Admin Overwhelms Business Travellers, Study Finds

Travel admin is draining productivity. Discover how simpler systems and smarter tools can reduce friction and help employees focus on what matters.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of business travellers feel overwhelmed by travel admin, new research conducted in January 2026 by Opinium for Trainline Business has found.

Opinium surveyed 1,000 UK employees between January 8 and January 13 who travelled for work outside of their usual commute.

The findings highlight how outdated tools are leading to inefficient booking behaviours which slow down day-to-day work and undermine productivity.

Two-fifths (40%) of business travellers gravitate towards familiar booking choices, even when they are not the most efficient, while 62% feel they spend too long comparing travel options.

This disrupts workflows and diverts attention from core tasks - almost six in ten (58%) admit travel planning diverts focus away from their day-to-day work. 

Nearly four in ten (39%) say having one trusted platform would reduce friction, while 35% want a simpler system that is more convenient to use. Three in ten (30%) say fewer steps in the booking journey would make a meaningful difference.

Improved guidance would be beneficial, with over two-thirds (67%) agreeing they would make quicker decisions if their company’s travel booking system provided clearer recommendations.

One-third (33%) of travellers say having a single platform with clear guidance and centralised information would free up time to focus on revenue-generating work.

Commenting on the research, Richard Ware, Meon’s Head of Corporate Sales, said: “Business travellers need simpler journeys, not more friction. When booking tools are clunky or fragmented, travel admin becomes a real drag on productivity. The industry has a responsibility to make business travel easier by bringing content, policy and guidance together in one trusted platform. Done properly, that doesn’t just improve the traveller experience — it helps organisations stay compliant, control costs and keep their people focused. on the work that drives growth.”

Find out how Meon can help you streamline your travel processes.