RIYADH — Long gone are the days when going abroad meant visiting an agent to book travel arrangements. More and more travellers across Saudi Arabia are embracing online travel preparation by booking and checking in online. A recent survey conducted by British Airways indicates that 60 percent of residents of Saudi Arabia book their flights online with the majority of passengers from the region booking directly through airline websites such as ba.com. The allure of technology isn't limited to just booking their journey though; more than half of passengers who travel from Saudi Arabia utilise time-saving services such as online check-in, and over a third select their seat in advance. The results of the British Airways survey point towards a growing trend in the travel industry for people to save time and money with the use of mobile technology. In addition to booking and checking in online, the survey highlights that an increasing number of travellers in the Middle East are opting to use a mobile boarding pass when catching a flight. Across the region, one in six travellers have already made the switch to a digital boarding pass, lessening the risk of forgetting papers at home. Paolo de Renzis, British Airways area commercial manager for the Middle East and Central Asia, said: “At British Airways we keep close track of innovation trends to foresee our customers' upcoming needs, as it's important for us to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality, seamless and smooth travel experience. — SG
