Ticket Types Research Articles

Enhancing rail direct demand models with competition between ticket types using contributions from economic theory and market research

Abstract Direct demand models estimated to ticket sales data have for many years provided evidence on how key variables influence rail demand in Great Britain. Nonetheless, there has been relatively little estimation of demand models disaggregated by ticket type which would provide own and cross-price elasticities that can inform the pricing of different ticket products. We here report such enhanced models estimated on large data sets and exploiting the relationships of economic theory within a demand system. In addition, a complementary market research exercise is undertaken that itself provides ticket specific own and cross-elasticities and which also supports the estimation of models jointly based on actual and stated behaviour. We conclude that the demand systems approach can recover robust ticket specific own-elasticities but that there are econometric difficulties in estimating cross-elasticities even using supporting economic theory, so that cross-elasticities between tickets are better deduced from these own-elasticities than estimated. This contrasts with the convention in the railway industry in Great Britain where own and cross-elasticities are deduced from recommended conditional elasticity evidence. Market research also has a role to play and provides own-elasticities that, as is common, are rather larger and cross-elasticities that are a little larger than those derived from ticket sales analysis. A key feature of this work is to reconcile those two approaches by scaling the market research elasticities using ticket sales data. This further supports our conclusion that generating robust own-elasticities and deducing cross-elasticities from these is currently the most fruitful method of obtaining a full set of own- and cross-elasticities for different ticket types within a demand system framework, and that this approach is superior to the conventional single equation approach.

A Modified Callable Mechanism for Seat Inventory Control of Airlines Based on Buy-Up Behavior

This paper introduces the buy-up behavior to the callable mechanism of seat inventory control, creating a modified callable mechanism, and studies the airline revenue under the modified mechanism. Specifically, the willingness to pay of consumers was taken as the reference of utility, according to the utility metrics of the prospect theory. Then, the willingness to pay for three types of tickets was expressed in the form of exponential smoothing. Next, the buy-up (demand transfer) probabilities were derived under four different relationships between the willingness to pay and ticket prices. On this basis, the traditional callable mechanism was modified, and the conditions for revenue growth were identified for different buy-up behaviors. Finally, the modified callable mechanism and the traditional one were compared through two cases study. The results show that, the modified mechanism, which considers the buy-up behavior, achieved a 3.17% (in CASE A) or 0.74% (in CASE B) higher airline revenue than the traditional mechanism. The research results shed new light on the callable mechanism from the perspective of consumer choice.

Enhancing communication in radiology using a hybrid computer-human based system

IntroductionCommunication and physician burn out are major issues within Radiology. This study is designed to determine the utilization and cost benefit of a hybrid computer/human communication tool to aid in relay of clinically important imaging findings. Material and methodsAnalysis of the total number of tickets, (requests for assistance) placed, the type of ticket and the turn-around time was performed. Cost analysis of a hybrid computer/human communication tool over a one-year period was based on human costs as a multiple of the time to close the ticket. Additionally, we surveyed a cohort of radiologists to determine their use of and satisfaction with this system. Results14,911 tickets were placed in the 6-month period, of which 11,401 (76.4%) were requests to “Get the Referring clinician on the phone.” The mean time to resolution (TTR) of these tickets was 35.3 (±17.4) minutes.Ninety percent (72/80) of radiologists reported being able to interpret a new imaging study instead of waiting to communicate results for the earlier study, compared to 50% previously. 87.5% of radiologists reported being able to read more cases after this system was introduced.The cost analysis showed a cost savings of up to $101.12 per ticket based on the length of time that the ticket took to close and the total number of placed tickets. ConclusionsA computer/human communication tool can be translated to significant time savings and potentially increasing productivity of radiologists. Additionally, the system may have a cost savings by freeing the radiologist from tracking down referring clinicians prior to communicating findings.

The Impact of Terrorism on European Tourism

This paper estimates the influence of terrorist attacks on European tourism through the short-term post-hoc response of the airline industry and passengers. We use a seasonally-adjusted ARMA-GARCH methodology on unique datasets that examine changes in tourism as measured by ASKs, seats filled and changes in both fares and revenues. Traffic flows are found to fall despite significant fare reductions; however, this response varies substantially based on the flight origin and ticket-type purchased. We found that business travel slows substantially due to duty of care legislation for corporate transport. While we found evidence indicating substantial airline fare reductions, in the majority of investigated cases this response was unable to mitigate substantial reductions in passenger demand and flows across varying ticket types.

