The question screens for judgment, cost awareness, and understanding that an executive's time is the most expensive resource, which is central to the EA role in the Philippine corporate setting where travel budgets exist but so do traffic and flight delays.
Explain the factors you would consider: total travel time, connection risk, schedule importance, and cost difference. Then state how you would present the options and your recommendation to the executive.
Start by treating the executive's time as the most expensive item on the itinerary, then weigh that against the actual cash savings. Compare total travel time door to door, not just flight hours, and factor in the real risk of a missed connection, especially in Manila where a short layover at NAIA can easily turn into a five hour wait because of weather or air traffic. Say plainly that you would first check the schedule importance, if the executive has a non negotiable meeting or a client presentation, the direct flight wins even if it costs more, because arriving late damages credibility and costs more in the long run. If the schedule is flexible and the savings are significant, say you would propose the connecting flight but flag the layover duration and the backup options. Then explain that you would never book unilaterally, you would present both options with a clear recommendation and the reasoning, in a short Taglish summary, and let the executive make the final call. This shows you understand that your job is to protect their time, not just the company's peso.
A common mistake is to automatically choose the cheapest option because "makatipid po tayo" without weighing the risk. Employers want to see judgment, so explain the trade-off and recommend based on the executive's priorities.
Situation
When I helped plan a trip for my previous supervisor during an internship, I had to choose between a direct flight to Davao and a connecting flight via Cebu that was significantly cheaper.
Task
I needed to recommend one option that balanced cost with the supervisor's time and energy, because she had a full day of client visits upon arrival.
Action
I compared the total travel time, the risk of delays at the connection, and the supervisor's schedule. The cheaper option saved PHP 2,500 but added four hours of travel and a tight 45-minute connection. I presented both options with a clear recommendation for the direct flight, explaining that the extra cost was worth avoiding the risk of missing the connection.
Result
The supervisor approved the direct flight and arrived on time for all client visits. She later said she appreciated that I considered her time, not just the price.
For an executive, time and reliability often outweigh small savings, but always present the trade-off clearly.
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