10 Ways for Optimising Your Next Flight Business Booking

Planning and Preparation

A smooth business trip begins with early planning. Start by researching and booking your flights and hotels ahead of time to secure the best deals and feel more prepared. Use travel apps to stay updated on any business flight price decreases, helping you save money. 

Make sure to also plan a detailed itinerary. This should include your meetings, lodging, transportation and any recreational activities. Having these details planned out will keep you organised and make it easier to focus on work. 

Packing and Organising

Mastering the skill of packing light and effectively is crucial for every business traveller. Pick adaptable clothing pieces that are easy to mix and match. Don't forget to pack a compact emergency kit with crucial items like chargers, toiletries, and a first-aid kit.

High-quality travel accessories can be a big help in staying organised. These are designed to ensure that your packing is compartmentalised and well organised. Consider buying items like packing cubes, a travel wallet for your important documents, like your passport, and a portable charger. 

DigiYatra for Indian Corporate Travellers

DigiYatra is a digital initiative by the Government of India that aims to offer several benefits to enhance travelling, especially for corporate travellers. Employees can simply download the DigiYatra app and upload verification documents like their Aadhar card or driver's license. Travellers can also link their digital identity to their business flight booking, which eliminates the need for paper boarding passes. 

DigiYatra also provides real-time flight updates, helping busy business fly travellers stay informed on flight delays and such. The app also promotes cashless transactions, which helps travellers simplify their payment for food, beverages and retail items. All of these features help corporate travellers stay on schedule and keep their important documents digitally handy and in one place. 

In-Flight Productivity

Before you fly corporate, make sure to plan ahead! Organise your work materials and make sure your devices are all charged up. Download any files you might need and make sure everything is easy to get to in your carry-on. A little bit of preparation can help you work more efficiently while you're flying. 

Don't forget to use the in-flight Wi-Fi and power outlets. They're great for keeping your devices charged during business fly hours, ensuring uninterrupted productivity.

Choosing Convenience

To simplify corporate flying, businesses could make the most of seat choices and complimentary meals for added convenience. Employees could pick their favourite seats at the time of booking to strike a prefect balance between comfort and practicality, especially on longer flights where they may need to work or sleep. Also, supplying free meals onboard eliminates the need for workers to pack their own food or depend on the limited choices at the airport. 

This saves time and stress while maintaining their energy levels, allowing them to concentrate more on their tasks or meetings.

Manage Your Time to Manage Expenses 

It is important to manage your time effectively, even when you are travelling for work. You can make the most of your business fly time by recording all of your travel costs. Doing so is important for quick reimbursements as well as for planning the budgets for upcoming trips. 

You can use mobile apps, a corporate booking tool or a simple notebook to track all your expenses, including those small ones like snacks or Wi-Fi on the plane. You can even store your receipts in an orderly manner for easy reference when preparing your expense report, thanks to the downtime during flights. This can bring you several benefits, including a well-managed expense report that can help you get your reimbursements on time.

Consider Less Popular Airlines

Fliers typically gravitate toward the most well-known airlines when booking tickets. But, higher prices accompany premium comfort. Popular airlines often hike their prices and charge more for in-flight services and meals as well. While they can be a good choice for infrequent travellers, the same cannot be said for business travellers, who take flights quite regularly.

In certain circumstances, it can be a smart decision to opt for airlines that are not as well-known. This is because such airlines often offer lower prices in order to attract more customers. Hence, by choosing a less popular airline occasionally, you can keep your business travel expenses within budget.

Use Price Tracking Tools

Airline fares fluctuate a lot, which means that a flight that is within your budget today can become too expensive in just a day or two. Price tracking tools are handy in such situations. You simply need to enter data about your flight routes, your travel dates and other preferences, and you will be notified whenever a ticket price drops significantly. 

With the help of these apps, you can choose the best option to stay within the company's travel budget and also not spend too much time and energy trying to find the best deal.

Avoid Booking Flights on Weekends

Companies often look for business booking on weekdays because the rates are typically lower. The hustle and bustle of weekend travels, often packed with vacationers, means that airlines are at their busiest from Friday to Sunday. This also means that taking a business flight during weekends can cost your business more in the long term.

Studies show that it's most affordable to business fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So, if your business team needs to travel, try to schedule their flights on these two days to take advantage of discounted airfare prices.

 Rewards and Loyalty Programs

Joining a rewards program for corporate airlines, hotels and rental car providers can help save money and offer added benefits to frequent business travellers. Using services where you are a member can lead to:

• Seat upgrades
• Exclusive access to lounges 
• Extra baggage allowance 
• Early boarding

And other advantages that make business flying more fun and wallet-friendly. 

Also, by racking up points or miles, you can earn rewards for personal travel, making your business fly even more worthwhile.