What do airline passengers really want — besides a good fare?

What’s the first thing you look for in an airline ticket?

If you said, “a low price,” you’re absolutely right. In a survey of air travelers conducted last week, 77 percent said they consider the fare first.

But airlines have used that answer to justify cutting customer service and “unbundling” prices — removing everything but a base fare — without asking the simple question: What else do you want?

So we decided to dig a little deeper. In a survey of more than 800 readers of Elliott.org and ConsumerTraveler.com, we continued the conversation. Here are the results.

We asked you to name up to three important elements of a ticket, so the percentages don’t add up to 100:

Schedule – 48 percent

Non-stop vs. connecting flight – 47 percent

Luggage charges and other fees – 36 percent

Frequent flier benefits – 21 percent

Extra legroom – 20 percent

Airports served (which area airport is selected) – 19 percent

Reputation of airline service – 15 percent

Business class availability – 6 percent

The survey also allowed readers to write in responses. Among the most popular answers:

• An all-inclusive airfare.

• To be treated like a customer.

• Flexibility to change without fees.

• More overhead bin space.

• Enough seat width.

Follow-up conversations with the survey respondents suggest they require more than a cheap ticket price.

“I look for a fair price,” says Jim Daniel, a business traveler from Modesto, Calif. Beyond that, he has a tick-list that includes service, space and schedule. And when an airline can’t deliver — which increasingly, it can’t — he decides to drive instead of fly.

Other air travelers say it’s not a matter of what they look for, but what they try to avoid. Specifically, extra fees, such as checking a first bag or to change a ticket.

“It’s ridiculous,” says one respondent, who is a frequent air traveler. “And I vote with my wallet. When I travel on my own dime, I use JetBlue and Southwest.”

Either way, passenger say they feel as if airlines can’t or won’t listen to them.

“Airlines do know what passengers want,” says one respondent. “They just don’t care. As long as they have people coming back in earnest, the shenanigans and schemes will continue.”