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The Concept of Well-being and Its Effect on Airline Ticket Purchasing
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2016-06-25
Author(s)
Daum, Sebastian
Abstract
For very long time questions on and about well-being were discussed by several authors and are still present in recent literature. Although well-being research has grown increasingly within the last decade and in the field of consumer behavior, a transfer and use of its concept into the airline ticket purchasing process cannot be found. Until now, only a few authors have taken efforts to apply well-being as a potential factor within the consumer decision-making in travel and transportation research. Based on the theoretical roots of well-being, this paper analyses its constitution, function and use within human behavioral motivation to first describe and define well-being in general and second to investigate potential well-being factors that can be used within the airline ticket purchasing process.
By combining a review of relevant literature and qualitative research, well-being is defined as a condition or state of good, positive and pleasant feelings and a general feeling of happiness. It is mainly constituted by six major attributes: Positive social environment, being relaxation, freedom, trust, good feeling and myself. The transfer of general well-being factors from travel and transportation research identified seven aviation factors that supposedly affect passengers’ ticket purchases. These key factors are linked to specific airline options and are further specified in order to test the most appropriate on their effect within the airline ticket purchasing process. In the end, a conjoint analysis reveals that the derived well-being factors are only partly relevant for passengers’ ticket purchases. Yet, it is shown that air travelling is affected by hedonic well-being options, such as comfort, relaxation or joy. Airlines that focus on implementing effective hedonic
Wittmer, Daum: The concept of well-being and its effect on Airline ticket purchasing 1
well-being factors, such as seat comfort and ticket flexibility, can thus create additional value for customers through the creation of well-being.
By combining a review of relevant literature and qualitative research, well-being is defined as a condition or state of good, positive and pleasant feelings and a general feeling of happiness. It is mainly constituted by six major attributes: Positive social environment, being relaxation, freedom, trust, good feeling and myself. The transfer of general well-being factors from travel and transportation research identified seven aviation factors that supposedly affect passengers’ ticket purchases. These key factors are linked to specific airline options and are further specified in order to test the most appropriate on their effect within the airline ticket purchasing process. In the end, a conjoint analysis reveals that the derived well-being factors are only partly relevant for passengers’ ticket purchases. Yet, it is shown that air travelling is affected by hedonic well-being options, such as comfort, relaxation or joy. Airlines that focus on implementing effective hedonic
Wittmer, Daum: The concept of well-being and its effect on Airline ticket purchasing 1
well-being factors, such as seat comfort and ticket flexibility, can thus create additional value for customers through the creation of well-being.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SoM - Business Innovation
Event Title
20st Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) World Conference
Event Location
Rhodes
Event Date
23.-26.06.2016
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
andreas.wittmer@unisg.ch
Eprints ID
249883