Findings from the 11th annual Barclaycard Business travel survey results reveal only 14% of business travellers fly dedicated business class. Standard economy is by far the preferred class, with 46% of the 4,000 UK survey participants saying it was their first choice.
Barclaycard Business director of commercial cards, Denise Leleux, explained the findings: ”The availability of different classes on an aircraft is an obvious factor, with some airlines reducing the number of classes available, in a bid to cut costs and streamline their business.
”Also, it seems that business travellers are acutely aware that the costs they incur whilst travelling on business have a direct impact on their company”s costs/profit levels and therefore chose to fly economy.
”Finally, while many business travellers decide themselves how they will fly, half of business travellers” employers still have a company travel policy that will dictate the class in which employees travel.”
According to the survey, premium economy has had little effect on business traveller habits, with only 15% of respondents saying it encouraged them to upgrade and an even lower 4% saying they have downgraded from business class. Just 7% regularly fly in premium economy.
A mere 2% of those surveyed said frequent flyer programmes influenced their choice of airline when booking a flight, although loyalty to a particular airline is rife within the industry.
Despite myriad problems for BA in 2006, it continues to be the first choice for almost half (48%) of the Barclaycard survey participants. Second choice for UK business travellers is Virgin, with 8%, having regained its position from easyJet, which took second place last year and came third this year with 7%. Bmi and Ryanair were placed fourth with 3%.
”With the majority of business travel being short-haul and much of it within the UK (73%), it is no surprise that UK-owned airlines came out on top,” said Leleux. ”There is also an element of trust in UK brands amongst business travellers.”