We all instinctively know advance booking is cheaper, and you probably have some data in your own organization that shows this. But what is the true potential of buying in advance, and how do you take advantage of it to lower the total cost of your travel program?
Today we have new insights from a report by The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) that proves the link between advance purchase policy and corporate air booking behavior for the first time. Based on research covering U.S. corporate travel advance purchase trends, we can show the actual value of an advance purchase policy for a corporation.
Why advance air travel booking works
To understand why airlines offer a discount for advanced booking, know that an airplane is basically a cash-eating monster made of metal. There are huge fixed costs to get each and every plane in the sky. Flying with too many empty seats loses money. So, to reduce their uncertainty about empty seats in the future, the airline offers you an incentive to book ahead. You’re doing them a favor, basically, by reducing their risk of flying with empty seats. They return the favor with a discount.
The facts on booking air travel in advance
The ARC data highlights just how much money a company can save if it implements an advance purchase policy for air travel. The information can also help travelers understand how to arrange travel and stay within policy. In some cases, waiting too long to book will result in fares so high the trip won’t even get approved.
Booking more than 22 days in advance is the most common type of advanced travel purchase in the United States. According to ARC, this time interval accounts for 29% of all advanced ticket purchases by corporate travelers. For international travel, the numbers are much higher. Business trips from the U.S. to Asia experience a 48% rate of 22-day advance booking. For European travel from the U.S., the figure is 52%.
Advance travel booking savings can be significant. For domestic flights, a U.S. economy ticket for corporate travel averages $454 with a 22-day advance. Travelers waiting until the three-day window will pay an average of $733 – a 61% jump in price compared to a 22-day ticket.
Premium travel (i.e. first class and business class) present a similar cost differential. For example, a 22-day advance purchase corporate ticket for US domestic premium airfare averages $1,260. The 0-3 day window raises the price to $1,703, a 37% increase over the 22-day fare. For premium travel from the US to Asia, a 22-day advance purchase corporate ticket averages $6,494. In contrast, the same ticket will cost $7,450 in the 0-to-3-day window. Overall, that’s 15% higher than the 22-day fare.
How to save with advance travel purchases
Saving money with advance purchases becomes easier when you have a policy for it and the tools to easily enforce this policy for all employees at the time of booking. Data shows that the probability of someone booking a U.S. domestic flight within 7 days of the departure date of the trip is more than 15% lower if there is an advance purchase policy in place. For international travel, the likelihood is nearly 20% lower. We’ve written about the importance of having an air travel policy in general in previous articles . Businesses of all sizes can benefit from working with a Travel Management Company (TMC), putting an advance purchase policy in place, and using the right tools to enforce the policy at the time of booking.
Teplis can provide you with a combination of data analytics tools and the technology to help you take advantage of the savings opportunities identified for every single booking. With the right toolset, you will be able to see the benefits of advanced booking in real time. You will also see the opposite, where your travelers may be overpaying by waiting until too late to book. We’re here to give you the tools to get these travelers back on track
