Ryanair would show that 42 percent of passengers would be willing to stand on short (one hour) flights if they could pay 50 percent less than seated passengers, - passengers could pay as little as US$2,000 for a transatlantic Business Class ticket on top-brand airlines, - Lufthansa would have ownership in airlines based in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, and the US, and that it would continue to pursue equity ownership in airlines based in Poland and Scandinavia, or - the Japanese and Canadian governments would struggle to find different ways to bail out their heretofore flag carriers? To deal with this upcoming new normal, airlines have to go beyond their short-term circumstantial strategies - they need strategic renewal of their ageing business model. In this candidly-written book, Nawal Taneja explains what will separate the winners from the losers. He maintains the leaders will be the airlines that: (1) exploit this crisis-driven change to their best advantage, (2) learn to work around the airline-inherent constraints that prevent them from running their businesses just like other businesses, (3) learn from successes and failures of other global enterprises, (4) sharpen their business intelligence, analytics, and strategic agility, and (5) proactively explore the pockets of growth in this emerging-markets century. To help airline executives become informed of new competitive games, the author analyzes numerous business sectors such as auto, hospitality, retail, technology, and entertainment. For example, relevant lessons can be learned from the strategic mistakes made by the US automakers. Likewise, emergent and compelling insights can be gained in superior customer experience from Ritz Carlton and Zappos, and in value-creating innovation from Cirque du Soleil and Zipcar. The book also features a multitiude of forewords from airlines and related businesses to provide readers with multiple perspectives on the changing landscape in the global airline industry. Nawal Taneja is a career analyst of the global airline industry with wide-ranging experience in the aviation industry, academia, and public policy. Encouraged by industry executives, he has written five other books for practitioners in the global airline industry, including FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT: The Passenger is Flying the Plane and Flying Ahead of the Airplane.
  airline customer experience management: Airline Industry Nawal K. Taneja, 2016-06-23 Many business sectors have been, and are being, forced to compete with new competitors-disrupters of some sort-who have found new ways to create and deliver new value for customers often through the use of technology that is coupled with a new underlying production or business model, and/or a broad array of partners, including, in some cases, customers themselves. Think about the disruption created by Apple by the introduction of the iPod and iTunes, and by Netflix within the entertainment sectors using partners within the ecosystem; think of Uber that didn’t build an app around the taxi business but rather built a mobility business around the app to improve customer experience. Airline Industry considers whether the airline industry is poised for disruptive innovations from inside or outside of the industry. Although airlines have a long history of continuous improvements and innovation, few of their innovations can be classified as disruptive innovations. The few disruptive innovations that did emerge were facilitated, for example by new technology (jet aircraft) and government policy (deregulation). Now there are new forces in play-customers who expect to receive products that are more personalized and experience-based throughout the entire journey, new customer interfaces (via social media), advanced information systems and analytics, financially powerful airlines based in emerging nations, and the rise of unencumbered entrepreneurs who think differently as well as platform-focused integrators.
  airline customer experience management: Customer Service Management in Africa Robert Hinson, Ogechi Adeola, Terri Lituchy, Abednego Amartey, 2020-05-07 Customer Service Management in Africa: A Strategic and Operational Perspective (978-0-367-14337-4, K410515) Customer Service is Changing! The message of 34 authors featured in Customer Service Management in Africa: A Strategic and Operational Perspective is clear: Today’s consumers are no longer ‘passive audiences’ but ‘active players’ that engage with businesses at each stage of product or service design and delivery systems. Consumer demands and expectations are also increasingly being dictated by changing personal preferences, enhanced access to information and expanding digital reality. The customer service principles – strategic and operational – advocated by these authors are universal, but particularly compelling as they apply to Africa’s unique and dynamic operating environment. In recognition of the importance of excellent customer service, this comprehensive and well-timed book provides an essential guide on the increasing role of the customer to business success. This book discusses the management and delivery of customer service under seven broad themes: Customer Service as Shared Value, Customer Service Strategy, Customer Service Systems, Customer Service Style, Customer Service Culture, Customer Service Skills and Customer Experience – Advancing Customer Service in Africa. Central questions posed and addressed include: What is the new definition of customer service management? How should organisations position themselves to create value for customers and stakeholders? How should employees project themselves to align with customer service promises made by their organisations? Overall, this book provides strategic and operational insights into effective customer service management in Africa. The customer service management concepts, roles and practices outlined, particularly as they apply to the African context, make it an important addition to scholars’ or practitioners’ reference works.
