In The Know

82 companies – which make up around 18% listed as offering day 2 and day 8 tests – face being removed from the GOV.UK list if they advertise misleading prices.

GOV.UK to be updated to reflect true cost of travel tests this week.

57 companies to be removed as they no longer exist or do not provide a relevant testing service.

Regular spot checks will be introduced to ensure prices are accurate and providers are legitimate.

Our Analysis & Recommendations

• Don’t rely on the Government approved list as there has been problems with supply as well as pricing.
• Leverage your TMC to secure the most reliable providers.

COVID-19 lockdown restrictions clearly had an impact on lifestyles and commuting patterns in 2020. Many people stopped traveling to work completely. People who relied on private cars, as well as those who used public transport, actually increased their use of private cars, even as the overall number of trips dipped (Exhibit 2). And in some cities, staff shortages and declining revenue from lower passenger usage led to reductions in service frequencies to avoid fare increases.

Our Analysis & Recommendations

In European, Asian and Pacific continents there is little need for travellers to continue with private car use, we recommend returning to public transport friendly policy rules. Where private car use, set a policy for use of electric/hybrid vechiles and/or consider using fleet contracts for frequent travellers, while having strict 20-45p per mile fuel allowances.

Delta Air Lines has partnered with high-speed rail supplier Thalys to provide passengers flying to Amsterdam connections to Brussels and Antwerp.

Travelers booking through Delta’s direct channels who have Brussels or Antwerp as a destination will see Delta’s new “Air+Rail” package, which can be booked in the same manner as a flight. Travelers then can use their ticket confirmation to get their boarding pass for the rail segment through the AccesRail website or pick up their ticket at the train station window upon arrival.

Our Analysis & Recommendations

As a result of publicly funded bail outs, many mainland European airlines have had to reduce or in some cases, totally remove domestic flights in place for high speed rail.

This should be viewed as a positive as it not only reduces carbon footprint, the traveller can book a ticket encompassing ground transportation (rail and coach) all in one air ticket with all the protection of flexibility and ease of use in terms of automatic luggage transfer.

My recommendation is to search for the specific town you wish to travel into rather than airport code to access such fares.

Our Analysis & Recommendations

It’s natural to think a discounted corporate deal with a supplier is the ideal, but it’s seldom the case for SMEs. Remember for every corporate contract you procure, is a corporate contract you have to dedicate resouces to manage.

Firstly consider whether you have the experience to negotiate with suppliers, redundancies meant travel functions were seconded to other departments, therefore outsourcing this function to a specialist would provide the skill to benefit a return on investment.

Also assess your organizations’ back-to-office plans and whether they will affect Covid-era travel restrictions and policies. i.e. what departments are travelling, to what level and whether home working has replaced / closed offices.

It is very unlikely you an SME will meet the threshold for tailored discounted air fares, So leverage the standard business programs offered by most major airlines that include discounts, upgrades and other perks, while discussing with travel management companies how to dovetail theiir negotiated air rates that corporate clients often can use.

In terms of hotel, occupancy levels in major cities are not expected to return until 2022 at the earliest, I would recommend using your TMC’s preferred rate programme unless you can offer 200 room nights or more.