How to book discount business class travel without compromising luxury
Ed Brooks
•10 Oct 2024
Finding discount business-class travel deals is a top priority for companies that want to optimise their travel spend. And a growing number of businesses are realising that traditional methods of booking travel are no longer sufficient. Business class fares, of course, are notoriously expensive, and without the right tools in place, companies can end up paying much more than necessary.
A modern travel management platform gives businesses a clear advantage when finding the best fares. By adopting technology that aggregates multiple inventory sources, companies can access lower-cost options that aren’t available through standard booking channels.
With the right corporate travel solution, businesses can unlock significant savings and gain access to exclusive fares. This article will explore how a modern travel management platform can help find the best business class deals — and offer many additional benefits.
Why a corporate travel solution is key for business class savings
The benefits of a corporate travel solution go beyond convenience. Using the right technology enables more thoughtful and strategic purchasing decisions. When companies rely on consumer travel websites or legacy systems, they often miss out on exclusive rates or deals only available to those with advanced platforms.
By consolidating inventory from sources like global distribution systems (GDSs), airline direct connections, and travel aggregators, platforms like Navan help surface discounts in all flight classes, including business. This multi-source approach helps companies reduce travel costs and maintain greater control over travel spending while offering better visibility.
Benefits of a multi-source travel platform
- Access to global distribution systems (GDSs)
- Direct connections with airlines
- Aggregated content from travel sites
Platforms like Navan pull from these sources to give companies a comprehensive view of available fares, including exclusive business class deals not on traditional booking platforms.
Accessing better deals through New Distribution Capability (NDC)
Access to business class fares via New Distribution Capability (NDC) channels is one way for companies to reduce the costs of those business class fares. NDC is a data transmission standard that allows airlines to offer richer, more personalised fare options.
As the travel industry continues to evolve, NDC is becoming the new standard for booking air travel. Airlines using NDC can provide a more dynamic range of offers, including bundled services like seat upgrades, Wi-Fi, and lounge access.
For business travellers, this means more options and better prices. Navan’s focus on increasing the number of NDC connections means that companies using its platform have access to these exclusive, lower-cost fares.
As airlines increasingly prioritise NDC over traditional systems, companies that fail to integrate it into their travel programmes risk missing out on significant savings and enhanced travel experiences for their employees.
The power of NDC in corporate travel
Navan analysed the data from flight bookings made on its platform over a three-month period earlier this year. The compiled results offer an insightful deep-dive into the potential value of NDC by uncovering NDC booking trends (global, regional, and per airline), cost-savings opportunities, and insights from individual airlines.
Key findings include:
Nearly one in four flights booked on Navan in May was via NDC.
In the UK, NDC represented approximately 29% of all flight bookings.
Larger travel programmes with NDC access could see up to six-digit annualised savings.
As NDC adoption increased, so did traveller satisfaction.
This rise in NDC bookings reflects the growing importance of direct airline connections, which may offer lower-priced fares, including in business class.
Personal travel benefits for employees
A great corporate travel solution doesn’t just benefit your business — it can also offer personal travel perks for employees. By using the same platform for both business and personal trips, employees can access discounted rates on everything from flights to hotels.
Allowing employees to book personal trips through a corporate travel platform can be a game-changer. It simplifies the process for employees familiar with the tool and opens up exclusive discounts typically reserved for corporate bookings. This added perk can significantly enhance employee satisfaction, as it makes travel more affordable and convenient for leisure purposes.
Why offer personal travel discounts?
- Employees gain access to exclusive fares and promotions.
- Employees can book personal trips at the same competitive rates as business trips.
- Personal travel bookings add an additional layer of value to your corporate travel programme.
Offering personal travel discounts through your corporate travel platform can also improve employee satisfaction and boost compliance with company travel policies.
Case study: How 1E saved 16% on travel with Navan
1E is a perfect example of a company that optimised its travel programme with Navan’s travel solution. By centralising all bookings through Navan, 1E achieved:
16% reduction in overall travel costs
NPS score of +70
Seamless access to discounted business-class fares
Navan Rewards is a cost-saving feature that has gone down a treat at 1E: "My favourite feature is Navan Rewards. It encourages our travellers to save the company money and in return they get travel credits to use towards their next holiday, which is really cool," said Giorgio Christou, Employee Engagement Culture Leader at 1E.
This case study demonstrates how adopting a modern corporate travel solution can transform your travel programme and save on business travel costs.
The importance of choosing the right corporate travel solution
Your company needs more than a modern corporate travel management tool to find the best business class travel deals. Choosing a platform like Navan, which integrates NDC connections and pulls from multiple inventory sources, provides access to competitive business-class fares.
Key takeaways for optimising travel spend:
- Use a platform that pulls from GDS, NDC, and aggregators for broader inventory.
- Prioritise a platform with access to NDC for discounted business class fares, as it can provide less expensive options.
- Offer personal travel discounts to employees to increase compliance and satisfaction.
By incorporating a comprehensive travel management solution, your company can unlock exclusive deals, improve compliance, and drive significant savings across all business and personal travel bookings.
Ready to save on business class travel?
Sign up for Navan’s corporate travel solution today to reduce travel spend and give your employees access to exclusive business class deals.