Advice to meeting planners: be even more flexible

With airline seats in short supply, the best advice for meeting planners this year is to be flexible, says a prominent airline analyst.

“You are really going to have to be on your toes and watch prices and watch schedules,” advises Terry Tripler, airline analyst and owner of triplertravel.com.

To reduce costs in the wake of rising fuel prices, airlines are expected to operate few flights on most routes, Tripler tells Meeting News. Other advice:

—-Flights are so full that cancellations or missed connections forces passengers to know alternatives.

     —-Factor in much more travel time when flying.

     —-Anyone planning presentations at meeting should also consider delayed or cancelled flights.

     —-“You are really going to have to be on your toes and watch prices and watch schedules,” he suggested.

Report by David Wilkening