trip gain

City Pairs

What is City Pairs?

City pairs are specific routes between two cities that airlines, businesses, and government agencies track for pricing, demand, and availability. These pairs help in negotiating discounted fares, optimizing travel policies, and ensuring efficient route management.

For corporate travel, city pairs play a crucial role in travel expense management. Companies identify the most frequently used city pairs and negotiate corporate rates with airlines to reduce costs. Government agencies, such as in the U.S. General Services Administration’s City Pair Program (CPP), use this system to secure lower fares for official travel.

Understanding city pairs also helps in analyzing route efficiency and availability, ensuring business travelers have access to cost-effective and well-connected flights. This is particularly important for companies managing global travel programs with frequent international and domestic routes.

Examples of City Pairs in Corporate Travel & Expense
1.
Business Travel Contracts
A company negotiates lower airfare rates between New York and London, one of its key city pairs.
2.
Expense Management
An organization tracks spending on flights between San Francisco and Chicago to optimize its travel budget.
3.
Government Travel Savings
The U.S. government pre-negotiates fares between Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles through the City Pair Program (CPP).
Frequently Asked Questions About City Pairs
1.
Why are city pairs important in business travel?
City pairs help companies and organizations manage frequent travel routes, reducing costs through negotiated discounts.
2.
How do airlines use city pairs?
Airlines analyze city pairs to set pricing strategies, adjust route capacity, and offer corporate discounts.
3.
What is the City Pair Program (CPP)?
The City Pair Program is a U.S. government initiative that provides discounted airfare rates for federal employees traveling on official business.
4.
Can businesses create their own city pair agreements?
Yes, corporations can negotiate with airlines to secure lower fares on high-volume routes based on their most traveled city pairs.
5.
How do city pairs impact travel expense management?
Tracking city pairs helps businesses analyze spending patterns and optimize their corporate travel budgets efficiently.