Pros of company booking the travel is that the company can likely save a few dollars. Cons of company booking travel is that some of your consultants may find other employment.

As a (mostly) traveling consultant since ’99, I’ve experienced different travel policies. For years I would leave home on Sunday and return either on Thursday (if on travel to the Midwest) or Friday (west coast travel) night. Other than vacation, I was on the road. From 1999 until late 2001, I was an employee of a consulting firm. Since then, I’ve been independent, usually subcontracting for a consulting company.

One company I worked for booked travel through an agency. They had a simple policy to follow. Find the cheapest ticket. I had to fly on airlines I had no status with because my preferred carrier was $30 more for a flight to the Midwest. Worse, I had to switch airlines in Denver. How much help was I likely to get from Airline2 if Airline1 was late to arrive?

Would I work for that company again? Absolutely. But not likely if I had another option.

If booking my own business travel, do I always fly my preferred airline? Not if they’re too expensive for the flight. My rule is simple. If I were paying for the flight / hotel / rental car myself, would I pay the difference to deal with a preferred vendor? If so, book it.

What time do I leave for the airport on Sunday? As early as needed to catch a flight that gets me to my destination city in time for dinner and an early bed time. What about my consultant friends? Some of them catch the last possibly flight to maximize their weekend family time. It’s all a matter of individual preferences.

I prefer having the ability to make my own travel arrangements. I’ve never met a consultant that prefers letting their company choose for them.