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Summer Vacation Travel: United Boosts Purchase Intent With An Upgraded Experience – Brand Story
According to a Harris On Demand survey on behalf of NerdWallet, 44% of Americans plan to take a summer vacation this year – roughly 117 million travelers. Nine-in-10 summer travelers are willing to pay up for certain perks, including more convenient flights (30%), seat selection (26%), seats with extra legroom (25%), and in-flight Wi-Fi (20%).
- In line with this trend, United Airlines has embraced in-flight upgrades and upselling opportunities – an approach that has paid off in customer satisfaction and sales.
- United’s Q1 2025 performance data was the best that it’s been in five years, and their customer satisfaction score jumped 10% year-over-year.
- We see United’s success reflected in brand-tracking data from QuestBrand by The Harris Poll, as consumers’ purchase intent rose throughout the second half of 2024 and the first few months of 2025 – especially among families (see graph below).
Takeaway: While price is undoubtably important to travelers, so is the ability to customize their travel experience. United Airlines has done a good job of allowing customers to pay up for the travel perks they value, while still offering basic economy options for the customers who prioritize price above all else. This careful balance has paid off with boosts in profits and customer satisfaction – pointing the way for other brands to follow suit.
Read the full blog for more insights and contact our QuestBrand team to learn more about how our industry-leading brand tracker can fuel brand growth with actionable, in-the-moment insights.
2025-2026 Best OTC Medicine & Health Products – U.S. News – Harris Poll
Walking through the pharmacy aisles, it can be overwhelming to pick out the best allergy medicine, lip balm, baby wipes, or toothpaste. Fortunately, U.S. News & World Report partnered with The Harris Poll’s Corporate Reputation team to release the third annual Best OTC Medicine & Health Products ranking.
More than 1,100 products across 133 categories were evaluated to create this year’s list of the best over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and health products. The brands with the most number 1-rated products include Nature Made (7), CeraVe (6), and Neutrogena (5).
“Navigating the crowded shelves of over-the-counter products can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. U.S. News’ annual Best OTC Medicine & Health Products rankings offer consumers a trustworthy guide, backed by a statistical assessment of the top-performing over-the-counter products. U.S. News’ in-depth evaluation across more than 100 categories, informed by the expertise of nearly 500 pharmacists and dermatologists, is your go-to resource for making confident over-the-counter purchasing decisions,” – Shanley Chien, Senior Editor of Health at U.S. News.
TODAY: Watch as Chien shares some of the best over-the-counter medicines and health products with NBC!
2025 Axios Harris Poll 100 Reputation Rankings
Axios and The Harris Poll’s Corporate Reputation team have partnered since 2019 to track the reputations of America’s biggest brands. This year, Trader Joe’s (82.1), Patagonia (82.0) and Microsoft (80.7) topped the 2025 Axios Harris Poll 100. A few key takeaways from this year’s data:
- Price remains a top concern: 79% of Americans say brands with the best reputation are the ones prioritizing consumer wallets.
- Are all price increases necessary?: 70% believe companies are taking further advantage of inflation to increase their profit margins.
- Companies may be cutting corners: 69% report a noticeable decline in the quality of everyday items.
- Are consumers getting the short end of the stick?: 77% say companies often sell lower-quality products and services while charging higher prices.
Are you interested in learning more about a custom reputation scoring methodology for your brand? Contact our Corporate Reputation team.
Empowering Women In Maternity Care: Challenging The Status Quo
In our last newsletter, we shared findings from the Harris on Demand team’s 3rd Annual State of Maternal Health in America study showing that moms’ mental health is often overlooked throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
This issue, we are highlighting mothers’ lack of education on optimal birthing positions, and the need to prioritize patient-centered care. While our full Maternal Health report will launch this summer, here is a first look at some key findings:
- The norm isn’t necessarily best: 68% of women are unaware that lying flat on the back during labor and delivery can reduce the blood supply to the baby.
- Women deserve to know their options: Fewer than a third (29%) of women who have been pregnant and saw an OBGYN or midwife say they discussed options other than the traditional supine birthing position.
- A call for increased education: 54% of women who have been pregnant feel they didn’t receive sufficient information on birthing positions, or any at all, from their healthcare providers.
- The patient’s needs must come first: 72% of women feel that the current healthcare system primarily serves the interests of the healthcare provider or facility during childbirth rather than the birthing patient.
- Mothers shouldn’t have to advocate for proper care: 62% of women believe women like them must fight to get the medical care they need.
Ready to explore the facts behind the U.S. maternal healthcare crisis? While you’re waiting for the full report, revisit our 2024 and 2023 reports.
To Foster Loyalty, Brands Must Keep Innovating
Consumers aren’t satisfied with the status quo. They expect brands to innovate and aren’t afraid to drop brands that can’t (or won’t) keep up. According to recent data from QuestDIY by The Harris Poll, innovation greatly impacts customer loyalty:
- We want to see improvement: 54% of consumers think it’s very important for brands to consistently innovate.
- New is good, especially when it comes to what we eat: 36% of consumers expect to see innovative products at least once a month from food & beverage grocery store brands.
- Consumers are as fickle as the weather: 61% of consumers said they are likely to switch to a competitor that offers more innovative products or services.
Takeaway: Brands need to be open to innovation, but product quality and cost must also remain front and center. While innovation can spur loyalty, 78% of consumers say that affordable pricing is important when choosing a brand. A similar number (72%) say product quality is their top decision factor. In short, companies must balance all three factors – continuous innovation but not at the expense of quality or affordability.
Interested in accelerating innovation cycles? Using an online survey tool like QuestDIY can help you test new ideas quickly and bring fresh offerings to market faster.
