Most corporate travel programs do not include significant consequences for violating policy, and many companies still are missing out on such savings opportunities as pushing travelers toward nonrefundable tickets, according to a survey of 689 North American travel buyers conducted by Egencia and the National Business Travel Association Foundation.
More than 60 percent of buyers in the survey, released on Monday, indicated that their travel policy is more of a guideline than a hard mandate. About the same percentage indicated that travelers who violated policy were reprimanded with a "slap on the wrist," or simply a request from management that they comply with policy in the future. A further 18 percent said their travelers face no consequences at all for violating policies.
The remaining minority took a harder line against policy-breakers. Eighteen percent said such travelers face possible non-reimbursement, and 5 percent said policy violations could result in discipline or even termination.
About one-third of the respondents said they do not require travelers to purchase nonrefundable airfares, which NBTA and Egencia estimated cost an average of 49 percent less than refundable tickets on U.S. domestic routes.
Travel buyers have been taking a harder line against premium air travel, the survey indicated. Two-thirds said they have updated their policy in the past two years to restrict premium class air travel, and nearly half said they now never authorize first- or business-class travel. Only 9 percent authorize travelers to use first or business class on domestic flights.