Heritage Tram Lines in Wrocław: analysis of the tourist offer from an urban tourism perspective

The aim of the article is to assess the operation of Heritage Tram Lines in Wrocław in 2018 in terms of the attractiveness of the offer for tourists, uptake, the costs of its maintenance and profitability, to finally indicate some general conclusions on this urban tourism offer. The present moment is special as an increase in carriers (transport companies) operating the Lines from one to two has enabled various changes to be made. Based on data on the number of tickets being sold it is possible to assess that the Lines are most popular in July and August, however even then statistically less than half of the seating places are occupied. Trips with a guide are less frequented than rides without. As a consequence, in this article several suggestions are presented which may help the Lines become more popular: for example a longer period of operation (in a day and in a year), the introduction of new ticket types and additional attractions.

The impact of fare complexity on rail demand

The current rail fare structure in the UK is widely considered to be complex. It offers flexibility by including many different types of tickets but it can also cause confusion, which may lead some to a negative view towards rail travel and thereby potentially inhibit demand, in comparison to a simpler fare regime. This study used an innovative stated preference survey to quantify the demand effects of fare complexity, focusing on Advance tickets (those that are restricted to a particular train service). The choice experiment was designed to mirror very closely the actual booking experience when buying tickets online, in all its complexity. Participants could choose among up to 531 different ticket type combinations for the outward and return legs of a trip and from up to 25 possible train services for each leg. The key design attribute was complexity, defined as the range of different Advance tickets on offer. The survey was applied to a sample of 1027 users and 179 non-users of the rail network on the London-Leeds route. The modelling of the choices with a nested mixed logit model suggested that, all else equal, reducing complexity by removing Advance tickets would lead to a substantial reduction of demand (11 to 45%, depending on route segment). Equalizing the price of Advance tickets for all train services was predicted to cause a smaller reduction (3–6%). By contrast, increasing complexity by adding new Flexible Advance tickets (valid on the services immediately before or after the chosen service) would increase demand by 4–15%. These findings run counter to the hypothesis that simplifying the fare structure would lead to increases in demand for rail travel.

Revisiting public transport service delivery

Making Public Transport services more attractive and effective requires attractive and effective ticketing. This requires a clear understanding of user attitudes, needs and expectations. This study explored commuters’ attitudes to fare collection and verification and the underlying factors, their acceptance of the policy of “No-ticket-purchase on-board” and their preferences for fare verification options. Commuters rated their agreement with 17 ticketing related statements in a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted along the corridor with the largest proportion of cross-county commuting in Sweden, Stockholm – Uppsala. Four sets of hypotheses were then tested. The average scores were normally distributed and hence analysed using a two-way ANOVA. A One-way chi-square test was conducted to determine the commuters’ preference for fare verification approach. A t-test was used to analyse the perceived quality of ticketing and the commuters’ reaction to the policy of “No-ticket-purchase on-board PT vehicle”. Whilst the results showed that the commuters were relatively uniform in their attitudes, income, commuting route, ticket type and ticket purchase channel affected their attitudes. They were neutral to the policy of “No-ticket-purchase on-board”. Their attitude to fare collection was more positive than that of fare verification and they showed a preference for automatic fare verification. The study highlights a number of policy implications and recommends further research on the feasibility of passive fare verification and on commuters’ preferred options for fare verification.

The impact of terrorism on European tourism

This paper estimates the influence of terrorist attacks on European tourism through the short-term post hoc response of the airline industry and passengers. We use a seasonally-adjusted ARMA-GARCH methodology on unique datasets that examine changes in tourism as measured by ASKs, seats filled and changes in both fares and revenues. Traffic flows are found to fall despite significant fare reductions; however, this response varies substantially based on the flight origin and ticket-type purchased. We found that business travel slows substantially due to duty of care legislation for corporate transport. While we found evidence indicating substantial airline fare reductions, in the majority of investigated cases this response was unable to mitigate substantial reductions in passenger demand and flows across varying ticket types.

Role of exchangeable tickets in the optimal menu design for airline tickets

While menus are offered pervasively in the airline industry, the nature of the menu design remains unclear. For example, the menu offerings differ substantially across companies and across different air routes within the same company. To have a better understanding in the menu offerings, we build a stylized model to examine a monopolistic seller’s optimal menu design with three types of tickets: refundable, nonrefundable, and exchangeable tickets. The role of exchangeable tickets is of particular interest as it is less explored in the academic literature, but is prevalent in practice. We show that for the seller, the exchangeable ticket is inherently more profitable than the other two types of tickets; thus, it is an indispensable element of the optimal menu. On the other hand, increasing the flexibility of exchangeable tickets may dampen the seller’s profitability. The analysis also reveals that cancellation fees are used as instruments to adjust the differences between consumers’ willingness to pay, and when they are adopted, the seller has less incentive to sell nonrefundable tickets.

