Delta Air Lines has launched a program for business
travelers that will provide special offers for members, the carrier announced
Tuesday.
Dubbed Delta Business Traveler, the free program is for any
type of business traveler—whether a road warrior for a contracted corporation, part
of a small or midsize business or a solo entrepreneur, according to the carrier.
SkyMiles loyalty program members who travel for business can register to become
members on the Delta website.
The new platform will stack on top of the carrier’s global corporate
priority program, said Delta SVP of global sales Bob Somers during the
carrier’s virtual corporate-client event on Tuesday. “Travelers will now have
the ability to easily sign up and unlock new exclusive leisure-focused offers
and discounts they can use on their well-deserved time off,” he added.
There are no special booking-channel requirements for
members to receive their offers. Delta also did not immediately respond to a
question about what is required for a member to maintain their status.
Travelers will now have the ability to easily sign up and unlock new exclusive leisure-focused offers and discounts they can use on their well-deserved time off.”
– Delta Air Line’s Bob Somers
Members can access the offers on a dedicated platform within
their SkyMiles profile on the Delta website. Some of the current deals on hand
include a one-month free trial to Industrious workspaces and a membership pass for
$99 per month, Delta Vacations offers, eligibility for six months of Hertz Five
Star status, and three additional bonus miles per dollar for car rentals made
through Delta.
The latter two offers are valid through Dec. 31, 2024. The
Hertz status benefit is dependent on a Delta Business Traveler member maintaining
their program status. Further, members who complete at least five rentals or
$1,000 worth of rental spend with Hertz during the initial status period will
receive an additional six months of Hertz Five Star status. Members who
complete at least 10 rentals or $2,000 worth of rental spend with Hertz within
the initial status period will earn six months of Hertz President’s Circle
status after the end of the initial status period, according to Delta.
Delta Distribution Update
During the Showcase, Somers noted that Delta is renewing
multi-year agreements with its three major global distribution partners—Sabre,
Amadeus and Travelport—with two of the contracts already executed.
“They include a full content commitment across all channels,
and that sets the stage for [New Distribution Capability] and further display
enhancements on GDS-owned platforms,” Somers said. “Our full-content agreements
ensure business travelers have access to comprehensive Delta and EDIFACT and
NDC fares and products in agency channels without surcharges.”
Delta managing director of sales and distribution solutions
and servicing Sara Reid reconfirmed the carrier’s NDC timeline of having its basic
selling capabilities fully connected with its design partners—Accelya, ARC,
Google and the International Air Transport Association—by the end of the year.
The carrier also is in discussions with its GDS partners. Building and testing
servicing capabilities and solutions will come in 2025, with integrations with
the GDSs beginning in the first half of 2025,” she said.
Reid also announced a new “NDC consulting team.”
“You still have lots of questions about Delta’s selling and
servicing transformation,” Reid said. “You want some personalized guidance on
how your organization should prepare for NDC. You may need help educating
people in your organization on what NDC is and how it might change your
travelers’ experiences.”
The carrier plans to train the team over the next few months
and will begin to start consultations in the fourth quarter. Corporate
customers interested in requesting a consultation can contact their account
manager, according to Delta.
