How to manage frequent flyer accounts for business travellers
Drowning in points programmes? It can feel like extra admin to manage frequent flyer accounts, especially when every airline, hotel and travel provider has its own rules. But with the right approach, loyalty programmes can make business travel smoother, more flexible and far better value for money.
If you don't know where to start with air miles and loyalty programmes, read the free frequent flyer checklist to get you started.
Business travel often involves last-minute trips, changing schedules and specific traveller preferences, resulting in travel expenses adding up. Loyalty programmes can soften the impact of these challenges, offering perks that save both time and cost. Having a clear system to evaluate, track and manage loyalty memberships helps ensure travellers get the benefits they’ve earned.
What types of frequent flyer programmes are there?
There are loyalty programmes for almost every part of the travel journey. Airline and hotel points are the most common, but travellers can also earn rewards through car hire programmes, credit cards and partner networks. Why not earn rewards points and travel benefits wherever you go?
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Loyalty programmes for flights
Frequent flyer programmes are the foundation of most business travel rewards. Airlines offer different membership tiers, each with benefits such as upgrades, priority boarding, preferred seats and lounge access.
For UK travellers, the most relevant programmes include:
- British Airways Executive Club (Avios)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Star Alliance partners (Lufthansa, United, Singapore Airlines)
- SkyTeam partners (Air France, KLM, Delta)
- oneworld partners (Iberia, Qatar Airways, American Airlines)
Before booking a corporate flight, check whether the fare earns points or tier credits. This can help reduce overall travel costs and support travellers working towards elite status.
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Hotels rewards for higher employee satisfaction
Hotel loyalty programmes offer some of the most valuable perks in business travel. Programmes such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards give travellers access to benefits like room upgrades, late checkout and digital check-in, all of which make time away from home more comfortable.
Basic comfort and safety are essential, but small extras can transform a trip and help travellers feel more prepared and productive. For frequent travellers, a reliable hotel experience contributes to wellbeing on the road and makes the return to office life smoother too. These programmes can offer perks such as:
- Digital check-in and mobile room key
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Redeemable points for meals, drinks or onsite services
- No blackout dates
- Access to gift cards or discounts for local businesses
- Free nights or room upgrades
Some hotel programmes also partner with airlines, allowing travellers to convert hotel points into air miles or vice versa. This can help consolidate rewards and accelerate progress toward elite tiers.
Businesses benefit too. By using preferred hotel partners and understanding which programmes align with your most-used properties, companies can earn additional rewards, unlock negotiated rates and improve traveller satisfaction. It’s also worth checking whether employees are already members of relevant loyalty schemes through their personal travel.
3 common challenges for managing frequent flyer accounts
When you're dealing with multiple travel plans, dozens of different travel providers, and urgent travel requests, travel points can often fall into the lowest priority. These are some of the common issues with managing loyalty programmes for business travellers.
You don't want hard-earned travel points to go to waste. The good news? A few simple habits, like keeping membership info up to date and booking through one system, can make a big difference. With a bit of planning (and maybe a little help from your TMC), you’ll avoid most of the usual pitfalls and have those points working harder for your travellers. And there's even more you can do to maximise travel savings.
The best ways to unlock elite status for business travel
Stay on top of the status of frequent flyer programmes to see if you're just a short jump away from high-flying rewards. Try these expert-approved approaches to maximise travel loyalty points:
- Choose centralised tracking. You can't measure what you can't track. Summarised data helps to keep track of where you are with each programme when they all have different ways of counting points or showing programme rewards. With some frequent flyer programmes, flights will count for points and credits toward elite status. This can quickly get a little complicated, with two different benchmarks to hit in order to qualify for elite reward status.
- Check your calendar. Do you know the timeline for when points are calculated? Can travellers carry over points to the next year? Loyalty programmes each have different rules, though most will track over the calendar year. Plan a date near the end of the year to checkpoints tallies and see what you can use before it's gone.
- Look at the long term. Sometimes, it makes sense to pass on the cheapest option. If saving on one flight means missing out on elite status for a frequent traveller, is it really worth it?
- Aim for alliances. Airline alliance programmes let you get the most out of your air miles even if travel doesn't follow a set pattern. Look for international alliances that let you build up points for travel across the world. If you travel a lot, or if you're just getting started and don't know where the next trip will be, this could be a good choice.
The most valuable rewards programmes offer a variety of ways to build points with flexibility and variety in how you can redeem them. Maximise rewards by signing up for loyalty programmes where you know the rewards will be used.
Tips for grabbing bonus points and frequent flyer miles
Looking for more value? With frequent flyer programmes, a little strategy goes a long way. Why not turn every business trip into a points power-up? Learn the top tips for rounding up more travel rewards.
Finally, one tip on what to avoid: look out for blackout dates and fare class limitations. Some discounted corporate fares may earn fewer points or none at all. Understanding fare structures and booking accordingly ensures that travellers earn what they deserve. Your travel management company can help with this, too.
Business travellers benefit from proper points management
Travelling for work can feel like sprinting on a maxed-out treadmill or sailing above the clouds, depending on the situation. Little details like upgrades, lounge access, or status perks can transform the experience. Travel managers who know how to earn points and perks without impacting expense reports can make sure that travellers arrive rested and ready to impress.
Benefits like free travel, free flights, and priority boarding save the business money while making the travel experience smoother for employees. Free flights or other bookings mean less time spent planning trips and searching for deals for admin staff as well. If travellers are the type who work on the go, priority boarding means more uninterrupted time to focus and plan ahead. For nervous flyers, extra time to get settled can calm anxiety about flying.
Cross-check bookings with the frequent flyer checklist
Managing frequent flyer miles isn’t just about tracking. It’s about seizing opportunities and maximising rewards. With the right tools and travel industry knowledge, you'll see savings multiply fast and benefits too. Get the most rewards out of every rand of travel spending with our frequent flyer programme checklist. It's got step-by-step ways to look for best-in-class discounts, incentives, and special offers.