Over the past few years, the aviation industry has been growing at a lightning pace. A lot of new low-cost carriers (LCC) have emerged in the last decade, leading to an addition of many new options for flyers. To book flight tickets for domestic travel, there is a wide array of airlines to choose from. Before the introduction of LCCs, the aviation market was dominated by full-service carriers. Because of this situation, a lot of people had to pay for the services they did not want to avail. Many LCCs give passengers the option of availing these services separately while reserving seats.
In addition to the drastic changes in the aviation industry, the development of mobile technology has made things even easier. Internet facilitates buying of air tickets on the web itself without any difficulty. To make reservations online, users need only an internet connection along with a credit or debit card for completing the transaction. There are a number of ways, in which a person can complete the process successfully. Online travel agencies (OTAs) and mobile applications are two of the easiest and most accessible modes, available for this purpose.
Online Travel Agencies
With online marketing gaining pace, almost all the airlines have collaborated with OTAs to attract a wider range of customers. These portals do away with the need of calling individual travel offices or visiting them personally. Such travel websites offer a number of available flights for a particular departure date and destination. To book flight tickets through online travel agencies, people can choose from a number of available websites. The best thing about reserving a seat on an aircraft through OTAs is the available flights can be compared in a single window. On the basis of the preference of customers, the most suitable option can be chosen.
Online travel agencies regularly offer deals and cheap rates for tickets during the year or as part of flash sales. Regular customers may get coupons and credits that can be availed later to make the flight cheaper in the long run. While users undergo the process on the internet, they have an option of buying either a one-way or a round trip ticket. A one-way ticket is a viable option for those, who are not yet sure about their return schedule, whereas a round trip prevents the hassle of last-minute booking.
Mobile Applications
In the age of smart phones, travel mobile applications have revolutionised the way ticket bookings are done online. This facility can be used for checking the lowest airfare for carriers operating in different parts of the world. With these applications, seats can be reserved on an aircraft from anywhere. There are additional benefits of using these travel application like being able to check the flight schedule and receiving the boarding pass on the phone or tablet itself. This can save the precious time of passengers that is often wasted in standing at the airport check-in counters.
OTAs and mobile applications have been making the process of reservation simpler and more transparent for flyers.
Source by Priyanka Manjari Mishra
