How to Manage Unused Flight Tickets in Corporate Travel
A SAP Concur blog post notes that industry research shows organizations lose as much as 10% of their annual travel budget on unused tickets. The article analyzes two common scenarios—airline cancellations and business changes—and recommends advance notice requirements, regular travel reviews, detailed change logs, and continuous tracking of ticket expiration dates. It also suggests working with a travel management company (TMC) or using a corporate card program to track unused tickets and refund opportunities, and emphasizes that automation technology can help with refund recovery, compliance, and reducing administrative costs.
Impact and considerations
Unused tickets can cause budget losses of up to 10% of annual travel budgets, posing a material financial impact on corporate travel cost control. The management framework and TMC partnership recommendations in the article can help organizations reduce losses and improve employee experience.
Key points
- Industry research shows organizations lose as much as 10% of their annual travel budget on unused tickets.
- When airlines cancel flights due to weather, strikes, or plane maintenance, they are required to issue refunds, and travelers are entitled to a rescheduled flight or other compensation.
- Ticket changes due to business reasons such as meeting cancellations or employee departures are trickier and may require more careful management of flight credits or refunds.
- The article recommends advance notice requirements, regular travel reviews, detailed change logs, and continuous tracking of ticket expiration dates.
- Maintaining good relationships with airlines can help secure favorable terms when issues arise.
- The article suggests prioritizing flexible fares and studying what is refundable and what is not.
- Working with a travel management company (TMC) or using a corporate card program can help pinpoint unused tickets and refund opportunities.
- Automation technology can help with refund recovery, compliance, and reducing administrative costs while improving employee experience and strengthening duty of care.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- SAP Concur
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 4 Feb 2025, 21:01
- Page published
- 14 Aug 2026, 08:10
- Last updated
- 4 Feb 2025, 21:01
- Original links
- SAP Concur Blog：How to Manage Unused Flight Tickets in Corporate Travel (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 4 Feb 2025, 21:01