Convenience and speed

With the long Undas holiday upon us, most Filipinos are no doubt off on the traditional long-weekend vacation, either opting for a long weekend drive somewhere near the city or, for those who can afford it, a quick three-to-four-day getaway abroad.

- MARIANNE GO

And what do we as travelers seek when we plan to travel abroad? According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the topmost consideration of most travelers is convenience and speed.

In its 2024 Global Passenger Survey, the IATA revealed that travelers continue to prioritize convenience and speed. For a smoother travel experience, travelers are eager to use biometric identification and complete some travel processes before reaching the airport.

While we Filipinos may be eager to have these as well, unfortunately, we are still way behind the curve, even as we are now more hopeful that with the takeover by the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), such facilities will become available so that we can truly experience world-class travel facilities and convenience.

"Passengers want flexibility and transparency when planning and booking travel, plus speed and convenience at the airport. More are embracing biometrics, digital wallets, and off-airport processes to make it happen," according to Nick Careen, IATA's senior vice president of operations, safety, and security.

Other findings of the IATA survey showed that up to 68 percent of respondents said proximity to the airport was their top priority when selecting their departure airport, followed by minimizing total travel time (33 percent) and getting the best ticket price (25 percent).

With digitalization, a majority of those traveling, or 71 percent, said they book travel online or via a mobile app, with 53 percent preferring to use the airline's website/app, and only 16 percent prefer human interaction. A third of respondents, or 32 percent, said they want to have all travel information consolidated in one place during the pre-travel process.