I can’t be the one one who has ever puzzled this… or perhaps I’m.
Frankfurt Airport’s final minute ticket counters
As a lot as Frankfurt Airport is a sizzling mess (minus the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, in fact), I can’t assist however have a gentle spot for the check-in corridor, and particularly the normal flip board flight standing screens. There’s one factor I’ve observed within the check-in corridor a numerous variety of occasions over time, and I’ve at all times been interested in it.
Between the check-in desks that belong to airways, there are every kind of counters for various firms claiming to promote final minute tickets for journey on all airways. Apparently all of them have totally different branding, suggesting they every belong to a unique firm. I’d say the desks are occupied most of the time throughout busy durations, although I hardly ever truly see anybody method the counters.
What objective do final minute ticket counters serve?
I’d be fascinated to know who these final minute ticket counters are focusing on, and what they’re truly providing:
- Are these companies focusing on those that could have missed their flights, or simply these searching for a final minute deal? I might suppose that most individuals searching for a final minute ticket would log on, quite than saying “let me go to that final minute ticket desk within the terminal”
- Do these final minute ticket desks even have offers higher than what you’ll find on-line, or are they principally simply providing you what’s publicly out there on-line? I do know airfare consolidators exist, however promoting you could provide final minute tickets on all airways means that the deal side of this is perhaps restricted
- I may see the worth in one thing like this in a market the place in-person ticketing continues to be frequent, and the place individuals pay for journey by money, and so on., however Germany isn’t actually a market like that (particularly in a much bigger metropolis like Frankfurt)
- Are these firms simply engaged on commissions, or do they cost charges for ticketing?
- Why are there so many firms doing this, and the way totally different are the choices between them? Do individuals comparability store between them?
I’ve to think about that these companies make some cash, or else they wouldn’t be renting house on the airport and paying individuals to sit down there. However I additionally really feel like I have to be lacking one thing, as a result of I can’t make sense of this.
OMAAT readers collectively know nearly every little thing, so I’m hoping that’s the case right here too. Please enlighten me.
Backside line
Frankfurt Airport’s final minute ticket counters within the check-in corridor have at all times piqued my curiosity. There appear to be a number of firms promoting final minute tickets on all airways. However within the age of digital ticketing and on-line journey businesses, what level do these serve? Are these firms simply journey businesses that may guide you at the usual price on any airline, and it’s meant for many who aren’t tech savvy, or is there extra to it?
Anybody have any insights? Am I the one one who has been interested in these counters (please, even in case you’re not a frequent commenter, I’d be so completely happy to listen to that I’m not the one one who wonders about these sorts of issues)?