Category
Art & Design
Oven Aesthetics
Trend cluster
Category
Elevated
Economy
Economy class is made more enticing with enhanced designs and services.
4.2
Trend score
Trend
What is the Elevated Economy trend?
Elevated Economy: With economy class on airplanes now having increasingly limited space, airlines are offering alternate solutions to the discomfort people face on long economy flights by repositioning the stated benefits of the economy seats they offer. Despite being more showy than functional, the services make the idea of economy class more palatable for the average consumer–giving a glimpse of the exclusivity of first class without the costs associated, from both the airline's and the customer's perspective.
Trend themes
Themes within the Elevated Economy trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Innovative Seating
Airlines are creating innovative seating solutions to improve comfort in economy class.
02
Personalized Seating
Customized seating arrangements are gaining popularity to improve customer comfort.
03
Efficient Boarding
Startups are developing technology to reduce boarding time and improve passenger experience.
Industry implications
What the Elevated Economy trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Airline Industry
Airlines are investing in new seating solutions to make economy class more comfortable and exclusive.
For
Travel and Tourism Industry
Tourism companies can leverage these new seating arrangements to provide personalized travel experiences for their clients.
For
Transportation Industry
Companies working to enhance boarding processes can benefit from the development of efficient, technology-driven systems.
Workshop question
How can your brand make its products/services more accessible to consumers on a budget?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Elevated Economy
Trend score 4.2 out of 10, from popularity 64%, activity 55%, freshness 8%.
Popularity64%
Activity55%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Elevated Economy trend
6 featured examples from Jan 15, 2016 to May 4, 2018CategoryArt & Design
Couple-Specific Airplane Seating
Virgin Atlantic's 'Love Suites' Let Couples Cuddle Aboard
Companies in the airline industry could benefit from introducing customized seating and luxury features to attract potential customers.
CategoryWorld
Space-Maximizing Airplane Seats
The Side-Slip Seat System Makes the Middle Spot More Desirable
The airline industry has an opportunity to invest in comfort-enhancing innovations like the Side-Slip Seat system in order to better compete and improve customer satisfaction.
CategoryWorld
Economy Airline Beds
Geven Has Designed Lie-Flat Seats Geared to Economy Airplane Passengers
Incorporating lie-flat seat designs into aircraft manufacturing to cater to the growing demand for comfort in economy class.
CategoryWorld
Enhanced Storage Airplane Seats
The New Qantas Premium Economy Seats are Comfortable and Organized
Opportunity for airlines to offer premium experiences that improve the travel experience for passengers.
CategoryWorld
Ergonomic Private Aircraft Seats
The Bombardier 'Nuage Seat' Offers Flyers Total Comfort
The aerospace industry can explore the development of ergonomic furniture solutions for improved passenger comfort during air travel.
CategoryTech
Seat Swapping Apps
This Travel App Facilitates Seat Exchanges Between Airplane Passengers
Airlines can harness the trend of offering seat swapping apps to their passengers, thereby improving customer satisfaction and generating additional revenue.