Estimation of rail passenger flow and system utilization with ticket transaction and gate data

ABSTRACTCapturing the dynamics in passenger flow and system utilization over time and space is extremely important for railway operators. Previous studies usually estimated passenger flow using automatic fare collection data, and their applications are limited to a single stopping pattern and/or a single type of ticket. However, the conventional railway in Taiwan provides four types of ticket and five types of train service with a number of stopping patterns. This study develops a comprehensive framework and corresponding algorithms to map passenger flow and evaluate system utilization. A multinomial logit model is constructed and incorporated in the algorithms to estimate passenger train selection behavior. Results from the empirical studies demonstrate that the developed framework and algorithms can successfully match passengers with train services. With this tool, operators can efficiently examine passenger flow and service utilization, thereby quickly adjusting their service strategies accordingly to improve system performance.

Unified transportation authenticated reservation system using online QR-code

Public transit whether it is buses, trains, or metros can be particularly frustrating for passengers. Although public transit is typically cheaper and more green than traveling by a private vehicle, public transit may not be as comfortable, convenient, or as quick as a private vehicle, passengers will have to plan their schedules around the public transit timetables, and unforeseen circumstances may disrupt public transit operations. However, the drawbacks of public transportation is slowly being eliminated; public transit is starting to become more comfortable, districts are offering more amenities for passengers such as internet access, and districts are starting to improve service by offering more trips and express service. Designing a computerized system has been introduced in this research which is based on the Internet to remotely reserve all types of tickets for the most important and essential types of transportation in Egypt. The covered transportation types in the suggested system should be trusted like private Buses companies like GO Bus, Blue eyes, West Delta, and East Delta, Underground Metro, and Railway Trains network. By generating QR-Code which will be sent to the customer on his own mail using any connected device to Internet including all details of the ticket. Whenever the customer reserves the ticket, he can deal with in a hard copy or electronic version. The suggested reservation system depends on using the databases of National IDs and Visa Card. So, it will be very easy and helpful systems which will leads to save time and money too, and in future it will minimize dealing with the tickets’ window in stations.

Concepts for Tenant Tickets for Connecting Habitation and Transport

Concepts for Tenant Tickets for Connecting Habitation and Transport

Analysis of transit quality of service through segmentation and classification tree techniques

Perceptions about the quality of service are very different among public transport (PT) users. Users’ perceptions are heterogeneous for many reasons: the qualitative aspects of PT service, users’ socio-economic characteristics, and the diversity of tastes and attitudes towards PT. By analysing different groups of users who share a common characteristic (e.g. socio-economic or travel behaviour), it is possible to homogenise user opinions about the quality of service. This paper studies quality as perceived by users of the metropolitan transit system of Granada (Spain) through a classification tree technique (classification and regression trees (CART)) based on five market segmentations (gender, age, frequency of use, reason for travelling, and type of ticket). CART is a non-parametric method that has a number of advantages compared to other methods that require a predefined underlying relationship between dependent and independent variables. The study is based on data gathered in several customer satisfaction surveys (non-research-oriented) conducted in the Granada metropolitan transit system. The models' outcomes show that some attributes are very important for almost all the market segments (punctuality and information), while others are not very relevant for any of the segments – most notably fare, despite the fact that fare was stated as very important by most of the passengers during the interview.

Explaining walking distance to public transport: The dominance of public transport supply

Potential influences on explaining walking distance from home to access public transport are investigated, including trip and demographic characteristics and public transport supply. In Sydney, Australia, people walk farther to the train than to the bus, the distributions of walking distances are different for each mode, and the trip and demographic characteristics of train and bus users are different. Given the decision to walk to public transport, demographic characteristics such as age, gender, income, and labor force status and trip characteristics such as trip purpose, time of day and week, fare and ticket type, and trip duration are not significant in explaining walking distance to each mode of public transport. The mode of the public transport trip is the most important determinant of walking distance, reflecting the different supply and spacing of each mode. For instance, there are many more bus stops than train stations. The differences between train and bus users suggest that accessibility initiatives for public transport might not be the same for each mode.

Effect of Identification on Attendance at Team Sporting Events

This study examines the relationship between identification and attendance at team sporting events. Based on Daniel Wann's Spectator Sport Team Identification Index attributes were selected to measure the relationship between identification and decision to attend road games of the Carolina Hurricanes. The study was conducted at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina during a weekday home game and a weekend home game. Fans of differing levels of ticket purchasing behavior were surveyed. The different levels ranged from season ticket holders to mini plan purchasers to game day purchasers. The results of the study indicated that team identification is a predictor of attendance at road games. Index items, in particular, that were stronger relationships include: "how closely the fan followed the team," "how strongly the fan's friend deemed them as a fan of the team," and "how important is being a fan of the team to them." The results show that the relationship between team identification and attendance at road games is unaffected by the type of ticket the fan purchased or whether they attend a weekend or weekday game. Professionals in the area of sport management can utilize the results in order to increase as well as cultivate their fan base. Currently, attendance figures for the National Hockey League are relatively low in comparison to other professional sports leagues in America. Therefore, offering trips to road games provides teams the opportunity to strengthen current relationships with fans and develop new relationships.

