Travel programs that focus primarily on cost pose a higher risk of attrition and a lower success rate, according to a survey of 742 U.S.-based road warriors conducted May 7 through 17 and sponsored by Airlines Reporting Corp., Delta, FlightGlobal and tClara. Respondents spent at least 35 nights away from home while traveling for work in the course of a year.
These business travelers were twice as likely to consider leaving a job when under a cost-focused program rather than a traveler-focused one. About a third of travelers under cost-focused programs were considering leaving their jobs over the next two years, compared with 17 percent of those under traveler-focused programs.
In addition, travelers under cost-focused programs were less likely to report their trips as successful. Those travelers reported 57 percent of their trips as successful, compared with 66 percent of trips for travelers in traveler-focused programs.
Overall, 91 percent of travelers in traveler-focused programs were satisfied with their travel policies. Only 59 percent of travelers in cost-focused programs said the same.
Among the report's recommendations to increase success rates and decrease attrition risk:
- Allow business class on flights longer than six hours.
- Encourage frequent travelers to use less personal time for business travel.
- Help travelers get better sleep while on the road.