Business travel shouldn’t be stressful. Explore 4 ways that businesses can ensure their travellers are ready (and even excited) for a great business trip.
Top 3 Expert Tips for Improving Your Air Travel Program
Saving money is high on every Kiwi business’s wish list, and it’s an area in which good results can be achieved quickly and easily. Like you, we’re always looking for ways to cut your travel costs, and when it comes to air travel programs, there are a few tips and tricks that can make a big difference to your bottom line.
Angie Forsyth, Corporate Traveller New Zealand’s General Manager, knows pretty much everything there is to know about air travel, so we asked her to share her top 3 expert tips on getting the most bang for your buck on your air travel.
Angie’s expert tips
Improving your air travel program can be achieved in a number of ways, ranging from simple easy wins to more complex methods. Let’s check them out:
1. Book your travel smarter and earlier
Lowest logical fare is a concept that varies from business to business. The gist of it is to focus on value, rather than merely price. For example, the cheapest airline ticket may not come with check-in baggage or be scheduled at an inconvenient time. So, it’s important to plan smarter and consider other key aspects like valid departure time variations, preferred airline/s, and fare inclusions such as baggage.
On top of that, booking earlier is also crucial. As fares for both domestic and international flights are based on availability, chances are the earlier you book, the more likely you are to get budget-friendly rates. Peak times and holidays/major events can affect the timing and availability of flights.
EXPERT TIP: Along with booking your travel further in advance, I would strongly recommend setting clear guidelines for your travellers and travel bookers, so they are aware of the most logical airfare options allowed within your business.
2. Get the most out of rewards programs
When it comes to the number of rewards programs, more isn’t always better. Instead, see if you are able to consolidate to one carrier, especially if you have substantial international spend, as you may be eligible for a company private deal (which generally offer greater point of sale discounts on spend). This is also often paired with value-adds like frequent flyer status accelerations.
A great example of this would be Air New Zealand. By consolidating all your travel rewards into Air New Zealand's Airpoints, you're streamlining everything, making it easier to manage your rewards. Plus, as a frequent flyer with Air New Zealand, you not only unlock perks within their network but also gain access to benefits through the Star Alliance. This means you can enjoy privileges like lounge access, priority boarding, and baggage handling across a vast network of partner airlines worldwide. So, whether you're flying with Air New Zealand or one of their Star Alliance partners, you're maximising benefits and making your business travel experience smoother and more rewarding.
EXPERT TIP: The main thing I would suggest when looking at rewards programs is while you could be members of both, try and consolidate where possible to one of the other as your benefits increase, and this will save your company more money.
3. Consider the journey beyond flights
To truly get the most bang for your buck on your air travel program, you need to consider the other aspects of business travel too. As a Corporate Traveller customer, you’ve got access to a wide range of airline, hotel, car and transfer providers. Instead of juggling multiple bookings, our end-to-end solutions package everything up for you, ready for travel.
By integrating car hire and hotel bookings seamlessly into travel itineraries, you can streamline processes, and improve convenience and efficiency for your travellers. In some cases, the solutions also grant you access to exclusive discounts, complimentary upgrades, and access to premium amenities.
EXPERT TIP: A TMC with end-to-end solutions can give you so much value beyond your air travel program. I would highly encourage speaking to your dedicated travel manager to get more value out of a holistic business travel solution.
