Air carriers’ evolving premium economy offerings expand business travel buyer options, but they also force companies to reconsider policies for seats and services, Advito’s Bob Brindley recently told Business Travel News.
In an article centered on the effect premium economy is having on business traveler satisfaction and corporate savings, Brindley said premium economy lets companies increase comfort for travelers without paying business-class rates. But it also allows companies to justify downgrading business-class seats to premium economy, which offer more legroom and amenities than standard economy. “There’s been a little bit of movement in both directions toward premium economy,” he told BTN.
Corporate travel programs must adapt their “black and white” policies around cabin classes, advised Brindley, vice president and principal of Advito, BCD Travel’s consulting arm. “You have these tweener situations, and there even can be situations where one carrier’s business class is cheaper than another carrier’s economy, so there can be room for exceptions.”
Business travelers have to adjust, too, as free upgrades to better seats become less common—especially on international flights. “The days of status putting you in a better section is much less now,” Brindley said. “The focus [for airlines] is not to add service for frequent fliers. It is to drive additional revenue, so it’s basically another ancillary fee.”
