Top 5 User-Friendly Booking Experiences
From Airplanes to Places
Traveling used to be one of the most significant income sources for many countries around the world. Although the industry took a tremendous hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic, one year later people are now wondering when they can begin traveling again and countries are starting to reopen their doors to visitors.
With that said, it is only natural that digital products and experiences are essential for travelers to successfully book a trip. Online booking is the world’s starting point for a smooth transition back to travel, where users are just a click away from their destinations.
That’s why we wanted to highlight 5 of our favorite user-friendly platforms that can take people from the comfort of their homes to their dream destination. We hope this helps you the next time you need to design a booking flow or plan a trip of your own.
1. Airbnb
We can’t deny that Airbnb has become one of the most talked-about tools to find a place to stay when we are thinking about traveling. Their clean and user-friendly interface brings you right to the main action of the page: “Search and find the best place to stay”. They display reviews that you can read and trust, great photography across the platform to help you visualize the places, lists of amenities, and easy ways to speak with the host. That last part gives a great personal touch to the platform. The interaction with the host is so important for users not to feel too overwhelmed while finding all the solutions they are looking for. This helps them in making sure they choose the right place.
Airbnb safely brings their customers a set of accommodations that fit their needs by designing great filters that make the search more specific. What if I want to take my pet? What if I need a place with particular accessibility needs? Airbnb covers that part too.
2. Vrbo
Vrbo is an excellent example of a seamless experience for users who are looking to book their travel. One great reason for that is the search bar tool; this is the main action of the page. They did a great job by making it “Sticky.” As users scroll down through the site, the search bar scrolls with them, allowing them at any point to be able to access it and begin a new search. A sticky search bar is a great way to review other parts of the site and keep the page’s primary focus.
Another highlight of the platform is that you can start by creating “Trip Boards’’ for your next adventure. Which allows you to save the best places, review them later, share them with others, and make polls with them to find the best places to travel to. It’s a great way to make the experience more personalized, helpful, and engaging for the users. Having more tools related to the Trip makes the platform a one-stop destination when booking and planning your next trip.
3. Delta Airlines
This airline brings a beautiful visual experience to travelers that is pleasant to look at. The intentional use of colors, icons, and typography makes it easy to understand which items are actionable. Good contrast also helps make the flight search and other important elements easy to see.
While users find and pick the best flights, Delta Airlines does an outstanding job of making it easy. Differentiation of cabins provides extra information that helps users identify the best option for them quickly without needing to keep researching, bringing a lot of value to the comfort and travel experience.
Another winning point for Delta is their mobile app since it brings a beautiful, clean and sophisticated experience. In addition, it is a great way to explore more options like, tracking or redeeming miles — a tool that incentivizes users to take advantage of their plans and benefits as passengers.
4. JetBlue
Another excellent example of a well-thought-out flight booking experience is JetBlue. When selecting the flights, each flight layout has a level of great detail, making it quick and efficient when trying to see the perks or the flight that users are about to purchase. A seating map is also available at this stage, which also provides additional relevant information quicker.
They do a great job of showing the information on the site: it’s explicit and not hidden. Many airline sites try to hide or make less visible information that can be important for users. JetBlue communicates the information in a way that is easy to understand and follow. The step-by-step and final decisions to check out are also easily accessible for users looking to finalize their flight booking. Extra bonus here!
5. Outdoorsy
If you want an RV experience, Outdoorsy is an excellent way to book your next vacation. Their filters are a great way to be more specific when looking for the perfect fit, with multiple options to select. Although this platform brings clear filters for users, iconography makes it more pleasant and easier to relate to.
One cool thing about the site is that they offer the “Book Instantly” feature, where users can book without waiting for the owner’s approval — creating a faster experience for users who don’t want to stay and avoid that extra step. The book instantly tool is also located in the filters menu.
The details page of the RV is also well thought out. The sticky or scrollable summary about the trip is always on the right, allowing users to have the essential info available at all times, with a clear call to action to guide them in what to do after reviewing the details.
There you have it! Five of the most user-friendly platforms currently available for a great booking experience. Making travel arrangements shouldn’t have to be hard, and with great UX and design it won’t be. What are your top choices when looking to book your next trip? Share them with us by emailing hello@gallardolabs.com.
Written by Carolina (Karo) Muñoz, Lead UX Designer at Gallardo Labs
