Difference between revisions of "Travel reward programs for businesses"
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Revision as of 20:16, 6 February 2021
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.
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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Airline programs
American Airlines and JetBlue offer the most useful programs for many very small businesses.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| British Airways |
US-based companies need to use American Airline’s program. |
| Air France |
US-based companies need to use Delta’s program. |
| 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). |
