How much would it take for business travelers to take the dreaded middle seat?
A new study detailed how much business travelers would take to move to an airline’s center seat and measured whether or not business travelers are more cautious these days with their company’s money.
Are cost-conscious business travelers spending less or more on dining these days?
More than one-third are watching their spending at $50 or less a day, says a new Orbitz for Business travelers survey.
Another third, however, are paying little if any attention to the right side of the menu — with no spending limits for meals while traveling for business.
Reinforcing the expenditure growth trend, a May study by the Aberdeen Group – a leading industry research provider – found that annual T&E card spending as a whole has soared. In North America, T&E card spending is up 22% while it has grown 20% worldwide, Aberdeen’s study says.
The Orbitz study also asked travelers at what price, hypothetically, would someone give up their coveted aisle or window seat to move to the center seat. The survey asked travelers if they were seated in a row of three, and the person occupying the middle seat offered to pay to switch seats, how much would be required to say “yes.” The results:
- $50 or less – 27%
- $75 – 6%
- $100 – 23%
- $150 – 4%
- $200 – 15%
- Twenty-five percent said they wouldn’t be interested in switching no matter what the offer.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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