Your questions about group travel booking answered

Have you been tasked with booking the upcoming corporate travel experience? Or perhaps you’re in charge of next year’s international school trip?

Whatever the reason for the big getaway, the thought of handling travel arrangements for more than four people can be stressful. You've got to manage group flights, accommodation and itineraries, all while juggling the budget, health and safety concerns and dietary requirements. 

Let’s face it, that’s enough to make even the most organised among us break a sweat. 

So, if you've found yourself in this situation, you might be thinking about the best way to manage group travel and the simplest way to book group flights. 

To help you get started, we’ve asked our team of experts to answer some of the most common questions around group travel booking and how to make planning your getaway as seamless as possible. 

1. What is considered a group booking?

Although there is no hard and fast rule about this, group travel is generally considered to be a group of 10 or more people under the same booking and heading to the same destination. Of course, this may vary slightly depending on the nature of the trip and which providers you are using.

2. What are the biggest challenges of group travel?

Planning a group trip is not without its challenges and it can be stressful as it requires you to coordinate lots of different people and aspects of the trip.

Travelling in a group can limit your flexibility and make it harder to change plans at the last minute. It also requires a lot of coordination and compromise in order to accommodate everyone's preferences, schedules and unique requirements. 

That is why we always recommend working with flight consolidators and group travel agents to help streamline the process and make this easier.

3. Can I book flights as a group?

Of course, you can. Group flight booking is becoming increasingly popular and is the best way to manage bigger trips without having to try and book a large number of individuals onto the same flight one at a time.

4. Does the rule of 10 include group air travel?

Yes, the rule of 10 also applies to group air travel too and most group travel agents or flight consolidators will expect 10 or more passengers when making a group flight booking. 

That’s not to say you can’t use a group flight specialist for a slightly smaller group, you’ll just need to speak to your chosen company to see what they offer.

5. Do group travel bookings get special discounts?  

Travel providers and airlines don't necessarily offer a special discount for groups, however, they do offer the assurance that each member of the group will pay the same amount and that their space is guaranteed. 

That being said, flight consolidators and travel agents dedicate their time to forming strong relationships with these travel companies and providers. That way, they can secure you the best possible fares for your trip, even if they don’t technically offer a group discount.

6. Is it better to book flights as a group?

If you’re planning a trip with a larger group of people it is advisable to book group flights as this can make the process much simpler and far less stressful for yourself.

Sure, you don't have to rely on a flight consolidator, but if you choose to work with a flight specialist like BTG Travel, you’ll get the added bonus and support of an industry expert. They can offer you tips and advice, as well as manage the administration and booking process for you.

7. What would you say to someone debating between working with a flight consolidator and going it alone?

As we’ve said, you don’t have to use a group travel agent or flight specialist when planning and booking your trip. 

However, we would say that if you're hoping to negotiate rates and book every aspect of your trip individually, you need to be prepared to put the hours in. 

While some aspects of the trip may be easier to arrange (such as accommodation big enough for the group) other aspects like group flight booking are much trickier. If you choose to go it alone, there is no guarantee that you will get all travellers from your group on the same flight and it’s much harder to make changes to your booking. 

Although we recommend that you go with what feels best for you and your group, this does come with increased risks. 

So, if you want to plan a school trip, corporate getaway or any other big travel experience, we suggest working with expert providers. This makes planning the trip much more manageable and can make the whole experience far more enjoyable. 8. Ensure a high staff-to-student ratio

Do you want to know more?

If you’d like to know more about group travel and booking group flights, get in touch with the team at BTG Travel Management today. You can speak with one of our dedicated group travel advisors to get your travel planning underway as soon as possible.