The age of conspicuous consumption is back, at least among young business travellers, if a survey by Priority Pass is to be believed.
A poll of 1,555 members of the premium lounge scheme found a distinctive trend had emerged among 26-35 year olds keen to show they are ‘making it’. This group made an average 24 round trips a year, including nine business class flights. A majority 62 per cent said they were willing to pay more for luxury brands and nearly a third bought tailored suits. More than 40 per cent said they had a premium bank account, the highest proportion of any age group.
The survey found that this group spoke an average four languages, more than any other age group and were most likely of any age group to buy four or five star accommodation. They were not generally prepared to pay for their own premium airline seats, however, and were the group most likely to use public transport to get to the airport – 21 per cent said they did.
The poll found that this age group weighed themselves down with an average seven gadgets while travelling. More than half took a laptop computer and named lack of wi-fi access at airports as the biggest cause of stress and aggravation.
Priority Pass global marketing director Stephen Simpson called the findings ‘surprising’ and said he had expected the older age groups to show more of a propensity for luxuries and higher end accommodation. “This age group, perhaps pre-family, wants to show it is making it,” he said.
Gary Noakes
