With its new Delta Business Travelers program, US carrier Delta Air Lines is reaffirming its commitment to those who travel for work. Separate from its existing SkyMiles for Business corporate program, the new initiative is targeted at anyone with work-related travel, regardless of company size, and offers perks for the remote worker.
Reaching out to the casual corporate traveler
According to the airline, Delta Business Traveler is a new complimentary offers program that functions alongside the existing SkyMiles and SkyMiles for Business (formerly SkyBonus) programs. Unlike the existing business offering, which requires five employees and at least $5,000 of travel purchases, the new program is designed for small business owners, employees of small to mid-size companies, and individual business travelers.
The program is open to Delta SkyMiles Members who identify as business travelers, including those who work remotely or for startups. The signup process is quite simple and straightforward, with no verification required on behalf of your employer.
There is an official signup page for registering for the program. Once users log in with their SkyMiles account information, the enrollment screen asks a few questions about the employer, and enrollment is completed in one step. Benjamin van der Horst, General Manager, Loyalty Partnerships and SMB Strategy at Delta, noted how the new program adds value for passengers:
“Business travelers of all kinds have come to depend on Delta for not only our service and reliability, but also for the in-flight experience and award-winning service. Now they can unlock even more value when they’re traveling for business, leisure or the perfect combination of both. And, with Industrious, they can unlock even more value wherever they land,”
“If you’ve ever traveled for business, Delta Business Traveler is for you.”
The program will complement SkyMiles for Business, Delta’s travel rewards program in which companies can earn miles for employee business travel on Delta and eligible partner flights, and the BlueBiz program with transatlantic partners Air France and KLM.
What are the benefits?
The program aims to attract and serve business travelers who might not necessarily have a corporate travel arrangement with Delta by offering them perks to encourage airline loyalty. It would appear the perks include both standing and rolling benefits, but all members will receive at a minimum:
- Six months of Hertz Five Star Status and a faster track to President’s Circle Status.
- Three additional bonus miles per dollar spent on Delta Stays and Car Rentals through the end of the year.
- Access to co-working spaces is thanks to the Industrious x Delta Business Traveler Pass, which offers a free month and a discounted ongoing rate of just $99.
“With Delta Business Traveler, Delta is providing even more added value to SkyMiles Members, whether they’re traveling for business or leisure.”
The most significant of these offers could potentially be the discounted access to Industrious’ global network of over 200 premium workplaces for $99 per month. This could benefit freelancers and other remote workers who want to spend additional time at the destination while still completing their work. According to research by Deloitte, one in seven business travelers reported extending their trips to incorporate more personal time at least three times last year.
Once members are enrolled, a whole range of new offers appear. In Simple Flying’s research, these include discounts for CLEAR expedited security, MasterClass, travel insurance, and Indeed job posts. Jamie Hodari, CEO and co-founder of Industrious, highlighted how the new partnership will help those working on the go:
“Business travelers are looking for more than just a flight and a laptop; they want their entire journey to be an experience worth having.
We’re thrilled to partner with Delta Air Lines — the number one airline in business travel 13 years in a row — to offer Delta Business Traveler enrollees a premium workspace experience. Whether they need a place to host meetings for a day or want to extend their stay and get some focused work done, we’ll welcome them at one of our locations.”
To celebrate, Industrious will also host a series of local events in four cities across the United States, and a nationwide happy hour will be held simultaneously at all Industrious locations. Meanwhile, all Delta frequent flyers can still work while in the air thanks to in-seat power and free WiFi for Delta SkyMiles members (coming soon to international routes).
Other major carriers have significant business travel rewards programs. However, this one stands out because there are no minimum company size requirements for joining. American Airlines’ for instance, requires five employees but awards loyalty points to earn status.
Meanwhile, United Airlines offers a United For Buisness Program that is also free to join and provides a range of add-ons and perks based on the customers’ needs.
Source: Simple Flying
