GOING PLACES
IN BRIEF
INNOVATION OF
THE DECADE
Business travellers have
declared online check-in
as the ‘innovation of the
decade’, according to a
survey by the Business
Travel & Meetings Show.
Hailed for immeasurably
improving business travel in
the last 10 years, online
check-in was followed by
Wi-Fi, flat beds, notebooks
and the Eurostar.
Work, don’t drive
GATWICK’S NEW LOUNGE
Virgin Atlantic has
re-launched its lounge for
upper class passengers
at Gatwick Airport, with
luxurious key features
Chauffeur-driven cars may be seen as a bit of luxury, particularly given the sorry
including a Cowshed Spa,
entertainment lounge with
state of the economy, but there’s a very good reason why PAs should be looking
Wii consoles and a new
internal rock garden.
at these services
AER LINGUS CUTS
Poor demand has prompted
Rewind five years ago and many high level PAs were won’t need to make more than one booking. A chauffeur
Aer Lingus to make cuts to
its London services – which
booking private jets on a regular basis. Previously the will work on your timetable and to your orders – making
are due to be implemented
domain of rock stars and millionaires, PAs had cottoned even complex routes and schedules effortless. from the end of March. Its
onto the business benefits of hiring your own personal The ability to work comfortably from the back of the
Gatwick-based fleet of
Airbus A320s will be cut
plane when needed. Chauffeurs can offer many of those car rates highly with professionals, who value the oppor-
from five to three, which
same benefits – but with a significantly smaller price tag. tunity to ensure travelling does not disturb their busy day. will continue to service
Chauffeur services are discreet, exceptionally well-run
existing routes as well as a
Consider the convenience
new Cork route.
and above all will ensure your boss arrives safely, on time
When it comes to convenience a trip in a chauffeur-driven and with the minimum of fuss – making you look good. BUDGET BUSTING
car beats a cramped train or flight hands down. For a solo
Love it or hate it budget-
conscious travellers helped
traveller there’s plenty of room to spread out with work Cost comparisons
Ryanair grow by 13% last
files or a laptop and use the journey time to keep on top of And while budget-conscious PAs may be cringing at the year. The no-frills carrier
your workload. Plus the door-to-door service means you thought of booking such a service, it may not be as
even set a new monthly
record in July, when it
can cut out the cost of getting to and from the airport or expensive as you presume – particularly if you’re book-
carried over six million
train station and the time that will take. And if you want to ing a car for four people, who all need to be picked up passengers for the first time
be picked up and dropped off at different destinations you from different locations but are travelling to the same
– and they continued to
repeat this record every
event. A chauffeur can also help to create the right
month until October.
impression if your boss is heading to meet a new client
THE PRICE IS RIGHT:
and it will certainly give your boss a boost to their self
APD INCREASE
November’s increase in
confidence that just isn’t available on the number 66 bus.
Air Passenger Duty has,
London to Birmingham return, approx guide to prices:
As a PA you can dramatically reduce your workload unsurprisingly, been
unpopular with business
Economy flight: £180
with one phone call. Booking a chauffeur is simple and
travellers – with 57% saying
you can entrust your boss into your chosen company’s
Business class flight: £1,200
it’s unfair (source: Business
capable hands. Booking a rail or plane ticket, on the other Travel & Meetings Show).
First class rail: £90
hand, may mean interruptions to your day when your
The majority (87%) say
they’re ‘strongly opposed’
Chauffeur service, up to 4 people: £440 boss calls to report delays and so needs to change a meet-
to the next increase, due
* prices will vary throughout the year and with different providers
ing, or when they miss a connecting flight and need you to November this year.
organise an alternative flight.
E
26 » www.executivepa.com » Feb/Mar 2010
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