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Earlier this year, Delta announced the launch of a unique program: Delta Business Traveler. This new travel program is designed for individual business travelers, regardless of their organization's size and — more importantly — their employer's relationship with Delta Airlines. Conceptually, it is interesting that Delta is trying to poach business travelers from other airlines by targeting the travelers directly.
So, how does the Delta Business Traveler Program stack up? Let's take a look.
What Is the Delta Business Traveler Program?
The Delta Business Traveler program offers benefits aimed to individual business travelers. This program differs from SkyMiles for Business, which is oriented towards organizations as a whole. We'll compare the two programs, but the former is pretty straightforward, with easy-to-understand terms and conditions.
Here's an overview of the benefits attached to joining the free Delta Business Traveler program:
- Receive six months of Hertz Five Star status and fast track to President’s Circle status.
- Benefit from a free trial, then a $99 monthly membership to Industrious co-working space.
- Earn 3X SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta Stays and Delta car rentals.
- Receive a 30% discount on a MasterClass membership.
You're eligible to join the program if you meet the following three criteria:
- You're a Delta SkyMiles member.
- You travel for work — even if your company doesn't belong to SkyMiles for Business.
- You're a U.S. resident.
It's that simple. If the program has piqued your interest, click here to enroll.
Delta Business Traveler Vs. SkyMiles for Business
The main difference is that one is targeted at individuals, and one is targeted at companies. SkyMiles for Business is aimed at companies and businesses, allowing them to earn miles for individual business travel by employees.
Delta Business Traveler is aimed at individuals who are in charge of their business travel plans. So, if you are self-employed or your company lets you organize your travel and reimburses you, the Delta Business Traveler program is aimed at you.
Additionally, the former requires having at least five travelers on your business roster and at least $5,000 in annual Delta spending, whereas the latter is free to join.
Should You Join the Delta Business Traveler Program?
On the surface, the Delta Business Traveler program does not cost you much (it's free!), but it does not give you much, either. So, it's hard to see the true value of this program since everything it offers is not particularly valuable or something you can get for free elsewhere.
For instance, the Industrious membership is attractive if you use a co-working space while on the road. However, a quick look at the company's locations shows that it has a limited number of outposts. Unless you happen to work regularly in one of the few cities with a co-working space, the membership won't do you much good.
And while car rental elite status is nice, it is nothing to write home about. You have many options to get car rental elite status for free. For instance, if you hold The Platinum Card® from American Express, you will receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status as long as your card is open. (Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.) That's just one of many ways.
Our Take
The bottom line is that while the Delta Business Traveler program is a good effort from Delta, only a few individuals will be able to draw value from it. Almost every other business traveler will surpass what Delta's offering. That said, it's good to know that this program exists if you can leverage the free benefits and don't have other means of getting them without jumping through the hoops of joining Delta's program.
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