Surveys on Planes [1 of 3]

Abstract


This document is a consideration of a survey for an airline. The survey is limited to 10 questions and occurs across two categories. The nature of the question sets is to discover how to make the experience of the flight "more" (more productive, entertaining, relaxing, empowering, etc.).



Introduction

The operational idea would be to make available, once the flight is underway, iPads programmed with the survey up front that once accomplished would make the iPad available for the rest of the flight. Given the voluntary nature of the operational idea, a comprehensive statistical arbitrage of the averages of the demographics taking the survey against statistical averages of those who chose not to take the survey will take place on the back end. An underlying architecture is also likely already available for this (Survey Monkey, etc.) (Survey Monkey, n.d.).

Our first question may or may not have sub questions (depending on circumstance).

It is hoped that the survey could be made available to nearly, literally, everyone (it is suggested that such iPads would be made available to guests as young as seven years of age).

Services are to be available through seat hub or Wi-Fi.



Context

First Questions

The first layer of questions necessarily needs to provide statistical demographic information. If a proper disclaimer is well worded this might likely be accomplished by simply having someone enter their seat assignment. Presuming the time and flight number is available for capture without the consumer, much of the rest of the information may be retrievable from a database (this is especially true in flights involving passports). On short domestic flights (where such a database of information is not available), other basic demographics may need to be asked.

Assurance of privacy is not only useful but also comforting to the consumer; such as none of the individual’s information would have an existence beyond this survey, under any circumstance.

In sum, the "first question" is "please enter your seat assignment”. In flight instances where this is not enough the primary question would have sub questions; such as choosing on the touchpad between icons of male or female, an age range, an income range, an education range and an opportunity to self-acknowledge in any other way the consumer wishes.



Last Questions

This author apologizes in advance, if it seems that there is a "cheating", and the final two questions (as per this design) would actually fall within the purview of context, as well.

After a “forced” previewing of the services that are about to follow, this next to last question would have the next seven services represented by icon, and ask for a ranking as to how interesting/valuable each of these experiences were. The last question would be a Likert ranking of each of these services. This last question would also include a field inviting quick comment on anything whatsoever.

Once this hopefully entertaining survey is complete, as promised, the iPad stays with the traveler for the balance of the flight. However, a sub tracking may now take place to determine if the consumer goes back to any of what was previewed or pursues an altogether different direction.