Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

CarTrawler Releases Ancillary Revenue Report

CarTrawler’s “Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Ancillary Revenue” report includes ancillary revenue tips, such as high value customers are happy to utilize ancillary services and baggage is the king of a la carte fees.

by Staff
April 2, 2014
2 min to read


CarTrawler, an online global car rental platform, has released a report on ancillary revenue.

Partnering with IdeaWorksCompany, the “Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Ancillary Revenue” study looks at the ancillary revenue revolution that is impacting the car rental, air travel and hotel industries.

Ad Loading...

Here are a few ancillary revenue tips, according to the study:

• The king of a la carte fees remains baggage charges, which totaled $3.5 billion in the United States in 2012. Bag fees are now spreading across the world to Europe and beyond.

  • Service-specific fees, such as bag charges, inherently yield better results for consumers by turning a once-free item into a stand-alone business. Mishandled bags, for instance, have declined more than 50% worldwide since 2007.

  • High-value customers — the key demographic sought by service industries — are happy to utilize ancillary services such as premium travel (early boarding and extra legroom).

  • Transparency is key to success. Not only do government regulators worldwide require disclosure and clarity with ancillary fees, the best companies realize that no amount of extra revenue can make up for the damage represented by angry consumers — a fact Ryanair is learning as it moderates its “crawl over broken glass” customer-service philosophy.

  • Frequent-flier programs bring in billions in extra revenue through co-branded credit cards and also provide a welcome marketing platform for other services, such as car rental and lodging.

To view the full report, visit http://info.cartrawler.com/airlineseries/en.

More Rental Operations

an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals

Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.

Read More →
globe of world and drivers license from UK
Rental Operations•September 28, 2026

The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?

For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.

Read More →
Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers

The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental Operations•September 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental Operations•September 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental Operations•September 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
Ad Loading...