The website design expert鈥檚 opinion on the major airline鈥檚 homepage is blunt:
鈥淚t looks like a government form. Believe it or not, American Airlines鈥� site stresses me out just by looking at it,鈥� says Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Blue Fountain Media, a website design company with clients such as Nike, United Nations, and Harper Collins Publishers. 鈥淚t looks like it was created 15 years ago.鈥�
The airline鈥檚 static homepage comes off even worse once compared to those of its competitors, JetBlue.com or United.com for example. Both have more relaxed designs 鈥� less clutter and easier on the eyes color schemes.
Planning a flight can already be a harrowing experience. Add to that an unappealing interface and users may subconsciously avoid purchasing from American Airlines.
It goes without saying that websites aren鈥檛 just a fun side project for companies anymore.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e visibility, packaging,鈥� says Shaoolian. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very key component to a user鈥檚 engagement and their brand loyalty.鈥�
Frequent international travelers may be aware that American Airlines isn鈥檛 the worst of all. Low-cost, no-frills European air carrier RyanAir.com takes the prize for ugliest airline website. Buyers might be willing to spend a few more euro to avoid its baffling homepage, with quick flashing bold text boxes on the left, right, and center of the screen.
