#DEGRAD19: the barometer of experience degradation in aviation

Today we introduce the #DEGRAD19 barometer. For an indefinite period of time, which we hope will be as short as possible, the conditions of air travel will be greatly degraded, as we have mentioned in various videos with special guests.

With the gradual recovery of traffic we decided to analyse the situation more precisely through a sample of airlines to produce a barometer called #DEGRAD19.

For each of them we analysed the degradation of the customer experience that they would offer to their customers according to the following criteria:

Food and beverage on short-haul flights in economy and business class
Food and beverage on medium-long haul flights in economy and business class
Food and beverage on long-haul flights in economy and business class
Pillows and blankets distributed
Amenity kits distributed
Cabin baggage allowed
Open airport lounges
Common areas (bars, etc.) kept in the aircraft

How is the #DEGRAD19 score constructed?

For each of these points we have assessed the service as it will now exist compared to what the airline offered before by giving a score out of 10. The average of the scores allows us to establish a score presented as a percentage.

For example, an airline with a score of 75% will offer a service equivalent to 75% of what it offered before, i.e. a 25% deterioration.

The assessed airlines are : Air France, KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, United, American Airlines et Delta Airlines.

As flights have just resumed, the assessment is made on the basis of official statements from the airlines and, where appropriate, on the basis of feedback from members of our community who have managed to fly in recent times. In the future the #DEGRAD19 scores will be regularly updated based on airline announcements and feedback from passengers who have experienced the ‘reality’ of the service.

#DEGRAD19 Classifies airlines into 5 categories

According to their score we have classified the airlines in 4 categories:

First Class: minimal degradation of service.
Business Class: more consistent degradation of service at least on certain types of flights.
Economy Class: significant and widespread degradation of service.
In the hold: major degradation of the service, or even its elimination.
On the tarmac: airline not rated due to lack of information