How to Use Business Travel Secrets for Personal Travel

Business travellers are privy to many travel secrets because they take an average of 7 long-distance trips per year, according to the Travel Industry Association,while leisure travelers, typically take fewer than three such trips. Even though they may not fly, drive or stay in hotels that much, vacationers could learn a thing or two by watching how business travelers navigate the airport or the hotel lobby or even get better deals at hotels and on airlines. Shorter wait times, less expense and often, more convenience are some of the perks.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Stay at business hotels. Business hotels tend to be located conveniently near places that host meetings and conventions--typically in the vicinity of the airport or downtown commercial district with easy access to major highways. Consumers may get an even better deal than the business travelers. Hotels that cater to business clientele are busiest during the work week, and often drop their prices on weekends in order to fill empty rooms. In New Orleans, for example, a standard guest room at the 3.5-star Radisson Hotel (near the airport) is $170 from Monday through Thursday, and just $116 a night on Fridays and Saturdays.
2. Book Y-Up fares. On paper, so-called Y-Up, Q-Up and Z-Up tickets are full-fare coach seats. These tickets come with a guaranteed upgrade to first class. Considering that companies often restrict which flight class employees can book and how much they can spend, Y-Up fares are a well-known trick of the business travel trade. For consumers, if you were going to fly business class anyway, Y-Up and other auto-upgrade fares are a less-expensive option. Farecompare online has a Y-up tool and steps for booking these types of tickets.
3. Be loyal. Loyalty has its privileges. Airlines, hotels and car-rental agencies often bestow repeat customers with complimentary upgrades and ample rewards. While elite status is out of reach for most leisure travelers, racking up miles in your rewards account can still result in some pretty nice perks. Airlines are more protective of frequent fliers when bumping passengers from an overbooked aircraft, and are quicker to offer them inexpensive upgrades when available at check-in. Loyalty pays off even more quickly with car-rental agencies' reward programs. Complete two rentals at Budget, for example, and you're automatically entitled to a 10% discount on all rentals over the next year.
4. Fly all business-class airlines. All business-class airlines like Silverjet and Eos eliminate that competition by offering a whole plane full of roomier seats, enabling the traveler's schedule to take priority. You'll pay significantly less than you would for a business-class or even premium-economy seat on another airline. In peak-demand seasons (such as summer travel to Europe) fares may be just $100 or so higher than economy, well worth the upgrade for more legroom, superior food and other perks. A round-trip flight from New York to London in late July, for example, would be $1,371 on all-business class carrier Eos. The same trip on British Airways is $3,132 for business/club class, and $1,418 for premium economy (the class between economy and business that offers slightly more spacious seats).

Tips & Warnings

• Leisure travelers now take up 25 percent of all business-class seats, according to AirGuideOnline, a travel guide.
• There are all-business class airlines such as Silverjet and Eos.
• Hotel locations may not be convenient to tourist attractions.
• Tickets are sometimes cheaper on online ticket sites.