How to Triple Dip Hotel and Airline Loyalty Points Earned on Small Business Travel

If you’re a small business owner, you understand how valuable it is to make every penny of your travel budget count. Here’s the secret to that: Maximize the rewards and loyalty points you can earn along the way. Hotel and airline loyalty programs, including those of American Airlines, Delta, United, Hilton, Marriott, and IHG, offer opportunities for small businesses to “triple dip” on loyalty points by using rewards credit cards, booking business travel, and earning points both for the company and the employee doing the traveling.

Here, we break down how you can leverage these programs to get the most out of your small business travel.

The Triple Dip: Earning Points for the Company, the Cardholder, and the Traveler

Here’s how the “triple dip” works:

• The Credit Card Holder: When you use a rewards business credit card to pay for travel, you earn points on every purchase, from paper clips to airline tickets. I use an American Express card and earn points that can be transferred to airline and hotel companies. But you also can choose a brand-specific card. For example, if you book flights through United’s business program using the United Business credit card, the company can accrue MileagePlus points, which can be used for future travel on United Airlines for any employee.
• The Employee: The traveler – your employee who is going on the business trip – will also earn frequent flyer miles or hotel points for their personal loyalty accounts when they fly  or stay at the hotel. For instance, if your employee stays at a Hilton property during the business trip, they will earn Hilton Honors points, which they can later use for personal stays or upgrades.
• The Company: Finally, you – the business owner – earns loyalty points for booking the travel. This requires you to join each company’s program for business owners and booking through that portal. The point go into your company’s credit card account, giving you additional rewards that can be used for future travel – anything from business trips to personal vacations.

Maximizing Points on Hotel Loyalty Programs

Hotel loyalty programs like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards have loyalty programs specifically for businesses of all sizes, allowing both employers and employees to earn points on the same booking, when they book through the business program. Plus, many of these programs offer exclusive discounts, streamlined booking options, and even dedicated customer support, all of which can simplify the travel management process.

Hilton for Business allows companies to earn Hilton Honors points for employee stays at participating hotels. The program provides centralized dashboards, making it easy to manage spending, points, discounts and adding and removing participants. Hilton for Business is free to join but it does require all participants to enroll in Hilton Honors.

Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy is designed for small to medium businesses, but the application process was frustrating. When I tried to sign up, my work email was rejected, and when I clicked on support, it only showed an “undefined” email address. I called Business Access customer support at 800-850-4314. The agent signed me up and confirmed that the online process has issues.  

IHG Business Edge members can earn points when booking stays at IHG properties like Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and InterContinental hotels. The program application process was much smoother. It took just two minutes, but there’s a five-day wait for approval. So, remember that membership isn’t instantaneous.  

Maximizing Points on Airline Loyalty Programs

If your employee is traveling on behalf of the business, you can both earn points in your own frequent flyer or hotel loyalty account. For instance, if the employee books a flight with American Airlines using the company’s business credit card, the employee flying can still accumulate frequent flyer miles in their own AAdvantage account, which they can redeem for personal rewards like upgrades, free flights, or hotel stays.

Each of the major airline programs – American Airlines, Delta, and United – has specific benefits for small businesses that help you maximize your travel rewards.

• American Airlines: With American’s AAdvantage for Business, companies can earn AAdvantage miles for eligible flights booked on American Airlines and partner airlines. On top of that, employees can continue to accumulate miles in their personal AAdvantage accounts. To double down, American Airlines also offers special bonuses on select routes, meaning you can earn extra miles when traveling to certain destinations.
• Delta: Delta offers the SkyMiles for Business program, which rewards businesses for booking flights for employees. Companies can earn up to 10 miles per dollar spent on flights and redeem those points toward future flights, upgrades, or other rewards. Employees can earn their SkyMiles on individual flights as well.
• United: United’s MileagePlus Business Program has three different options focused on cost savings or elevated travel experiences.

Strategy for Maximizing Triple Dipping

To really maximize these benefits, it’s important to integrate your loyalty programs strategically. Here are some tips:

• Consolidate Travel Arrangements: Use a central platform for booking flights and hotels (many credit card companies and travel agencies offer tools to book both types of travel). This ensures you don’t miss out on opportunities to earn points for both the company and employees.
• Track Employee Travel: Encourage employees to set up personal loyalty accounts and make sure they add their personal loyalty numbers to each booking, so they get credited with the miles or points they’re entitled to in addition to your company earning points.
• Review Your Credit Card Benefits: The foundation of any loyalty program is how you accumulate points. For most small businesses, a key strategy is to book travel through the company’s rewards credit card. These cards often come with benefits that align perfectly with your goals, such as bonus points for business-related purchases like travel, dining, and office supplies. Many business credit cards offer category bonuses (such as 2x or 3x points on travel or dining) or additional perks for large spenders. Make sure you’re leveraging these benefits by using your card for eligible purchases, and look out for special promotions that can boost your rewards.