I seem to have lost the Gold — my Gold frequent-flyer privileges, that is. My airline kindly sent me a letter offering to extend my privileges for only $300 or $500 per month, I forget which. I suspect that they're not going to get many takers, and in fact I think they're foolish to revoke my privileges when I have a long history of extensive travel.
Be that as it may, according to today's Wall Street Journal, I'm in good company. Many corporate travelers now fly coach instead of business class; many others (including myself) use videoconferences instead of travel whenever possible. One of my current projects has participants literally all over the world; we never meet in person and spend most of our time on Skype.
I think airlines don't quite realize that their higher prices — and especially their deliberate nickel-and-diming passengers by charging them for checked bags on the ground and cookies in the air — will result in permanent changes in traveling habits. If I can teach a course in San Francisco and New York without travel costs for me or my students, I have not only saved a chunk of money but I've also save irreplaceable time.
As technology improves, the idea of a "meeting" will continue to separate from the idea of "in person." I think business travel, as measured in meetings or miles per person, will never recover to previous levels.
Topics: · business
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