Lehigh business travelers are enjoying a better experience when booking travel with the arrival of Lightning - the user friendly online booking system powered by our partner Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP).
Why Lightning?
Purchasing Services, which manages Lehigh’s travel program, heard from many in our community that when booking travel, they want to be able to reserve flights, hotels, car rentals, and rail in a central booking platform and a booking experience comparable to commercial tools like Expedia. With integrated content from multiple sources, including low-cost carriers and last-minute hotel inventory, Lightning allows travelers and travel arrangers to quickly view, compare, and book the widest selection of options at the best rates in one place.
With Lightning, you can customize travel options so your preferences are prioritized in the search results. For added convenience, Lightning will also ensure that your selections comply with the University’s travel policy through built-in controls.
Adopting Lightning advances our goal of creating an organization of the future at Lehigh through superior technology solutions and process improvements.
The many features and benefits that set Lightning apart as a superior booking tool include:
- User-Friendly Interface: Enjoy a simplified, streamlined booking process that makes it easier to find flights, accommodations, and car rentals.
- Small Group Bookings: Arrange travel for up to 9 travelers on one reservation. Easily use different forms of payments during the process.
- CTP Mobile App: The app enables busy travelers and arrangers to book and manage travel while on the go. Access destination information, including maps, weather, currency, and more.
- Unlocked NDC Content: Special New Distribution Content (NDC) will save travelers money through dynamic pricing based on real-time data.
- Choosing Multiple Airlines: Arrange round trip travel with different airlines to meet your schedule or budget requirements.
- Recognition of Loyalty and Airline Status: Keep your airline status in your profile and easily get your status perks and upgrades while traveling.
- Saving Recent Searches: You won’t lose your travel search history if you need to walk away from your computer. With Lightning you can comfortably resume where you left off.
- Interactive Seat Maps: Easily choose your seat or pay for an upgraded seat. Lighting will also notify you of other Lehigh travelers on your flight and where they are sitting.
- Making Greener Choices: CTP partners with RDC Aviation to share carbon emissions estimates by cabin class in Lightning. Car rental search results can be sorted by carbon footprint.
More features are on the horizon as well. Stay tuned for an update on new options for international travel and more.
Lightning Resources
Lightning is easy to use. To help you get acquainted, the team in Purchasing Services created a page of resources on their website that includes FAQs, a user guide and more. Visit the Lightning landing page here. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just need occasional bookings, these resources will ensure you’re comfortable with the new system. Should you have questions, contact the travel team at intrvl@lehigh.edu.