What makes American Airlines’ Website Awesome

When I think about what makes a website stand out, it’s not just about having buttons and menus that work well. Sure, that’s important, but there’s a lot more to it.

Let’s dive into what makes a website truly awesome, using American Airlines (AA) as our example. I’ll score them in five key areas, aiming for a total of 50 points.

Content: 8/10
First up, when you hit AA’s homepage, you’re hit with a bunch of banners showing off where you can fly, deals on miles, and even some Valentine’s Day specials. They’ve got sections for planning your trip, info on travel, and their AAdvantage program. Scroll down a bit, and there’s a spot for booking flights and checking out today’s top deals. They’ve got the basics down, giving users what they need.

Aesthetics: 5/10
AA’s site sticks to red, blue, and white, just like their logo. The site’s mostly white with blue text, which is pretty simple. But, the banners are just okay — some of the pictures are blurry, like the one for flights to Brisbane, which doesn’t look too hot. The text on the banners feels like it was just slapped on there. The colors make sense, but the site could use a bit more flair to match up with the big brand it represents.

Simplicity: 10/10
The site’s super easy to get around. Even if you’re not a tech whiz, you’d find it straightforward to book a flight or find info. It’s clear they’ve made it accessible for everyone, which is a big plus.

User-Centered: 10/10
AA’s site is all about making things easy for you, the user. The main focus is on booking flights, which is probably what you’re there for anyway. They’ve also tucked away other stuff like news and company info at the bottom, so it’s there if you need it but not in your face.

Logical Structure: 10/10
Everything on the site is where you’d expect it to be, making it quick and easy to find what you’re looking for. They’ve even got a feedback section, so it’s clear they care about making the user experience as smooth as possible.

Overall: 43/50
Not too shabby, right? AA’s site does a lot of things right, making it a solid example of what a good website looks like. Sure, there’s always room for improvement, especially with the visuals, but overall, it’s a site that gets you where you need to go, both literally and figuratively.

So, there you have it — a quick look at what makes a website great. It’s not just about looking good or having fancy features; it’s about making sure the site works well for the people using it. And that’s something all websites should aim for.