  airline customer experience management: Fundamentals of International Aviation Suzanne K. Kearns, 2021-03-21 International aviation is a massive and complex industry that is crucial to our global economy and way of life. Designed for the next generation of aviation professionals, Fundamentals of International Aviation, second edition, flips the traditional approach to aviation education. Instead of focusing on one career in one country, it introduces readers to the air transport sector on a global scale with a broad view of all the interconnected professional groups. This text provides a foundation of ‘how aviation works’ in preparation for any career in the field (including regulators, maintenance engineers, pilots, flight attendants, airline and airport managers, dispatchers, and air traffic controllers, among many others). Each chapter introduces a different cross-section of the industry, from air law to operations, security to environmental impacts. A variety of learning tools are built into each chapter, including 24 case studies that describe an aviation accident related to each topic. This second edition adds new learning features, geographic representation from Africa, a new chapter on economics, full-color illustrations, and updated and enhanced online resources. This accessible and engaging textbook provides a foundation of industry awareness that will support a range of aviation careers. It also offers current air transport professionals an enriched understanding of the practices and challenges that make up the rich fabric of international aviation.
  airline customer experience management: Leading the Customer Experience Sarah Cook, 2016-03-09 Leading the Customer Experience explores the relationship between leadership behaviour and exceptional service. Most organisation’s strategic aims and goals centre on the delivery of excellent service. Loyal customers not only keep buying from a company but also recommend the business to others. It is clear that managers and leaders throughout an organisation have a key influence on the experience that customers receive. How leaders behave has a direct impact on their team member’s motivation to go the extra mile to deliver excellent service for the customer. Sarah Cook’s vision for Leading the Customer Experience is to provide practical advice, tools and techniques for managers in how to effectively lead and motivate their team to deliver the best possible customer service. This book encapsulates her research on the behaviours of leaders who successfully create an environment where employees deliver exceptional service and she brings a pragmatic and business focused approach to the topic. Each chapter contains a variety of case study examples from businesses in UK and Europe, Asia Pacific, US and BRIC countries. These include service organisations in the financial sector, manufacturing, hospitality, transport, healthcare, public and third sectors.
  airline customer experience management: Crafting Customer Experience Strategy Sapna Popli, Bikramjit Rishi, 2021-05-04 Crafting Customer Experience Strategy: Lessons from Asia looks at how Customer Experience Management can be vital in providing a competitive advantage for businesses. This is essential reading for marketing scholars and practitioners looking for insights into improving their customers' experiences.
  airline customer experience management: The Airline Industry , 2006 The Airline industry has been under increasing pressure recently, from the increased competition of low-cost airlines and the terrorist events of 2001 to name but a few. Various US airlines, including Delta and Northwest, have been declared bankrupt, oil prices have soared, and seat prices are still being forced down, the supply far outweighing the demand. This e-book looks at recent case studies of airlines in crisis (Continental Airlines), and also airlines which have excelled at expansion during this turbulent time such as Easyjet and Ryanair, and offers examples of successful strategies previously used. The collection also features interviews with high-profile figures from airlines such as Go!, Qatar Airways and SWISS International Airlines.
  airline customer experience management: Customer Service Marketing Edwin N. Torres, Tingting Zhang, 2022-12-05 This timely book is a comprehensive overview of customer service principles, theories, and practices. It looks at the best practices of service enterprises and the delivery of superior customer service. It also includes classic and contemporary theories relating to the consumers, managers, and their behaviors in organizational setting. The book uses real-life applications through examples from business enterprises in various service sectors, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks, event management, airlines, cruises, (e-)retailers, and finance. This book covers important concepts in service design and delivery including customer experiences, peer-to-peer services, the organization’s servicescape, quality measurement tools, and use of technologies. The book also gives insights into consumers including their expectations, attitudes, emotions, word-of-mouth behaviors, and strategies to ensure their loyalty. It also looks at developments in service theory and practice which remain relatively unexplored by existing textbooks. Filled with real-world case studies in various service sectors, this textbook will be particularly useful for students in hospitality guest services and services marketing.
  airline customer experience management: Global Air Transport Management and Reshaping Business Models for the New Era Kankaew, Kannapat, 2022-05-27 The air transport industry is highly vulnerable to environmental changes as was seen when the recent COVID-19 pandemic caused most airline operations to cease. However, for decades airlines have been collapsing around the globe as the business of managing airline operations has become stressed due to price competition. This is detrimental to air carriers since air transport products and services are the same. Moreover, it impacts other industries such as tourism, hotels, and restaurants, which contribute to the derailment of economic and social activities. Thus, it is essential to determine new practices and strategies that can allow air transport management to be enriched and to flourish. Global Air Transport Management and Reshaping Business Models for the New Era provides a comprehensive collection of knowledge on the new era of business management on air transport. It provides strategies, technologies, and tools used in the reshaping of the air transport business model. Covering topics such as customer experience, robotic process automation, and airline alliances, this major reference work is an essential resource for airline managers, supply chain specialists, air transport managers, students and faculty of higher education, libraries, researchers, economists, government officials, and academicians.
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