The impact of distance on fans' intentions to attend team sporting events: a case study of fans of the Carolina Hurricanes of the United States National Hockey League

This research examines the influence of distance on the travel behaviour of fans of professional hockey teams; specifically, with reference to theories of distance decay, the research examines the strength of influence that travel distance has on professional hockey fans' road game attendance. Data collection occurred at the RBC Centre located in Raleigh, North Carolina. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to fans of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League at the RBC Centre. The results of the analysis indicated that distance influences the travel behaviour of fans of professional hockey teams, and that for respondents there is a relationship between distance and travel behaviour and the type of ticket they purchased and when they attended a game. When factoring in the mode of transportation, the relationship between the variables changes. By understanding the nuances and complexities of the relationships between distance and travel behaviour, sport, recreation and leisure planners and managers will be able to better cater to, engage with, and attract visitors within specific distance parameters.

Gambling-Related Attitudes and Behaviors in Adolescents Having Received Instant (Scratch) Lottery Tickets as Gifts

Instant (scratch) lottery ticket gambling is popular among adolescents. Prior research has not determined whether adolescents' gambling behavior and attitudes toward gambling are influenced by the receipt of scratch lottery tickets as gifts. Cross-sectional survey data from 2,002 Connecticut high school students with past-year gambling were analyzed using bivariate approaches and logistic regression analyses. Interactions between gambling-problem severity and lottery-gift status were examined in relation to multiple outcomes. Adolescents who received a scratch lottery ticket as a gift compared with those who did not were more likely to report features of problem gambling, buy scratch lottery tickets for themselves, and buy and receive other types of lottery tickets; they were also less likely to report parental disapproval of gambling and to see gambling prevention efforts as important. Later (≥15 years) age-at-gambling-onset was inversely linked to gambling-problem severity in the lottery gift group (odds ratio [OR]= .38) but not in the nongift group (OR= .91), yielding a significant severity by gift status interaction. Other academic, health, and gambling-related correlates of gambling-problem severity were similar in the gift and nongift groups. For adolescents, the receipt of scratch lottery tickets as gifts during childhood or adolescence was associated with risky/problematic gambling and with gambling-related attitudes, behaviors, and views suggesting greater gambling acceptability. The extent to which the receipt of scratch lottery tickets may promote gambling behaviors and the development of gambling problems warrants consideration. Education, prevention, and treatment strategies should incorporate findings relating to receipt of gambling products by underage individuals.

Professional basketball fans in China: a comparison of National Basketball Association and Chinese Basketball Association team identification

Professional basketball has developed into a major spectator sport in China during the past 20 years. Chinese basketball fans can now choose between watching the Chinese Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. This study compared fans’ team identification of teams within the two competing professional basketball leagues in China. The sample included spectators at four different CBA games (N = 549). Respondents completed measures of team identification (Wann and Branscombe, 1993) with their favourite NBA and CBA teams and behavioural involvement based on television and merchandise consumption for both leagues. Chinese fans’ overall team identification and behavioural involvement were found to be significantly higher for favourite NBA teams. Team identification was also compared for segments grouped by age, gender, ticket type, and income. The study has implications for leagues, teams, sponsors, and other sport organisations interested in attempting to attract fans in China.

Pricing Dynamics in the Australian Airline Market*

We examine price dispersion in a large dataset of Australian domestic airfares. The airlines vary the lowest available fares on successive booking days by restricting the menu of available ticket types, and by changing the prices for some of those types. Our fixed‐effects estimator allows us to characterise both of those mechanisms. The greatest price variation occurs on routes involving competition between the two main airlines, Qantas and Virgin; there is greater variation on monopoly routes than on routes pitting Virgin against the Qantas subsidiary, Jetstar. The lowest fares rise rapidly in the week before travel.

RFID system for public train transportation

ABSTRACTNowadays, the problem of a shortage of energy is becoming more and more serious. This has resulted in the global governments' appeal to people to take public transportation systems as much as possible. But, the public transportation system has a lot of problems that cause people's interest in taking the public transportation system to get lower and lower. For example, many passengers use many kinds of management loopholes to avoid buying tickets. This action forces the companies involved in providing the public transportation system to strengthen manpower for inspecting tickets. Hence, the companies will shift cost to the customers forcing ticket prices higher and higher as well as passengers becoming more frustrated with the increase in inspecting tickets. In this paper, we take the Taiwan Railways Administration (it owns different ticket types and different train types in the same public transportation system) as our implement environment and we use Radio‐Frequency Identification (RFID) methods conforming to EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 (C1G2) standards to solve this train‐jumping problem and reduce the manpower cost of the public transportation system companies. And most importantly, our scheme also enhances higher security. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.