When it comes to booking my flight tickets online, I have almost all the time done it on Cleartrip.com . I love their minimalistic UI, and the User Experience is high on that site. However of late I have been checking out the others too. Yatra I do not like for its lack of consistency in the layouts and UX. MakemyTrip, which was one of the first in this arena, does have a decent User Experience, (except the small font size that I detest so much) but not to the same extent that Cleartrip has.
However, one of the things that I love about the Make My Trip is this feature that they have smartly integrated in the checkout process. At the look of it, it is a simple take it or leave it thing, with just a radio button. Thankfully by default they do not have any option selected.
MakeMyTrip.com has associated itself with an NGO that works in the area of reducing Carbon Footprints, that is generated everytime someone takes a flight. It goes to the extent of telling you how many kilograms of CO2 will be generated and also what you can do to help in this cause.
I think this is a very noble and nice way of integrating the cause for Design for Social Impact. The designers did cash onto the buzz that global warming has created. I think its about these small initiatives, when clubbed together, will lead to creating an impact on the planet.
Whether a person would actually use this feature and make donations (I personally have not done so, since I prefer to donate directly than through a third party) is something that needs to be tested and seen from usage patterns. That information could lead to a way to see whether the users are actually getting influenced by it.
There is a social impact associated, because even for that few seconds there is an education about global warming happening. It is very subtle, and does not should out loud. It also gives in a message to the user that you are responsible in some way for the deterioration of the planet.
In my opinion, just like Airport Development fees are these days collected over the flight tickets itself, this nominal amount towards reducing carbon Footprint should also be done. However needless to say, it will result in widespread furor, with the overall flight rates increasing. But at the same time, I often wonder how many people actually see the breakup of the final cost for the tickets that they pay for. I doubt it. I have not done that often, and I am sure that many people will not even know notice.
The interesting part is that the amounts are purposely kept at small amounts. The normal psyche would perhaps not mind paying that and traveling guilt free.
