Why business travelers need upgrades: pets and drinks
When GetThere asked for the top excuses given by corporate travelers for upgrades, the answers ranged from the cost of drinks in coach to the need to be closer to pets in cargo.
A West Coast-based travel manager for a manufacturing services provider submitted the top excuse: “I upgraded to First Class because I can’t afford the drinks in Coach.”
The other nine of the top ten travel excuses submitted by corporate travel managers, according to GetThere:
2. “Do you know who I am? If you did you would not ask me why I Travel First Class.”
3. “I had to rent a full size car in order to carry my golf clubs.”
4. “I am allergic to peanuts and that is all they serve in Coach, so I had to upgrade to First where they have almonds.”
5. “I had to stay an extra day because I can’t fly with a hangover.”
6. “My dog is booked in the climate control hold on the flight and I need to sit in First Class so I can hear him bark so I know he’s OK.”
7. “Isn’t Boston on the way to LAX?” (Passenger lives in Las Vegas and wanted extra mileage points.)
8. “I have a doctor’s note that states I have to fly First Class.”
9. “I’m claustrophobic, so I need to fly First Class in order to get off the plane first.”
10. “I accidentally booked a flight to Paris, France instead of Paris, Texas.”
The survey, which was conducted by GetThere during this year’s annual National Business Travel Association (NBTA) trade show in Boston, received nearly 100 responses from corporate travel managers across the country.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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