Difference between revisions of "Travel reward programs for businesses"

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{{Page|article|award ticket strategies}}  
 
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{{Image|AABusinessExtra.jpg|full}}  
 
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Many airlines and hotel chains operate special reward programs for businesses. They hope to encourage owners (or travel managers) to encourage their employees to use their airline or hotel. When they do, the employee earns their normal rewards, and the business earns some extra rewards on top.  
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Many airlines and hotel chains operate special reward programs for businesses. They hope to encourage owners (or travel managers) to encourage their employees to use their airline or hotel. When they do, the employee earns their normal rewards and the business earns some extra rewards on top.  
  
If you have any type of small business, you can start signing up for these programs. For some programs, your business doesn't need to be your full-time job, you don't need to have employees, you don't need to incorporate (or have a separate EIN number), and you don't even need to have earned any money yet.  
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If you have any type of small business, you can sign up for some of these programs. For some cases, your business doesn't need to be your full-time job, you don't need to have employees, you don't need to incorporate (or have a separate EIN number), and you don't even need to have earned any money yet.  
  
 
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<blockquote>
By signing up for Small Business Travel Reward Programs you can earn BOTH personal and business rewards for the same flight or hotel stay. You just need to enter your business's membership code, alongside your personal account number, when you make your reservation.</blockquote>  
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By signing up for Small Business Travel Reward Programs you can earn BOTH personal and business rewards for the same flight or hotel stay. You just need to enter your business's membership code, alongside your personal account number, when you make your reservation.
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With some programs, you can add your business code to your frequent flyer account information, so that it is automatically applied on your reservations.
  
 
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{{Label|[//www.alaskaair.com/content/easybiz/business-corporate-travel-tools.aspx Alaska EasyBiz]}}
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To join the program, you need to have spent over $5,000 in the last year on Alaska Airlines flights. You’ll receive an extra frequent flyer mile for every dollar spent on base fares.
  
 
{{Label|[//businessextra.com/ American Airlines Business Extra]}}
 
{{Label|[//businessextra.com/ American Airlines Business Extra]}}
Open to any business. Earn 1 Business Extra point for every $5 you spend on American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia flights, and on some additional flights co-marketed by American. Redeem points for flights, upgrades, status, or club membership. For example, a domestic ticket requires 2,000 Business Extra points in coach, and 3,200 points in Business / First. A one-way international upgrade is 1,200 points from a full-fare ticket, and 3,100 points from a discounted fare.  
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Open to any business. Earn 1 Business Extra point for every $5 you spend on American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Japan Airlines flights, and on some additional flights co-marketed by American. Redeem points for flights, upgrades, status, or club membership. For example, a domestic ticket starts at 2,000 Business Extra points in coach and 3,200 points in Business / First. A one-way international upgrade is 1,200 points from a full-fare ticket and 3,100 points from a discounted fare.  
  
 
{{Label|[//skybonus.delta.com/content/skybonus/corporate/us/en/home.html Delta Airlines SkyBonus]}}
 
{{Label|[//skybonus.delta.com/content/skybonus/corporate/us/en/home.html Delta Airlines SkyBonus]}}
To keep your points, and remain active in the program, you need to spend a minimum of $5,000 on flight purchases, and have 5 unique employee travelers each year. So, this doesn’t work for many smaller businesses.  
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To keep your points and remain active in the program, you need to spend a minimum of $5,000 on flight purchases and have 5 unique employee travelers each year. So, this doesn’t work for many smaller businesses. Businesses earn extra points on Delta, Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, and Virgin Altantic flights.  
  
 
{{Label|[//unitedperksplus.united.com/ United PerksPlus]}}
 
{{Label|[//unitedperksplus.united.com/ United PerksPlus]}}
To join the program, you need to have five employees. You’ll need to spend $25,000 in a year, to start earning points, and then $25,000 each year, to keep your account active.
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Like the Delta program, you need five employees and you'll need to spend at least $5,000 every year to keep your account active. Businesses earn extra points on United, ANA, Austrian, Brussels, Lufthansa, and Swiss.
 
 
{{Label|[//www.alaskaair.com/content/easybiz/business-corporate-travel-tools.aspx Alaska EasyBiz]}}
 
The join the program, you need to have spent over $5,000 in the last year on Alaska Airlines flights. You’ll receive an extra frequent flyer mile for every dollar spent on base fares.
 
  
 
{{Label|[//www.swabiz.com/ Southwest SWABIZ]}}
 
{{Label|[//www.swabiz.com/ Southwest SWABIZ]}}
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{{Label|[//www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/business-travel/corporate-rewards.html Air Canada Corporate Rewards]}}
 
{{Label|[//www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/business-travel/corporate-rewards.html Air Canada Corporate Rewards]}}
 
Open to any business. All employees receive a set of discounts and benefits that depend on the total amount of combined spending per year at Air Canada, as wells as flights to/from Canada with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and SWISS Airlines. The lowest tier is for companies that spend at least $20,000 per year, and gives you up to 2% off flights and 10 eUpgrade credits. The current signup bonus is a 15% discount on your first booking, a one-time pass to a Maple Leaf Lounge, and 5 free meal vouchers.  
 
