CORPORATE TRAVEL
Corporate Travel Policy: When to Use It a bus instead of a plane.
Determine the distances and scenarios in which it makes sense to transport your team by executive bus, so that your travel policy can reduce costs without sacrificing employee time.
THE DILEMMA
Not every short distance justifies a flight
When the door-to-door travel time is similar, the cost and flexibility of the executive bus usually make it a better option than flying for short- and medium-distance trips between well-connected cities.
| Criterion | Executive Bus | Airplane |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended distance | Up to ~6–8 hours of travel time | Long trips or trips without a direct land connection |
| Door-to-door time | No airport transfers or boarding wait times | Includes transportation, check-in, and additional waiting time |
| Cost per trip | Generally lower on short and medium-length routes | Higher, especially for last-minute bookings |
| Flexible schedules | Frequent outings during the day | Fixed schedules, subject to flight availability |
| Working on the Commute | Business-class seats, Wi-Fi on several airlines | Restricted during takeoff/landing |
HOW TO DECIDE
Two Typical Travel Policy Scenarios
Take the executive bus when…
- The destination is less than 6–8 hours away by car
- Several colleagues are traveling together to the same destination
- The date is flexible, and you're looking to keep costs down
- There is no airport near the origin or destination
Take a plane when…
- The destination is more than 8 hours away by car
- The trip is for a single employee with a very tight schedule
- There is no reasonable direct land connection
- An employee's time is more important than the cost of travel
Are you developing your company's travel policy?
Tell your advisor about your frequent routes, and they'll help you decide when it's better to take the bus and when to fly.