Every travel manager has heard it: “I found it cheaper on Expedia.” “This hotel was less on Booking.com.” “The airfare was lower directly on the airline site.” At first glance, these claims may seem like solid cost-saving wins. But the truth is, in corporate travel, cheaper is not always better.
Let’s unpack the reality behind these “deals” and why booking through your managed travel program with Atlas Travel isn’t just about convenience; it’s about value, safety and long-term savings.
The Problem with Basic Economy & Low-Cost Carriers
When a traveler says they found a cheaper airfare, it’s often a Basic Economy ticket with the lowest fare class and the highest risk. These tickets may save you a few dollars upfront, but they come with serious trade-offs: no seat selection, no flexibility, no carry-on or checked bag and you’re the first to get bumped if a flight is oversold. Basic Economy fares are almost always a poor fit for business travel, which is why many of our clients proactively block them from being booked altogether.
Airlines like Frontier, Breeze and Spirit operate entirely on Basic Economy-like models. Their fares are stripped down to the bare minimum, often leaving travelers to pay out of pocket for essentials like seat assignments, carry-ons or even speaking to a representative. For business travelers, this lack of flexibility and support can quickly become a logistical nightmare.
The Fine Print of Online Booking Sites
Yes, sites like Expedia, Travelocity and Booking.com sometimes show lower hotel or flight rates. But these are typically “opaque” or non-refundable rates that come with strings attached, meaning no loyalty points, no flexibility to cancel/modify and limited support if something goes wrong.
Booking through third-party sites also means Atlas Travel won’t have access to your reservation. That’s a big deal. If there’s an emergency, such as a natural disaster or even just a missed check-in, your company may have no idea where you are. That’s not just a service gap, it’s a Duty of Care risk.
Meanwhile, if something goes wrong with a booking made through Atlas Travel, you have a dedicated team of agents who know your policies and your preferences. If something goes wrong with a booking made through an online travel site, you’re likely stuck on hold with a call center across the globe.
Lost Savings, Lost Leverage
Here’s something else to consider: travelers often see a lower rate initially on consumer sites, but once they click through to the final price, it jumps. Taxes, fees and surcharges often make the total cost equal to (or even more than) what Atlas Travel quoted from the start.
It’s also worth noting that when booking outside of Atlas Travel, your company loses visibility and that directly impacts your ability to negotiate discounts. Every trip counts toward your volume, which means the more spend you can centralize through your travel program, the more leverage your company has in supplier negotiations.
In the end, what seems like a cheaper option at first often costs more in the long run in flexibility, support, traveler safety and lost opportunities to drive savings through a managed program. At Atlas Travel, we don’t just book trips. We protect travelers, optimize spend and provide value beyond the ticket price.
Want to learn more about the benefits of partnering with Atlas Travel? Reach out to our team to explore how a managed travel program can support your goals and deliver long-term value.