Open to any business. All employees receive a set of discounts and benefits that depend on the total amount of combined spending per year at Air Canada, as wells as flights to/from Canada with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and SWISS Airlines. The lowest tier is for companies that spend at least $20,000 per year, and gives you up to 2% off flights and 10 eUpgrade credits. The current signup bonus is a 15% discount on your first booking, a one-time pass to a Maple Leaf Lounge, and 5 free meal vouchers.  
 
{{Label|British Airways}}
 
US-based companies need to use American Airline’s program.
 
 
{{Label|Air France}}
 
US-based companies need to use Delta’s program.
 
  
 
{{Label|[//www.virginatlantic.com/us/en/flying-club/flying-co.html Virgin Atlantic Flying Co]}}  
 
{{Label|[//www.virginatlantic.com/us/en/flying-club/flying-co.html Virgin Atlantic Flying Co]}}  

Revision as of 21:16, 8 February 2021

  Award Ticket Strategies

AABusinessExtra.jpg

Many airlines and hotel chains operate special reward programs for businesses. They hope to encourage owners (or travel managers) to encourage their employees to use their airline or hotel. When they do, the employee earns their normal rewards and the business earns some extra rewards on top.

If you have any type of small business, you can sign up for some of these programs. For some cases, your business doesn't need to be your full-time job, you don't need to have employees, you don't need to incorporate (or have a separate EIN number), and you don't even need to have earned any money yet.

By signing up for Small Business Travel Reward Programs you can earn BOTH personal and business rewards for the same flight or hotel stay. You just need to enter your business's membership code, alongside your personal account number, when you make your reservation.

With some programs, you can add your business code to your frequent flyer account information, so that it is automatically applied on your reservations.



Airline programs

American Airlines and JetBlue offer the most useful programs for many very small businesses.

Alaska EasyBiz

To join the program, you need to have spent over $5,000 in the last year on Alaska Airlines flights. You’ll receive an extra frequent flyer mile for every dollar spent on base fares.

American Airlines Business Extra

Open to any business. Earn 1 Business Extra point for every $5 you spend on American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Japan Airlines flights, and on some additional flights co-marketed by American. Redeem points for flights, upgrades, status, or club membership. For example, a domestic ticket starts at 2,000 Business Extra points in coach and 3,200 points in Business / First. A one-way international upgrade is 1,200 points from a full-fare ticket and 3,100 points from a discounted fare.

Delta Airlines SkyBonus

To keep your points and remain active in the program, you need to spend a minimum of $5,000 on flight purchases and have 5 unique employee travelers each year. So, this doesn’t work for many smaller businesses. Businesses earn extra points on Delta, Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, and Virgin Altantic flights.

United PerksPlus

Like the Delta program, you need five employees and you'll need to spend at least $5,000 every year to keep your account active. Businesses earn extra points on United, ANA, Austrian, Brussels, Lufthansa, and Swiss.

Southwest SWABIZ

Open to any business. You don’t get any additional rewards with Southwest’s small business program, but you do get access to some additional promotions targeted towards business travelers.

JetBlue Blue Inc.

Open to any business. Earn 3 JetBlue points per dollar spent. You may also be able to retain the full value of cancelled non-refundable tickets, but we were unable to test whether this benefit is limited to larger accounts.

Air Canada Corporate Rewards

Open to any business. All employees receive a set of discounts and benefits that depend on the total amount of combined spending per year at Air Canada, as wells as flights to/from Canada with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and SWISS Airlines. The lowest tier is for companies that spend at least $20,000 per year, and gives you up to 2% off flights and 10 eUpgrade credits. The current signup bonus is a 15% discount on your first booking, a one-time pass to a Maple Leaf Lounge, and 5 free meal vouchers.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Co

You will need at least two employees to join. The business gets 40% of the normal amount of frequent flyer miles for flights on Virgin Atlantic and Delta.

Hotel programs

SPG Business

Open to “corporate entities”. Automatic corporate preferred benefits for all employees (enhanced room at check-in, 4pm late checkout). 5% discount off the Best Available Rates, although this may not be as good as normal member rates. If you book over 100 nights, you can gift Gold Status to an employee.

Hyatt Company Travel

Open to “corporate entities”. The program is targeted at companies with at least 50 combined stays per year.

HG Business Rewards

Open to everyone. Earns an extra 3 IHG points for each $1 spent. Points are added to your main IHG Rewards club account. Plus you get extended checkout (if you don’t already have it from Gold Status).

Marriott

No separate business program.

Hilton

No separate business program.

Choice

No separate business program.

Best Western Business Advantage

The business gets an extra 10% of the normal number of points. Plus, a 10% discount, automatic Diamond elite-level status for you, automatic Gold elite status for employees, and a free membership to Tripit Pro (after your first stay).




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