Maybe you’ve thought about starting a travel program for your small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) but haven’t gotten around to it. Are you not sure where to start? Do you think your company is too small to work with a major airline? Does management not see the value?

United for Business, which is dedicated to supporting United’s corporate customers, works with companies of all sizes to provide solutions based on their distinct needs for business travel. By working with us, your SME can receive benefits such as discounts and savings, rewards and perks, and access to travel management tools.

United for Business, which is dedicated to supporting United’s corporate customers, works with companies of all sizes to provide solutions based on their distinct needs for business travel.

How do travel programs work?

There are many reasons for SMEs to have a travel program with an airline like United. To begin with, if you’re new to travel management or if it’s one of many responsibilities you juggle, partnering with us can make your job easier. We can provide useful tools, reporting and automation that can ease your burden.

In addition, having a travel program with an airline can unlock many discounts and perks you wouldn’t have access to on your own. With a travel program, you’ll have access to United’s broad portfolio of products and services that can be customized based on your needs – whether that’s saving money or providing your employees with amenities for a better travel experience. Often, you’ll be getting new benefits and discounts from the travel you’re already doing!

“SMEs sometimes believe they’re not large enough to work with an airline like United,” notes Doreen Burse, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales for United. “But United for Business has something for everyone – even the smallest SME – because we understand how critical air travel is to their business success.”

“United for Business has something for everyone – even the smallest SME – because we understand how critical air travel is to their business success.”

Doreen Burse, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales for United

How do SMEs benefit from having a travel program?

Discounts and savings

Discounts and savings are one of the main benefits of corporate travel programs. Discounts are usually based on the SME’s travel volume as well as the airline’s route structures.

With a travel program in place, SMEs get better rates that are negotiated based on sending the airline certain volumes. Most volume-dependent discounts range between 3 and 5 percent, but larger discounts may be available on higher-class tickets or when the airline wants to build volume on a particular route.

Rewards & Perks

Partnering with an airline can also provide many rewards and perks to improve the experience for your travelers – and not just C-suite employees.

Loyalty program benefits, like those available through United MileagePlus® are one of the most common components of most SME’s programs. Through MileagePlus, we can offer travelers perks like elite status matching, flight upgrades, club access, priority seating and preferred seating.

Soft dollar funds are another category of rewards that SMEs can use as a discretionary fund. You can use these funds to give your travelers upgrade coupons, club memberships, status upgrades and even free tickets.

Management reporting

Working with United for Business also gives you access to our all-in-one customer portal, which allows you to view your balance and transaction history, redeem rewards, add funds, or renew your program. These reporting features can help you track spending to stay on budget.

Working with United for Business also gives you access to our all-in-one customer portal, which allows you to view your balance and transaction history, redeem rewards, add funds, or renew your program.