Today, Delta has announced the launch of Delta Business Traveler, described as the first time that a US airline has launched a dedicated program for all business travelers, regardless of the company’s size or relationship with Delta.
Sounds exciting, eh? When I first heard about this, I was intrigued. While most US airlines have business rewards programs, they generally have some minimum size and revenue requirements. Well, unfortunately you’re going to want to manage your expectations here…
In this post:
How the Delta Business Traveler program works
Delta Business Traveler is described as a program providing even more added value for SkyMiles members, whether traveling for business or leisure. It’s free to join, though as of now is only open to residents of the United States.
So, what are the perks of joining Delta Business Traveler?
- You can enroll to receive six months of complimentary Hertz Five Star status, plus have a fast track to President’s Circle status
- You can receive a free trial and discounted $99 monthly rate from Industrious, to use the company’s coworking spaces around the world
- You receive an additional three bonus miles per dollar spent when booking hotels and rental cars through Delta’s platform, assuming they’re completed by December 31, 2024
That’s the extent of the Delta Business Traveler program, at least in its current form. Here’s how Delta’s General Manager of Loyalty Partnerships and SMB Strategy, describes this development:
“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. If you’ve ever traveled for business, Delta Business Traveler is for you.”
This program is run separately from the SkyMiles for Business program, which offers additional rewards for eligible travelers. The tier of the program that offers bonus rewards requires having at least five travelers and at least $5,000 in annual Delta spending.
Is anyone impressed by this “program?”
To Delta’s credit, joining the program is free, and nothing is being taken away from anyone. I also kind of respect the fact that Delta is continuing to try to signal the importance of business travel, given the mess American has gotten itself into with its hostile approach to business travel.
However, that’s honestly the only good thing I can say here. This program essentially offers three perks, none of which are unique, compelling, or will have wide appeal:
- Great, you can earn more bonus miles when booking hotels and rentals cars through Delta’s platforms, but that’s rarely the most efficient way to book anyway; on top of that, this is only valid through the end of the year
- There are endless opportunities to get status with Hertz, and if you’re a frequent traveler, odds are that you already have access to many of these
- If you’re looking for a coworking space, perhaps the Industrious membership will interest some, but this is more a cross-marketing opportunity than anything else
Like I said, nothing is being taken away here, though it seems a bit much to launch a program around these few benefits, and claim that this has “tailored offers for every kind of business flier,” and heck, that this is “a dedicated program for all business travelers.”
Bottom line
Delta Business Traveler is marketed as the first program of any US airline targeted at all business travelers. However, there’s not much to this program at all. You can temporarily earn bonus miles when (inefficiently) booking hotels and rental cars through Delta, you can get Hertz status for a limited time, and you can get a discounted coworking membership.
What do you make of Delta Business Traveler?
So it offers you a rental car that could get you arrested and points that have less value than the North Korean Won. That's some premium stuff right there.
Delta thinks quite highly of themselves to offer such a weak program. I guess they must've forgotten about the debacle from last month.
This might be the 'big news' that Delta was teasing in emails before CrowdStrike period and during CrowdStrike said they are postponing. It is such a nothingburger that no one will notice it whenever it is launched nor would anyone have been offended if they had launched during CrowdStrike. It might get me to TPG to see what puff piece Delta's skillful PR team coaxed out of them.
I would be happy with a premium snack or two. How much is that? Nothing they offer has any appeal to me
nothing special
Delta has stated to believe it's own bullshit!
Started?? Have you seen their frequent flyer program?
They ask 2.5 times the redemption rate of Emirates and Singapore's first class, for their (Delta's) business class redemption from New York and Los Angeles (respectively) to Australia. If that's not getting-high-on-their-own-supply, then I don't know what is!
Wow! All those potential bonus miles would have sure (not) been useful on my latest flight from Barcelona when Delta wanted to charge me 325,000 miles for a one way ticket in business to ATL. I used Air Canada Aeroplan points instead on UA, 70,000 points with a change of plane at EWR. I'm Atlanta based but avoid Delta like the plague.
This is genius and the Delta team that came up with this deserves bonuses, raises, and promotions.
Simply put, the audience of this blog is not the target audience. Serious business travelers are the target audience. Serious business travelers cannot care less about getting the most out of miles and points. This program is a brand marketing play more than anything. It instills the Delta brand as a business brand in businesspeople. That's genius.
I'll...
This is genius and the Delta team that came up with this deserves bonuses, raises, and promotions.
Simply put, the audience of this blog is not the target audience. Serious business travelers are the target audience. Serious business travelers cannot care less about getting the most out of miles and points. This program is a brand marketing play more than anything. It instills the Delta brand as a business brand in businesspeople. That's genius.
I'll say the Industrious membership is very worthwhile to early stage companies. I used to think this was a gimmick until I got involved in the business world myself.
Early stage businesspeople work 24/7 to develop their business and make their dream come true. There's no time left over to worry about whether they're earning points in the most efficient way. This program comes at no expense to leisure travelers.
And if you're traveling for business to close a deal that will earn you $1M cash, I bet you're more than happy to lose the 10,000 points you could have earned by studying an airline program for 1 extra hour (which is 1 hour that you weren't working on your business).
You don't speak for all entrepreneurs, and your hyperbole sounds absolutely silly and obnoxious. Miles are a perk that are important value - both for facilitating additional business trips, as well as for the all-important getaways many need for a break from the intensive hours it takes to start-up and manage an SMB.
As you said it's a brand ploy. And any "serious business traveler" like you reference will see it exactly as that...I...
You don't speak for all entrepreneurs, and your hyperbole sounds absolutely silly and obnoxious. Miles are a perk that are important value - both for facilitating additional business trips, as well as for the all-important getaways many need for a break from the intensive hours it takes to start-up and manage an SMB.
As you said it's a brand ploy. And any "serious business traveler" like you reference will see it exactly as that...I have more important things to do than to fall for marketing gimmicks.
I look forward to reading your much less silly and obnoxious hyperbole on your own blog. Although there's little to draw me in at present, I appreciate that Lucky/Ben has provided this information.
My thoughts exactly. This Paul Weiss should go start his own blog. He/She/It is becoming insufferable
Of course I do not speak for all entrepreneurs - only the smart ones.
Did you even read the article? There is no benefit for anyone, except for people that want the Herz membership and don’t have a credit card. Since anyone can enroll it’s not even worth for having a dedicated business contact at the airline as this will surely not be included.
If these "smart" business people are supposedly so pressed for time that they don't care about miles and points as Paul Weiss claims, then why would they spend time signing up for a program that effectively offers nothing. Paul Weiss *thinks* he's one of those smart business people but he sounds more like an obnoxious fool and know-it-all and not anyone I'd ever do business with. What "business" exactly are you in?
I own my own business and fly approximately 150,000 miles a year, almost always in first and business.. By using my miles, I have purchased very few airline tickets saving my company 10's of Thousands of dollars, so I have disagree with you, as I think I am being very efficient.
Well done trolling Paul. It is amazing how many idiots will take an obvious troll at face value.
I haven’t rented from Hertz in years after they started reporting cars stolen. I generally now use Enterprises or National. Sorry Hertz but you lost me forever.