The recent Traxo webinar focused on the sweeping changes to American Airlines' loyalty program changes occuring on July 11th, 2024, and their broader implications for corporate travel, from compliance to risk management and employee satisfaction.
The session began with a discussion of the new timeline for American Airlines' loyalty program updates, now postponed to July 11 versus the initial May 1 date. This extension provides corporate travel managers extra time to adapt, a central theme of the webinar. The panelists explored the likely impacts on mile accumulation for travelers and strategic adjustments needed for travel managers.
The webinar made one thing very clear—without an AA Corporate Contract or a preferred agency status, employees will NOT earn miles on bookings made through your TMC. Plus, employees booking through non-NDC channels spend more on travel 52% of the time, averaging $128 more per booking!
To ensure employees retain their ability to accumulate miles, travel managers without a corporate contract or preferred agency need to:
Expanding beyond American Airlines, the conversation addressed broader airline retail and distribution trends, noting the essential role of proactive and adaptable corporate travel policies. The changing role of Travel Management Companies (TMCs) was also a focal point, underscoring the need for TMCs to evolve services to remain valuable in the changing ecosystem.
Audience engagement added a dynamic element to the webinar. Participants asked about integrating airline policies into corporate travel plans and their effects on booking behaviors. These interactions underscored the relevance and urgency of the topics discussed.
The end of the discussion was focused on the likelihood of increased direct bookings due to American Airlines' aggressive messaging. Aash Shravah highlighted strategies that travel managers could employ to manage this shift, including Traxo, for better visibility and control over travel management processes.
Travel management teams eager to prepare for American Airlines' impending loyalty program changes and provide their traveling employees with greater flexibility have a rare opportunity to try Traxo in a 60-day, no-obligation trial. To get started with your own trial, fill out the form below.