Negotiating a FlyerTalk Discount
 

In this thread, the idea was floated about banding together in some way to negotiate the sort of discounts that companies get for their employees for those of us who travel largely for personal reasons, are self-employed, etc. These discounts are typically for H+ fare classes, and so (for example) might incent folks who ordinarily buy LUT fares to buy up to an M fare to use a SWU. This thread is intended to explore this idea. We'd basically be doing something like Tuangou.

Based on posts in the other thread, we'd probably need to get some form of spend commitment from enough people to total in the couple of hundred thousand dollar range before we could even think about some form of engagement. We may need to find a TA to handle our travel requests. And, of course, there's no requirement that DL pay us any attention.

I think the first step might be to assemble a list of interested people. Realistically, at a minimum, you'd probably need to be spending at least a couple of thousand a year on air travel that you pay for out of your own pocket.

Keep in mind that Delta employees regularly read this forum. As such, specific negotiating strategies should NOT be discussed in this thread.

Thoughts?

You are up against a lot of head wind although I applaud your attempt. First a company say based in NYC that need to fly to LHR can say we have over three airlines that fly where we need to go. The fact that a flyertalk buying group would be spread out would work against negotiated. It is not like you can say this is what we spend going from JFK to LHR and here our are past invoices.

Same applies for domestic travel.

I am in. You can count on my vote. I spent more than 6k this year so far and still have 4 flights booked until the end of the year. I won't make PM this year. I pay for all my tixs out of pocket.

Count me in

I would be in, though I believe that this is a lost cause. Don't see DL making an open arrangement that anyone can get into. There would be no way to force a commitment on the individual-level. Unless it was administered by an independent travel agent who was paid from an annual fee collected from those who want in.

What a great yet difficult idea! I hope we can succeed.

count me in as well

Count me in. I have a spend around 10-15K a year.

I'm in. What would we need to do to get organized?

I am in but regret that I cannot see the commercial advantage to DL.

The first point is that you are saying "We fly lots so want a special discount". Their response is "Welcome to the SM programme".

Even if there were a scheme how do you eveidence your readership of FT. Sign up once and thereafter you get 5% on DL??

The only way it would be of interest to DL would be if there were a big bulk booking guarantee.

One way that would be easier for admin would be for FTers to buy flights and then once you hit a level, say $10k, then the discount kicks in (and may or may not get a rebate for the first $10k). Again, I think the DL response is "You get miles".

On the upside, it would help complicate airfare pricing, which is notoriously simple at present ;)

Sorry - just can't see it working.

I'm listening.

Perhaps this could be negotiated with SkyBonus?

http://skybonus.delta.com

For small to mid sized companies.

What information do I need to enroll my company in SkyBonus?

Your company's legal name and address
Your company’s Federal Tax ID or VAT number
Name, phone number and email address for a primary administrator who will be responsible for maintaining the program on behalf of your company
The ARC/IATA number, email address and contact information of your preferred travel agency

I've got a few thoughts on how this would work which I'm not going to post in the thread. I do think we'd need a minimum of 50-100 interested people, which is probably the biggest initial challenge.

I'm in, and have a non-FTer colleague who is too (no surprise there from my post in the other thread).

I'm in, and this would tip me to flying DL exclusively...