by Shauna Burns – Managing Director
Airline pricing and technology are changing faster than ever. Dynamic pricing and NDC have created more options, but also more confusion. Here’s how we at Beyond Business Travel help clients cut through the noise, keep costs predictable, and make travel planning simple again…
The world of corporate travel has always been fast-moving, but lately it’s felt like someone’s hit fast forward.
Airlines are adopting dynamic pricing strategies and rolling out New Distribution Capability (NDC), and it’s changing the landscape faster than most businesses can keep up.
Prices that once stayed steady long enough to make a decision now move in real time. Flight content that used to be simple is now spread across multiple channels. For travel managers and finance teams, it can feel like trying to play chess on a board where the pieces just won’t sit still.
That’s where we come in. At Beyond Business Travel, our job is to make sense of it all, to remove the complexity and bring clarity, control and cost efficiency back to business travel.
The Challenge of Dynamic Pricing
Airlines now behave more like online retailers than ever before. Seat prices can shift constantly depending on demand, when you book, how popular the route is, and even what competitors are doing at that moment.
From an airline’s perspective, it’s smart business. But for companies trying to plan and budget, it’s tricky. Forecasting travel spend becomes harder, and travellers often find the same journey priced very differently from one week to the next.
If this isn’t managed properly, frustration creeps in fast. Finance teams lose sight of total spend, travellers start questioning the value of managed programmes, and travel managers end up firefighting daily price changes instead of focusing on strategy.
So what exactly is NDC?
NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an airline technology that allows carriers to offer richer, more tailored content directly to travel buyers. Think of it as a new way for airlines to showcase bundled fares, upgrades or extras that don’t always appear in traditional booking systems.
It’s a great step forward in personalisation, but like any big change, it brings a few challenges too. Many airlines are now prioritising their best content through NDC channels rather than the traditional global distribution systems (GDS).
That means if your business isn’t set up to access NDC content, you could easily miss out on exclusive fares, bundles or ancillaries. And because every airline is moving at a different pace, the experience can feel uneven. Some charge more outside NDC, and integration with booking tools isn’t always smooth.
For companies trying to handle this on their own, it can feel chaotic and time consuming.
How to bring order to all this chaos?
At Beyond Business Travel, we act as both negotiator and strategist for our clients. We manage the impact of dynamic pricing and NDC on your behalf, so you don’t have to wrestle with the detail.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Expert Monitoring: We track fare changes and trends daily, helping clients secure the best value while avoiding unnecessary spend.
- NDC Integration: We open access to the full range of fares and content, including NDC exclusive offers, so travellers get choice and companies get value.
- Policy Alignment: We make sure your dynamic pricing approach works hand in hand with your travel policy, keeping budgets under control without compromising traveller experience.
- Data Transparency: Clear, easy to read reporting gives finance teams full confidence in what’s being spent and why.
What a the real benefits for clients?
The outcome? Clarity.
Businesses can plan and budget with confidence, travellers can book without stress, and managers can finally focus on strategy instead of chasing fares.
When we manage the moving parts, our clients see the difference:
- Cost Control: Dynamic pricing turns from a budgeting headache into a savings opportunity.
- Better Traveller Experience: NDC content gives employees more choice and flexibility.
- Reduced Complexity: We take on the operational load so your teams don’t have to.
- Strategic Advantage: With clarity comes foresight, helping you plan smarter and stay ahead.
The travel industry isn’t slowing down, if anything, it’s becoming more dynamic. But chaos doesn’t have to be the default.
With the right travel partner, shifting prices and new technology can actually work in your favour. At Beyond Business Travel, we help you move from chaos to clarity, your travel management from cost centre headache to a genuine business asset that is simpler and better for everyone involved.