GUEST BLOG: Bags of money

As Ryanair and Virgin introduce new luggage policies, buyers must ensure these are communicated to travellers, as small changes can have a big impact on a trip, says Denise Harman, senior director of programme management, UK & Ireland, CWT

Last month Ryanair rolled out its new baggage policy that only guarantees cabin bags for priority passengers, and Virgin confirmed it will no longer allow ‘smart baggage’ anywhere on its aircraft, if batteries can’t be removed.

We’re only at the start of 2018, but already it’s obvious that travel managers will have to be faster than ever to adapt and communicate changes to airline policy than ever before. In 2017, travellers had to react to a cabin ban on laptops to and from certain destinations, and ensure their devices are charged enough to turn on and be tested.

Having a travel policy that can flex when suppliers change the rules is really important. For some companies, it could be more cost efficient to upgrade their policy to include priority boarding than to have people wait 20 minutes at baggage collection. With larger volumes of travellers a week, they could work with their TMC and suppliers to negotiate a better deal.

At the root of all this is obviously safety and efficiency – efficiency at turning round a plane for Ryanair, as lateness both hits their bottom line and annoys customers, and for Virgin, the safety of passengers with battery stability. But also communication here is key – it’s so important for travel managers to be able to relay these changes quickly to avoid any unexpected delays, cost – or at worst – missed flights.

As a weekly business traveller, I want to get off the aircraft and head straight through passport control not worrying about the baggage collection as I’ve got my wheelie with me. For my hops from Dublin to London, it makes sense to me. So, it’s a double-edged sword for frequent flyers – as more people travel with large cabin baggage to avoid the charges on checking in bags, it takes longer to load the plane and get on the runway, and that causes us and the airline a delay, which I also don’t want.

Time is money. And money is bags!

This post was written by CTW who will be exhibiting at Business Travel Show on 21-22 February 2018. Visit CWT at stand B230 and talk to our teams from across the business, who will be there to help you find more about how to effectively manage travel and expenses. You will even uncover new efficiencies through the perfect blend of data and a customised traveller experience.

VISITOR NUMBERS UP 5%!

 The 20^th Business Travel Show, which took place at Earls Court last week, achieved a five per cent increase in visitors despite being hit by a Tube strike and torrential rain.

6,475 corporate travel professionals attended the Business Travel Show (compared to 6,148 in 2013) for a busy two days of networking, learning and sourcing. Exhibitor numbers were up ten per cent on 2013 – from 205 to 226, floor space increased by 32 per cent, and 65 per cent of the floor plan was rebooked onsite. 

Exhibitors included Amadeus, Star Alliance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Egencia, Travelodge, Virgin Atlantic, Eurostar, Qatar Airways, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Premier Inn, thetrainline, Concur, easyjet, BCD Travel and American Express Global Business Travel. 

The Business Travel Show conference, renowned for its high quality content and extensive programme, was opened by Dara Khosrowshahi – CEO and president of Expedia Inc – who predicted The Future of Travel and discussed the importance of understanding Millennials as well as the increasingly blurred lines between business and leisure travel.

Many hundreds of senior European buyers attended the show, including 953 hosted buyer level attendees – a 37 per cent increase on 2013. Over 300 of these buyers were fully hosted by the Business Travel Show. Now in its third year, the hosted buyer programme featured an exclusive half day pre-show conference and gala dinner on Monday 3 February.

  

I am truly delighted with the success of this year’s show – it was at its biggest and best for years. The floor was packed with many high profile exhibitors returning after time away and a long list of brand new companies sitting alongside our long-term supporters. 

Conference sessions were packed out and visitor numbers were at their highest for seven years. It doesn’t surprise me for one second that our visitors, who are, after all, seasoned and resourceful business travellers, refused to let the small matter of a Tube strike stand in their way of attending. All in all, it was a fantastic way to celebrate our 20^th anniversary event and we’re already looking forward to our 21^st in our new home at Olympia Exhibition Centre.

This blog post was written by event director David Chapple. The Business Travel Show, Europe’s leading corporate travel event, will take place 25-26 February 2015 at Olympia in London. For more information please visit www.businesstravelshow.com.

VIRGIN TAKES OFF AT HOME

Richard Branson and Virgin have somewhat hijacked the news over the last two weeks, haven’t they?

It started with Virgin being outbid by FirstGroup for the West Coast Mainline franchise that it has been running for the last 12 years. You can read our blog post with the details of FirstGroup’s bid here. Branson, it was reported, was livid, issuing an aggressive statement questioning the Government’s decision and FirstGroup’s competence almost immediately. This was followed by the announcement of an appeal and the launch of an online petition, which garnered 150,000 signatures. Branson even offered to run the service on a not-for-profit basis if the Government agreed to postpone the contract signing for two months.

Yesterday (28 August 2012) it was reported that Virgin had its lawyers working over the Bank Holiday weekend and is now planning a last minute legal challenge to prevent the Government from signing the contract, which is due to happen tomorrow and, which, according to the Transport Secretary Justine Keeling, is going ahead.

It’s all very gung-ho for the transport industry and I’m genuinely looking forward to the outcome. But what I find really interesting is the surprise announcement – released in the midst of this melee -that Virgin is proposing a three-times-daily airline service from London Heathrow to Manchester from next March.

When it was announced, many assumed Branson was simply throwing his toys out of the pram having lost West Coast Mainline. But I doubt this very much. I think the domestic airline has been part of the Virgin plan for some time and the timing of the announcement was merely coincidental.

The airline lost £80.2m last year. It has also lost its code share deal with BMI following BMI’s acquisition by IAG and its alignment with BA, which means it’s lost a significant chunk of its feeder routes, so something had to be done. And that something, it would seem, is the launch of a UK domestic network.

My question is: “Does this signal more of a strategic change in direction for Virgin Altantic, or will the IAG competition trustees charged with reallocating the BMI Heathrow slots see it as nothing more than smoke and mirrors to make them look like more of a credible option for those slots?”

The trustees will award these slots from summer 2013 and the decision will be made in the next couple of months, which also makes me think twice about the timing of the announcement.

Whatever the reason, though, the move by Virgin is potentially good news for the corporate travel buyer, as the likes of Virgin and BA start competing on value, service and price leading to increased frequencies and flight options, as well as better value for money.

David Chapple is event director of the Business Travel Show – you can challenge him on Twitter @btshowlondon or at david@businesstravelshow.com