In many organizations, loyalty programs are a natural part of everyday business travel. Employees typically have the freedom to choose their loyalty programs, and collecting points for flights is treated as an additional, non-salary benefit that genuinely improves the travel experience.
It’s a true win-win situation: the company achieves its business goals, and employees gain tangible benefits from frequent travel.
Why is it worth collecting points for business flights?
Regular business trips quickly translate into status levels in loyalty programs. And that means real perks – especially valuable when your calendar is packed with meetings.
Key advantages of collecting points include:
- greater travel comfort
- time savings at airports
- streamlined airport experience
- more flexibility when plans change
- real benefits beyond business travel
Importantly, the company doesn’t incur additional costs, while employees reach a higher “tier status” much faster – something that would take years to achieve through private trips alone.
Example: Miles & More within Star Alliance
One of the most recognized loyalty programs in Europe is Miles & More, operating within the Star Alliance. The program covers, among others, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and LOT Polish Airlines.
This means points and status can be built across a global network of connections – not just within a single airline.
Frequent Traveler status – what do you really get?
Reaching the first level – Frequent Traveler (FTL) – can significantly change the quality of business travel. It’s the point at which trips become noticeably easier and more comfortable. Miles & More also offers Senator (SEN) and the top-tier HON Circle status – similarly earned by collecting points within a calendar year.
Key benefits of Frequent Traveler include:
- access to airline business lounges at airports – even when traveling in Economy, e.g., LOT Business Lounge Polonez at Warsaw Chopin Airport
- priority check-in and priority boarding
- checked baggage included in Economy or higher baggage allowances
- priority waiting lists when flights are changed
- greater flexibility in disruptive situations (delays, overbooking)
- a status card and Frequent Traveler luggage tags
For employees, this means fewer queues, less stress, and better conditions to recharge between meetings. For the company, it means improved punctuality, predictability, and employee effectiveness on the road.
How to reach Frequent Traveler in Miles & More
To achieve Frequent Traveler status in Miles & More, you need to collect at least 650 points and 325 qualifying points. The travel class and route affect how quickly you earn points, for example:
- Economy flight Rzeszów → Warsaw: 20 points (round trip adds 40 points).
- Economy round trip Warsaw → Lisbon → Warsaw: 40 points.
- Intercontinental Economy round trip Warsaw → New York → Warsaw: 120 points.
- Intercontinental Business round trip Warsaw → Chicago → Warsaw: 400 points.
Points are credited to your account after the trip is completed.
Points that work beyond the office
An additional advantage of loyalty programs is the ability to use collected points privately. They can be redeemed for:
- flight tickets
- accommodation
- car rentals
- cabin-class upgrades
It’s a benefit that genuinely increases employee satisfaction—without the company having to introduce a formal benefits program.
How Trip Flow simplifies this process
Trip Flow handles airline loyalty programs in a fully transparent and traveler-friendly way. Points earned on business flights are credited directly to employees’ accounts, and the booking process stays aligned with company rules and traveler preferences. As a result, employees build tier status faster and more intentionally – while the company avoids the administrative burden.
