Getting the Most out of Corporate Travel

 

TLDR: If you travel a lot chose one airline to be loyal too, and then get their credit card so you get free upgrades, access to their lounges, free checked bags, and many other perks. 

Tonight I find myself, yet again, waiting (and drinking) in the airport lounge in Atlanta. It's the story so many of us have experienced when we travel - unexpected weather delay, missed connection, no crew, or even the dreaded cancelled segment.  These travel delays are nearly always unpleasant and unnecessarily expensive- and I know I always feel trapped in a limbo state.

I work in Program Management for a large IT Services company, so once the restrictions around travel begin to ease up from the pandemic,  my travel plans took off. In the past month (with a small break for Hurricane Ian) I have been on 15 different flights and through some of the largest airports in the country; five of these flights were delayed and two of the trips had three+ hour layovers. With the shortages of pilots, Flight Crews, and Airport Crews these types of delays are not going away anytime soon and have become part of the new world order, so what kind of precautions can we take to try and make these unexpected limbo visits maybe a little more pleasurable? Based on my experience and research here is how I have made my work/corporate flights work for me:

Picking an Airline

When traveling for work, it is important to choose and stick with a preferred airline vendor as soon as possible. I kicked off my career back in 2018, and due to my location it made the most sense to choose Delta. There are several things you should keep in mind when choosing your preferred airline. 

1. Hub City: If your city is a hub, I highly recommend you consider this to be your airline of choice. Having access to a hub (for Delta, its Atlanta) means a much higher chance of getting on direct flights the majority of the time. Direct flights = no missed connections or layover. (list of Major Airlines and their hub cities are at the end of the post)
   
2. Partner Airlines: Figure out if your company has any partnered airlines, as often when you travel you will receive extra benefits if you travel with one of their preferred vendors. My company had Delta, which made this an easy choice for me- I get priority boarding, preferential seat choice, and elevated status for the standby + upgrade lists
3. Flight Routes: If you have any common route that you will be taking (for example you live in Atlanta and your client is is Indianapolis you would take this route often) and see which airlines have the best options for frequency and non-stop options. 

Maximizing Status on Chosen Airline

Now that you have chosen your airline, be sure you create your Frequent Flyer account so you can start rcking up the miles and qualifying dollar spend. To get to the first tier of status you usually have to spend about $3,000 and fly 25,000 miles in one calendar year. This, on Delta, gives you Silver Medallian status which now puts you in the running for upgrades, gives you a free checked bag, and priority boarding (to an extent). 

Alternatively, instead of trying to fly enough to climb up the ranks, you can consider applying for one of the airlines credit cards. There are many tiers of these cards, and its tempting to just get the free one- as it will give your points per dollar you spend, however the benefits for frequent flyers is huge with the pricier yearly fee cards. The highest tier card on Delta is the Reserve Card which has a $550 yearly fee. Now the tangible benefits include:

• Access to all their SkyLounges ($500 yearly membership) where you have a complimentary bar and meal services, ticket assistance, high-speed wifi, and a quite + comfortable place to wait for your next flight. (Many of the lounges in the international terminals will have spa's and showers for use as well)
• Complimentary TSA pre-check and/or Global Entry, and a discount on the yearly Clear Membership
• Elevated status and priority for seat upgrades and standby lists
• Free Checked Bag & Priority Boarding 
• Waived fee for same-day flight change / cancellation 
• Faster progression to higher status tiers
  

 These benefits will not only save you money in the long run, but also have the potential to save your company money. This element alone also provides you an opportunity to request your company to pay the yearly fee. To date, I have saved my company of $850 in checked-bag and flight change fees, netting a difference of $300 after just four months of having the reserve card... Keep you receipts and ask as you may your work, as this is something that can save a lot of money in the long run. 

 I hope these little tips and tricks help you travel in a way that makes the limbo, a little less frustrating and maybe we will cross paths in a lounge or up in the sky!