Segment
What is a Segment?
A segment is a portion of a travel itinerary that represents a single trip leg, such as a flight, train ride, or rental car booking between two locations. For example, a round-trip flight with a layover consists of four segments—one for each individual flight leg.
In corporate travel management, tracking segments helps monitor travel costs, enforce policies, and optimize bookings. Travel agencies, online booking tools (OBTs), and global distribution systems (GDS) use segments to calculate pricing, fare structures, and reporting metrics for business travel.
Travelers booking multi-city trips or complex itineraries often have multiple segments, each impacting total fare, loyalty program miles, and change or cancellation policies.
Examples Of Segment Usage
1.
Single Flight
A One-Way Flight From New York To London Is Considered A Single Segment.
2.
Round-Trip With Layover
A Round-Trip Itinerary From San Francisco To Paris With A Layover In Chicago Includes Four Flight Segments.
3.
Corporate Policy
A Corporate Travel Policy Limits Employees To No More Than Three Flight Segments Per Trip To Optimize Travel Efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Segment
1.
What is considered a segment in airline travel?
A segment is one continuous trip between two points, such as a non-stop flight or a train ride between cities.
2.
How do segments affect airline pricing?
Fares are often calculated per segment, meaning more segments can lead to higher costs due to taxes, fees, and fare rules.
3.
Do loyalty programs reward miles based on segments?
Yes, frequent flyer programs often award miles based on the number of segments flown, distance traveled, or fare class.
4.
Are connections and layovers counted as separate segments?
Yes, each takeoff and landing counts as a new segment, even if they are part of the same journey.
5.
How do travel managers use segments in corporate travel?
Companies track segments to analyze travel spending, enforce policy compliance, and optimize travel planning for employees.