Confessions of a Corporate Shopaholic

For almost any regional corporate employee one of the first things they ask is the company’s travel policy.  To many executives who are in the air over 30% of their time, this policy directly affects their very well-being.   Some even ask about it during job interviews so that they can size up the opportunities as part of their consideration.  Again, may I remind everyone that the travel policy is the collective work of company’s top management, human resources, finance and security.  Procurement is only asked to come in afterwards to negotiate the best travel deals for the company, based on set upon travel policy guidelines, and available budget.   We always get blamed or bombarded with complaints and questions from everyone, from secretaries to heads of businesses.

Am I entitled to fly business?

Don’t we just hate rubbing shoulders and elbows with strangers in coach?  The funny thing is that we can accept it when we fly for leisure ourselves, but somehow enduring coach travel for business is simply unimaginable.  Some argue that it’s for safety.  Some says it’s important to get on board and off the plane first.  “Since we need to catch business meetings immediately after landing, we need to arrive in our best physical and mental condition”.  What a load.  Everyone wants to get an exception because they are just too important for the company.  Yes, the company will cripple if they cannot fly business.

What routes can I fly business?

“Only flights over 8 hours are entitled for business class? Ok, Ms Secretary, please book me a trip to fly to Australia onward to Japan then to Manila over to Shanghai before heading home.  Then I can travel business the whole way through right?”  “Why is China no longer a “hardship” country?”  “Have you flown to Delhi before?  Do you know how awful the airport it is?”  Why this, not that, is the most common question we get and we normally politely direct them to talk to either HR, finance, or security.

 What are our preferred airlines?

 In fact this is now relatively less common in this part of the region.  It is easier to identify, say, United for the States, but it is a lot harder to identify one or two preferred airlines that fly to most cities of the region. Having  too many preferred airlines just simply does not make sense.  Instead, companies nowadays adopt the lowest carrier/airfare concept.

What are lowest airfares?

Corporate travel desks are required by management to quote lowest fare options to business travelers with the idea to make sure all staff takes these options automatically.  Yet I still see a lot of cases where travelers still insist to fly their own preferred airlines because of either better timing, better alternation flexibilities, or simply, a much more attractive mileage program that benefits the travelers personally.  I am seeing some global companies requesting travelers to fork over their mileage, or ask airlines to enroll ONE corporate mileage account for all business travels, so that all awards can be used for business, instead of some executives’  lavish first class vacation to Hawaii with their wife and kids.

What are our preferred hotels?

This always strikes up quite a controversy.  You can get consensus easier with the best airline for each country (which usually is the flag carrier because of the best timing and most frequent schedules), but it is almost impossible for everyone to agree with what hotels are the best for each city.  Some insists on 5-star ratings.  Some focuses on their proximity to offices.  Some  wants to stay away from American properties due to recent terrorist attacks.  Some require lavish conferencing and banquet facilities.   Of course, with corporate’s continuous strive to cut costs, maximum city overnight rates have been decreasing year after year, and it just requires procurement’s super powers to conduct regional RFPs for preferred hotels hopefully to please everyone.  At the end of the day, you always end up with a few travelers who make it an effort to scream at you every time they see you.  Very rewarding job it is.

I myself, am just another ordinary traveler.  I want the best for myself and I always dream to stay in the best places, fly business with the best airlines, be picked up by stretched limos, and have unlimited per diem.  However I am also realistic, and I know what the real priorities are.  Those reckless spending days are over.  Instead, I’d rather focus on negotiating a higher paycheck for myself.  Business trip is a business trip.  Admit it, no matter how pampered you are being treated, you will still whine and bitch about it no matter what!