Travel smarter: 9 insider hacks to cut business travel costs

With the boom of in-person meetings, events and conferences, business travel is back along with the associated costs of travel. To make your travel budget stretch further, here’s nine nifty tips to slash the cost of travelling for work.

Working with small-to-medium businesses (SMEs), Corporate Traveller helps companies with convenient, cost-effective business travel management plans, incorporating these tried-and-tested money-saving hacks for flights, accommodation and more.

1. For example, save up to 20 per cent on flights by booking airfares eight to 14 days before departure when airlines usually release cheaper seats.
2. Corporate Traveller’s frequent flyers also book flights on the quarter-hour or half-hour for cheaper fares. Services that leave on the hour are more expensive as they are booked more frequently.
3. Flights departing on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays also average 12 per cent less than weekend departures, according to Google Flight data. While flights later in the week are more expensive, adding a weekend in the destination for ‘bleisure travel’ is an increasing trend among business travellers.
4. Instead of same-day trips, look at scheduling meetings across two or three days to save money on multiple flights.
5. Maintain one or two airline loyalty programs to maximise the opportunities for status and rewards. This increases your chance to attain gold or platinum status, which offers the best perks for business travellers.
6. Alternatively, SMEs can offer flexibility and save by allowing staff to pick their hotels and flights within a capped limit.
7. In regards to accommodation, avoid the five-block radius around the CBD to cut costs and book areas with easy access to the city via public transport. You’ll save on dining costs, too, by staying away from the central core.
8. With FY24 almost here, look at updating your travel policy and renegotiating services with suppliers, such as hotels and car hire companies, to save money.
9. SMEs can also stay across the latest travel sales and deals by signing up for newsletters and taking advantage of discounted rates and bonuses.

For more info, head to corporatetraveller.com.au