Delta to Revamp SME Product

Delta Air Lines plans to revamp in October its SkyBonus small and midsize business enterprise loyalty program with an enhanced website, functionality and reporting, the carrier told BTN.

The new program, to be called SkyMiles for Business, will offer three tiers: Member, Plus and Elite. All three levels will receive tailored offers from Delta and third-party partners, access to a program support team, reporting and program management tools, according to Delta.

Companies will be able to sign up for the Member level, which is a new tier, without a minimum traveler or spend requirement. Plus status is for businesses with at least five employee travelers and $5,000 in annual travel spend. Once a company reaches Plus status, it will be able to earn and redeem miles. The Elite level is for accounts with at least five employee travelers and $300,000 in annual travel spend.

Rewards for both Plus- and Elite-tier companies will include the ability to earn and transfer miles, eCredits, one-year Delta Sky Club individual memberships and SkyMiles Silver Medallion status valid for 12 months, according to Delta. The ability for companies to transfer business miles to individual employee accounts to enable redemptions on award travel, seat upgrades and checked bags is new.

Plus and Elite customers will earn miles based on the fare product purchased, such as Delta One, unlike the current SkyBonus program, which is based on fare class. Depending on the flight route and fare class purchased, customers can earn one to 10 miles for every dollar of eligible flight revenue.

Businesses earn miles when employees book eligible tickets for business travel through Delta and its partners, including Air France, KLM, Aeromexico and Virgin Atlantic. Customers can earn on these flights regardless of the marketing carrier. Customers also can earn miles on eligible Korean Air and Latam flights provided they book a Delta codeshare flight, according to the carrier. 

Elite customers also will earn a 15 percent bonus on their total miles, which is an increase from the current 10 percent Elite bonus. They also will have priority access to the SkyMiles for Business Service Center, according to Delta.

Existing Plus and Elite SkyBonus accounts will carry their status into the new program, according to Delta, with points automatically converted to miles. In addition, the miles will not expire, unlike the current program, in which points expire three years after issuance.