Guide to Airline Perks for Small Businesses

If you follow media reports of turmoil in the airline industry, you’re probably convinced that airlines don’t have anything to offer the small business owner beyond a cramped seat on an overcrowded flight that might or might not arrive on time.

 Legroom? Forget it! Upgrades? Not a chance. Or so it seems. Although airlines are scrambling to keep from drowning in a sea of red ink, they still recognize that business travelers are their biggest and most consistent source of revenue. Tapping into the benefits that most carriers offer takes effort, but it’s worth it if it means you can: 

   1.      Get frequent flyer miles for pledging your loyalty.
   2.      Benefit from soft dollar programs for small-to mid-size businesses.
   3.      Snag a seat with a little extra legroom.
   4.      Reward your top achievers.
   5.      Convert miles to hotel stays, car rentals, even equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

First, join a couple of airline frequent flyer programs

Loyalty has its rewards. Fly the same one or two airlines often enough and you’ll stack up the miles. Just be sure to choose those carriers that work best for the way YOU travel and then stick with them.

I recommend: Check out airport websites for your primary departure and destination cities---who flies in and out, and how often? Visit the airline websites of the airlines best suited for you and join their frequent flyer programs. Consider a membership in MileageManager for an overview report of your points in each program you’re enrolled in.

Earn even more by tapping into airline “soft dollar” programs

Look into your preferred airlines’ business perks programs specially designed for small-and midsize businesses. Snag free tickets, upgrade certificates, airline club memberships and more. Important note! By enrolling in both a frequent flyer program and a business perks program, you’ll earn point/miles both places.

I recommend: Most airlines offer benefits to business travelers. United Airlines does it through its “PerksPlus” program. Look for Northwest’s BizPerks, Delta’s SkyBonus, American’s Business ExtrAA, Continental’s RewardOne. The discount carriers do it too: check out AirTran’s a2B, Frontier’s Business Travel Program (BTP) and JetBlue’s TrueBlue frequent flyer program.

Use your membership status to get a better seat

There is a definite pecking order when it comes to seat assignments. The more frequent flyer miles you earn each year, the better your chances of getting assigned to a more desirable seat when you fly. An all-knowing computer does the work of putting you in the best available seat, but it never hurts to ask at the gate if something better is available.

I recommend: Know what seats are the best and which ones to avoid---and why. Look for seat information at Seat Expert, Seat Guru, and Love My Seat. Talk it over with other frequent flyers at Flyer Talk. Consider turning your travel management program over to a business travel agency that has sophisticated seat assignment technology. Use the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) site to narrow down your search for a business travel agent. At the NBTA (National Business Travel Association)’s website, look for business travel agencies among the state-by-state list of Allied Members.

Use your points for something besides airline seats

If you can’t score the free seats you want, consider using some of your points to upgrade your office equipment, purchase other merchandise that will benefit your business or buy a membership in an airport club lounge.

I recommend: Look into swapping miles at Points.com. Consider a credit card that offers a wide selection of merchandise, hotel stays and car rentals for miles. Find the locations of your carriers’ airport clubs.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Make sure that your frequent flyer number is recorded on every flight reservation. Check your passenger receipt for the number or ask when you check in. If it’s missing, request that it be added to the computer record.
• Don’t play the field--pledge your loyalty to just one or two airlines that fly where you need to go.
• Calculate the value of your frequent flyer seat to get the most for the points you’ll spend. Don’t waste points on “cheap” seats.
• Keep an eye on program rules and expiration dates. Many airlines are tweaking the terms, and not to your advantage.
• All seats are not created equal; where they are located in the aircraft can make the difference between a comfortable flight and a miserable one. Know what seats are the best and which ones to avoid---and why.
• Points earned in airline business perks programs can be used for free tickets and upgrades. Consider using them to incentify or thank your top achievers.
• Your own airline’s Web site is usually the best place to find current seat configuration information.