better times?
After three years of shrinking company travel budgets, a turnaround could be in the making. Based on its annual survey of company travel patterns, consulting firm Runzheimer International is predicting that corporations will increase their 2004 travel budgets by 6.5 percent. Runzheimer said it expects U.S. companies to spend 4 percent more on car rentals, 5 percent more on hotels and 10 percent more on air fares next year—although it notes that "competitive (airline) pricing will continue to flourish in markets where low-cost airlines operate."

fewer phones
For the first year ever, more travel bookings at major corporations are being made over the Internet than over a telephone line, according to a survey of 100 multinational companies by GetThere Corp. Companies responding to the survey reported that on average, airline tickets booked online were 15 percent less expensive than those booked over the phone. Still, there apparently is still some employee resistance to making reservations on the computer: The survey found that even at companies where online bookings are mandatory, only 69 percent of employees follow that rule.

preferred pricing
How much extra would you be willing to pay in order to fly on your preferred airline and get the seat you want? More than you used to, apparently. According to a survey of 600 travelers by Resource Systems Group, "Business travelers are willing to pay $58 more to fly with their most preferred carrier vs. their least preferred. This value has increased significantly in the past year," the group said. It noted that business travelers are also willing to spend an extra $40 to avoid a center seat. "The most valued on-board features continue to be associated with seat spacing, width and position," the study found.

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