As the world returns to travel, you may have more questions than answers when it comes to managing your resurgent business travel needs.
According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), 89% of businesses have either restarted travel or are planning to begin non-essential domestic business travel by the fourth quarter of 2021*. More so than other sectors, small-medium businesses showed remarkable resilience during the pandemic, as travel was often a business necessity. However, while you may be seeing an increase in travel, you’re likely also experiencing pressure to maximize (and possibly reduce) your travel budget. You’re not alone – according to an April 2021 GBTA study, 51% of respondents said that their travel and expense budget would decrease relative to previous years**.
Teaming up with an airline can be an easy way to unlock new resources and savings, regardless of the size of your business. The first step on this journey is deciding what’s important to you when it comes to managing your travel. A few questions you should consider:
- Are you looking to manage costs and secure airfare discounts?
- Can your trips take you anywhere on a moment’s notice, requiring price predictability and schedule flexibility?
- Do you want to improve your travel experience with access to benefits like extra legroom seats and premium cabin upgrades?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, the team at United for Business is here to help.
Prepaid programs can maximize your travel budget and elevate your travel experience
United for Business offers an easy-to-use prepaid solution with a range of benefits and discounts that grows with your investment level. We’ll work closely with you to determine the mix that best meets your needs. These benefits may include:
- Upfront flight discounts on domestic and international flights for the duration of your contract
- Access to rewards such as United MileagePlus Premier® and United Club memberships
- Monthly online reports detailing travel activity and your account balance, powered by UATP®
In addition to earning rewards, your relationship with United for Business will come with unparalleled extras for you and your travelers, from booking to landing and everything in-between. United Corporate Preferred is an exclusive benefits program offered to select corporate customers who have chosen us for their business travel. You’ll enjoy priority when standing by for an earlier flight, upgrading to a premium cabin seat, retaining your original seat in the event of an aircraft change, and more.
How does a prepaid program work?
Our agreements are one year in length, with renewal options each year. You can choose when you want to pay, whether in full up front or through a payment plan, and how you want to pay – personal credit card, procurement cards, checks, etc. Individual programs start with a prepaid investment as low as $10,000, with corporate program investments starting at $50,000. Often, this means you’ll be getting new benefits and discounts from the travel you’re already doing.
All of this is powered by the United for Business customer portal, offering you the ability to view travel reporting, redeem your rewards, and get the latest news and updates about United and your program with us. Reporting options include viewing your balance and transaction history, and when you’re ready to book, add funds or renew your program, it’s all just a few clicks away – no phone calls required.
There are a broad range of options available to you
A prepaid program may not be the right answer for you, and that’s ok! We also offer no-commitment programs that reward you for the travel you’re already doing. Whether you’re just getting your business off the ground, fulfilling those big expansion plans, or are simply looking to be more strategic with your costs, our team at United for Business has a travel solution for you.
Our programs and benefits are custom built around the needs and challenges of small-medium businesses, and we’re excited to work with you in realizing whatever that next stage may be. If you’d like to learn more, tell us a little about your business travel needs and one of our travel consultants will be in touch to discuss your options. We look forward to talking with you.
