Saving Money on Travel Expenses for Business ? Scott on MONEY

Most people don?t enjoy air travel as much as they used to. The many lines are long and stressful, as are the frequent delays caused by increased airport security screenings in the wake of 9/11. And getting searched is no treat, either. Then there is the actual flight to contend with, complete with less leg room as airlines attempt to cram as many seats as possible onto every plane in order to maximize revenue. Of course, there is also the cost to consider. Not only are ticket prices higher than ever, but you now get charged all kinds of fees for baggage, food, and anything else they can think to nickel and dime you for (some airlines even charge for carry-on bags now). Although you might not be able to get around the lines and the fact that your knees are practically pushed to your chest from the limited leg room, there are definitely ways that you can at least cut back on the cost of travel, which is a great relief when you find that you?re forced into it for business reasons.

One of the best ways to save money is by planning ahead. And while your line of business may require you to frequently hop on planes at the last minute, you should have some leeway with planned events like conferences, trade shows, and so on. By purchasing airline tickets and booking lodgings in advance you can bide your time in order to take advantage of sale weekends (like holidays) and you can receive notifications when prices drop to within set parameters. You?ll also have access to a plethora of available options, including those that are priced low, whereas travelers that wait until the last minute will nearly always find themselves paying a higher price because the cheaper fare has already been snapped up.

Another great way to save is to avoid as many fees as possible. Some (like TSA fees) are unavoidable, but if you can find ways to pack light and carry items on with you, you might be able to defer some of the luggage fees at the very least. Consider, for example, Scottevest. The jackets made by this company have pockets to house every gadget imaginable, and they often feature more than a dozen such pouches. You can store all of your electronics in your coat going through security (simply run it through the scanner without having to paw through your bag looking for mobile devices) and there are even clear, plastic panels that allow you to control the touchscreens on your tablet, MP3 player, or cell phone. Some also feature pockets large enough to house a change of clothes, including an extra pair of shoes. This is a great way to save some space in your luggage and get through security expediently.

When you travel for business you want to pay as little out-of-pocket as possible, even if your company will reimburse you for it. So you might have to do some checking to see if it?s more cost effective to park your car for a few days or hire car service to JFK airport, and you may need to frequent several travel sites in order to determine which can offer you the best price on airfare. But with a little legwork you?ll see that there are tons of ways to save on business travel. All you have to do is decide whether or not it?s worth trading your time for the money.

Tagged as: business, expenses, flying, saving money, travel

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