Trends in Buisness Travel for 2012

More business travelers are moving through airport security checkpoints using electronic boarding passes stored on their mobile devices, according to Travel Leaders’ 2012 Travel Trends Survey. More than 81 percent of the Travel Leaders owners, managers and agents surveyed said that at least 10 percent of their business travel clients use electronic boarding passes to pass through security; more than 15 percent of those surveyed said at least 80 percent of their business travel clients follow this practice.

Electronic boarding passes are currently offered by several major airlines, and are accepted at dozens of U.S. airports. The Transportation Security Administration says these “paperless” boarding passes actually heighten the ability to detect fraudulent passes; and, there’s little chance that passengers will misplace, tear or crumple boarding passes that are stored on their mobile devices.

The use of electronic boarding passes is one way business travelers and their employers are making increased use of mobile communications. Employers are also relying on mobile app programs, like the one recently developed by Travel Leaders, to quickly find and assist their travelers if their itineraries are affected by weather or unexpected events.

Another notable business travel trend for 2012 is a continued focus on containing the cost of air travel. While some business travelers will be able to return to first-class airline seats this year – nearly 60 percent of the travel professionals surveyed said that more than 10 percent of their business travel clients are flying “up front,” compared with 56.4 percent last year – 41 percent said that less than 10 percent of their business travel clients will be able to enjoy the comforts of first class. When asked why these business travelers fly in coach seats, the overwhelming response was cost, cited by more than 89 percent of respondents.

Still, few employers are cutting back on buisness travel:  the survey shows that more than 94 percent of respondents to the Travel Trends Survey say their business travel clients plan to spend as much or more on travel during 2012 as they did in 2011.