Business travellers do not necessarily prioritise sustainability as highly as buyers do, BCD Travel’s new survey of corporate travellers has confirmed.
The poll of 1,319 global business travellers who had travelled by air within the previous 12 months showed that instead the key drivers of ticketing choice are convenience and pricing.
The biggest influences on the choice of flight were the arrival/departure time or flight duration (71%), followed by the price (51%) and employer’s policy (49%).
“From our last buyer survey on travel policy, we saw that nearly a quarter of buyers rank making their policy more sustainable as a top priority. However, this research shows that travellers themselves are not prioritising sustainability in the same way,” said Olivia Ruggles-Brise, Vice President of Sustainability at BCD Travel.
“Travel managers can influence their travellers’ behaviour through encouraging or mandating sustainable measures, which often go hand in hand with traveller wellness. Direct flights, for instance, are more sustainable and less stressful for travellers. Though they may come at a higher cost, direct flights result in less emissions than indirect or stopover flights,” she continued.
“On the other hand, while business class is better for traveller comfort, it may not be the most sustainable option. Prioritising only trips that are vital and choosing business class for those trips can strike a balance, benefitting both traveller wellness and sustainability.”
More than half of the respondents admitted they never (38%) or rarely (25%) consider environmental factors if sustainable choices come at a higher cost.
However, around a third (33%) visit multiple destinations in one trip, use public transportation to or from the airport (25%), and refill their own water bottle (29%) – behaviours that cut emissions and waste.
Few travellers select flights that generate the lowest carbon emissions (4%) and only 16% said they are trying to fly less.
Among the survey’s respondents, 38% had flown just once while 8% flew 25 times or more. Full-service airlines were used by 60% of respondents, low-cost carriers by 10% and 30% travelled on both.
On short-haul flights (under six hours), 88% of respondents said they fly economy class, 9% in premium economy and 3% in business class. On long-haul routes, 48% travel economy, 21% fly premium economy and 31% use business class.
Half of the business travellers surveyed typically purchase fully or partially refundable tickets, offering more flexibility when faced with travel disruptions or changed plans.
Yet 37% chose the cheapest available option, regardless of the cancellation or exchange policy, illustrating that ticket price plays a significant role in travellers’ purchasing decisions.
Almost half (48%) of the respondents had paid for seat selection. Others paid for checked luggage (51%) and carry-on luggage (34%) if it was not included in the airfare.
Priority boarding (19%), extra legroom (18%) and fast-tracked security (12%) are other ancillary services that business travellers opt for.
Two-thirds (66%) of the respondents fly direct to destinations and 47% try to minimise the weight of their luggage.
Regarding their employer’s air policy, 67% expressed satisfaction while just 4% were extremely dissatisfied.
When it came to flying, the most common sources of friction were delays (69%), inconvenient flight times (48%), uncomfortable seats (43%) and cancellations (39%).
The most common uncomfortable situations that business travellers experience during a trip are no room for carry-on bags in overhead bins (32%) and technical issues with the aircraft (27%).
Other unpleasant situations include flying in adverse weather (17%), going to work after an overnight flight (17%) and driving after a long-haul flight (16%).
While some situations are unavoidable or out of anyone’s control, employers can improve the employee experience by making adjustments to their travel policy.
“A travel policy has the potential to drastically influence employee wellbeing and satisfaction,” commented Teri Miller, Executive Vice President, Global Client Team at BCD Travel.
“Adding ancillaries covered by the company, like priority boarding or lounge access, can make travelling for work more enjoyable and less stressful for employees. Allowing a flexible schedule, work from home or time off after a business trip can also help your employees adjust after returning home.”
