Common business travel mistakes to be aware of

In the world of travel, there are so many intricacies that can go into a single itinerary. One small mistake can completely dismantle your whole itinerary and make your traveler’s business trip substantially more burdensome than you could ever imagine. Not to mention, it can also cost your company a great deal more down the line as you try to correct mistakes.

Being that the average EWA Travel counselor has been in the industry for nearly 30 years, it’s easy to say that they’ve seen their fair share of travel mistakes. For that reason, we thought it was important for us to address some common mistakes we see so you can save your organization and travelers headaches and money.

Waiting until last-minute to book
Every now and again, we’ll see travel arrangers and travelers book a flight a week out from their intended departure. This, as you can imagine, can be quite costly. Several different publications have determined how far in advance one should book a flight. Travel and Leisure reported that the best time to book would be 70 days in advanced and the most inexpensive fares could be found 54 days in advanced. In your organization’s travel policy, it’s important that you set a standard for when all flights should be booked. This will ensure you’re not booking a week before your traveler’s intended departure.

Not checking the status of your flight
We’re getting back into the winter season, and you know what that means — winter weather-related travel disruptions. Obviously, we can’t change how the weather will impact your travels, but we can properly prepare for it. This means that it’s important for your travelers to look at their flight status to ensure that it is not delayed or canceled before heading to the airport. If there is some kind of disruption, be sure to give your counselor a call so they can help you get on another flight.

Forgetting how you’ll get around when you arrive
How will your travelers get around once you get to your destination? Are they going to use a ride-sharing service, or will they be in need of a rental car? It’s important that you determine this early on so you’re not scrambling for deals at the last minute. If your organization frequently uses car rental companies, you may want to take advantage of their programs or see if your TMC offers any benefits. For example, EWA Travel has special rates with several different companies and will assist in negotiating propriety rental car contracts based on volume needs.

Not getting the name right
For this one, we got some insight from our international travel counselor, Marife Simon. Marife explained, “One common mistake I see from a traveler is not giving their correct names. A traveler or the travel arranger should provide the correct and complete name, as shown on the passport for international travel or on the photo ID for domestic. Airlines may allow name corrections for a fee but having the correct name on the initial reservation saves the extra effort and expense. It will also be complicated to correct a name if the ticketed itinerary involves more than two carriers and can end up very costly.”