Business travelers are nearly twice as likely to file a complaint for poor airline service than leisure passengers, according to a report by the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
The ACSI report says 20% of business fliers had made a complaint in 2015 compared to just 11% of those traveling on leisure.
"Business fliers fly more, they pay more and they have higher expectations of how they’re going to be treated. They tend therefore to complain more,” said David VanAmburg, ACSI managing director.
The report indicates that airlines are ‘going where the money is’ and better focusing on resolving high spending corporate travelers’ grievances.
Asked how well the most recent complaint was dealt with, business travelers rated airlines 59 out of 100 on the ACSI index.
In comparison, leisure travelers’ satisfaction was just 51 out of 100 points.
"I think the airlines probably have it about right in that they know who they should be focusing on, and with apologies to leisure travelers, it’s not them,” VanAmburg said.
"You’re going to go with where the money is, and that’s what airlines are doing. They are finding small ways to provide a little better service to those from whom they make the most money.”
He adds that business travelers are always more likely to experience a hitch due to the frequency of travel.
"Every time you fly, you’re rolling the dice. You fly once a month, those chances just mount that the bag might get lost, or the plane is delayed because of a storm, or there’s an unpleasant customer next to you that might make you unhappier with the experience.”
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