Arabic version: شركات تدرس فرض قيود على تذاكر رجال الأعمال الأساسية

According to Cnbc, companies are weighing whether to restrict employees from booking newly introduced basic business- and premium-economy fares, which can exclude advance seat selection, lounge access and flexible flight changes. Corporate travel managers fear the lower upfront prices could create higher costs when work trips change.

Delta Air Lines joined United Airlines in offering stripped-down business-class options on certain flights. Delta said basic business change fees can range from none to $400, depending on the route, while cancellations can cost from $99 to $500. United’s least expensive Polaris fare does not include Polaris lounge access, free advance seat selection or changes without a fee.

AerSale does not expect to block the basic premium options entirely for its hundreds of traveling employees, but Jackie Carlon, the company’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, said such tickets would be impractical for many workers. “The real value is flexibility,” Carlon said. “Paying a bit more, it’s not necessarily a cost to us — it’s insurance.”

For a Newark-to-London Heathrow trip departing Oct. 1 and returning Oct. 8, United listed a base Polaris ticket at $4,490, compared with $4,890 for a standard fare and $5,390 for a flexible, refundable ticket. Delta said it supports corporate travel partners by allowing them to control which fare products are available under their own policies.

Two travel managers at public companies said they would likely seek to block the fares altogether. Global airfare is forecast to rise nearly 5% this year to an average $756 roundtrip, while premium fares are projected to increase 9.5% to $4,488, according to the Global Business Travel Association. Some smaller or more price-sensitive companies could find the lower-priced premium options attractive, though travel managers may prioritize simplicity and policy compatibility.