With the long-awaited January payday finally here, coupled with the less than desirable domestic weather, travel agents can expect to see a flurry of activity during the next few weeks from consumers looking to book a break away during 2018.

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), an award-winning operator and retailer of airport parking, has carried out research into how UK resident air travellers make their decision on how they travel to the airport*, providing an insight for travel agents looking to book travel extras.

Driving to the airport and parking with a reputable airport parking company is one of the easiest and most affordable ways of travelling to the airport however the research has shown that 60% of travellers choose to travel by private car, with 28% of these being dropped off at the airport, what’s known as ‘Kiss and Fly’.

This highlights an opportunity for travel agents to offer travel extras to clients, such as airport parking, and APH has therefore put together a list of top tips to help agents looking to sell add-ons this January.

  • Sell Early – many customers may be tempted to leave booking airport parking as late as possible, however airport parking tends to be cheaper the earlier it’s booked and provides more options for the customer.
  • Sell “Easy” – unfamiliar customers need to be advised just how easy it is to book airport parking in advance and how it all works.
  • Recommend – more than 40% of travellers value the recommendation of their travel agent or airline*, so build a trusting relationship with the customer by recommending the same products you would to a friend or relative.
  • Recommend on Quality, not just on Price – cost is an important factor however reputation and a secure, high-quality service are also just as important. This will guarantee a satisfactory experience for the client and therefore help to secure repeat business.
  • Suggest Hotel and Parking Packages – an early flight is the main reason for a Hotel and Parking package however many travellers are simply not aware that this option is available so remind customers of the product on offer, which will make an easier start to the holiday.
  • Understand the Customer’s Needs – shape the product or service to suit the customers’ requirements, for example Meet and Greet parking, where the customer drives directly to the airport and drops their car off at the terminal, may be more suitable for a family with very young children with pushchairs or someone travelling with large sports equipment such as golf clubs, bikes or surfboards.
  • Use Review Websites – even if agents haven’t used the service themselves, it always helps to use independent review services such as Reevoo or Feefo to get unbiased reviews from real customers on the product their offering to clients. Alsocheck the number of reviews is substantial, to make sure the average is an accurate representation.

Nick Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) said, “Offering holiday add-ons to clients, such as airport parking, is a great way to help make the holiday even more comfortable and enjoyable. Airport parking is one of the easiest ways of travelling to the airport, allowing holidaymakers to have more control over their journey and travel agents are best placed to overcome uncertainty about the options on offer and how easy it is to book.”

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH),
Visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

ENDS

Notes to Editors
*Research commissioned by Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) in November / December 2017

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Established in 1980, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award-winning airport parking operator and retailer, after winning the ‘Best Airport Parking Company’ award at the British Travel Awards 2017 for an eighth year running. In addition to APH’s own car parks at Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham Airports, APH also offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels, airport lounges and travel extras such as car hire and travel insurance.

APH is a carbon-balanced company having worked closely with the World Land Trust for many years to off-set their carbon emissions and to help support rainforest conservation by protecting threatened forest habitats. APH is also a proud corporate sponsor of the University of Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology, where the world’s most eminent experts come together in the quest to find new and innovative treatments and Action Medical Research for Children

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