This week on Mileage May Vary, we dive into the trends, transformations, and policies shaping the future of business travel. From greener loyalty rewards to American Airlines' path to corporate recovery, we cover it all. Key Topics:

Business Travel Trends for 2025

• Greener choices rewarded with loyalty points for eco-friendly travel decisions.
• Decline in blended business and leisure trips due to duty-of-care concerns.
• AI's growing role in travel planning and its implications for TMCs.
• Focus on sustainable destinations, eco-certified hotels, and green transport.
• Challenges for extended stays in certain cities amid local pushback.
• Virtual reality enhancing pre-booking experiences.
• The Middle East’s rise as a business travel hotspot.
• Surge in Monday-night hotel bookings due to hybrid work patterns.
• Introduction of all-inclusive trip management fees.
• Hyper-personalised in-flight entertainment for travellers.

American Airlines' Corporate Business Recovery

• Strategic pivot from NDC-exclusive bookings back to legacy GDSs.
• 30 new corporate travel agency agreements with tailored incentives.
• 8% year-over-year increase in Q4 corporate travel revenue.
• Efforts to rebuild trust and secure long-term partnerships with affected clients.

'X' Gender Passports and Policy Shifts

• Trump executive order eliminates "X" as a gender option on U.S. passports.
• Concerns for existing passport holders and broader implications for inclusivity.
• Impact on international travel for non-binary and third-gender individuals.

U.K. ETA Fee Hike

• U.K.’s ETA cost may increase from £10 to £16, affecting travellers from 54 countries.
• Projected an additional £269M annually raises concerns from IATA about potential tourism decline.
• ETA allows multiple U.K. trips for up to six months within a two-year period.

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