Travel management companies have been urged to do more to counter business travellers’ fondness for airline loyalty schemes.
Institute of Travel Management (ITM) executive director Paul Tilstone told delegates at the GTMC Conference in Doha, Qatar that the schemes hampered adherence to corporate travel policies.
Travellers often demand a seat on an airline outside of their company’s policy because of the frequent flyer points available, he said, and ITM research suggests that TMCs fail to change the traveller’s mind in six out of 10 cases.
Tilstone also suggested that loyalty schemes should be taxed since they constitute a financial perk.