Seateroo creates an online market where ticketed air travelers can swap seats in exchange for electronic payment.
SAN DIEGO – The Seateroo app launched in the App Store on January 11, 2016. Seateroo is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Seateroo creates an online market where ticketed air travelers can swap seats in exchange for electronic payment. With this two-sided market, buyers are unhappy with their seat location and are willing to pay to swap for a desired seat. Sellers, in return for being paid, are willing to swap for a less desired seat.
Seateroo is innovative for air travel in two important ways. First, Seateroo gives air travelers an opportunity to upgrade to a better seat even when desired seats are sold out. Second, after booking a flight, Seateroo gives air travelers a new opportunity to reduce their travel cost. By comparison, most other air travel apps are focused on flight search as a means to reduce travel costs.
The timing for the Seateroo launch may be right for the below reasons.
- First, sharing economy apps such as Uber and Airbnb have reached the point of wide-spread recognition and acceptance.
- Second, many airlines have been experimenting with auctions for unsold seat upgrades, whether during the days before a flight or at the boarding gate.
- Third, the potential for a seat swap app to positively disrupt passengers’ air travel experience was recognized at the prominent Airline Passenger Experience Association’s EXPO conference in September 2015.
- Fourth, airports and airlines continue to expand and improve their Wi-Fi offerings.
“Apps have greatly enhanced the travel experience for many,” said Brad Pursel, Founder and President of Seateroo. “I believe that Seateroo has the potential to become a travel app that is used widely by those traveling by air for business or pleasure. After all, on almost any flight, there are going to be both people who wish they had a better seat as well as others who would like to save money on travel.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
