Well Delta already has a way of storing credit card info. Just associate a skymiles number with that credit card and then anytime that card is used it will credit the MQD to that account.

That's nice. Our travel department would never allow the employees to gouge the company like that. Fortunately I don't have to travel for work.

Sorry, but you don’t understand business or marketing or sales basics. Business transactions aren’t just about convincing the “purchaser” or the one with the checkbook. Yes it’s a factor but it’s also about convincing the decision maker, who is often NOT the purchaser. As for DL, they aren’t stupid. They know changing to awarding MQDs and RDMs to the purchaser of airline tickets would be a terrible decision as business travelers who travel on corporate accounts would be far less incentivized to choose DL (assuming they have options) since the traveler would have no benefit.

It’s not gouging. Time is money, as is employee satisfaction and travel rewards are one way of keeping employees who do travel more satisfied. We see it as our perk/reward/tradeoff for having to spend time away on the road. Take away that benefit and you may find such employees are less willing to travel or you’ll have to offer other forms of compensation such as a higher paycheck. Based on your attitude too it’s obvious you don’t travel for work. Maybe if you did your tune would change.

Most of our employees that travel are on Southwest >90% of the time. You're right, time is money. WN has the most nonstops from MCO. They also allow two free bags. DL, AA, and UA would require a connection and is usually more expensive. It's wasteful. And no is forced to travel, you don't have to take the job. I would hate to have to travel for work. But we really should be trying to decrease travel even further and utilize virtual workspaces more.

Depends on what you define as wasteful. In that case it may well be. It’s up to each business to determine its policies. There’s also a tradeoff for employee happiness.

And you only references airlines. What about hotels? When Hilton and Marriott and Starwood all have properties right next to each other, if I collect points and have a preferred brand, I will pick one over the other for that reason, as long all options are within my per diem allotment. If the rules changed I would be less incentivized to pick a preferred brand or have any loyalty to a particular brand.

And your own recommendation may result in wasted money as well by not allowing rewards. For example the other week I traveled to Maryland and stayed by BWI my last night before flying home. I could have opted to stay at a more convenient hotel to the airport that was more expensive (at per diem) but opted to stay at one that was a little less convenient because it was my preferred brand and was well under per diem. I got points I valued and a stay credit towards retaining status. A win-win for me and my organization. Or would you have preferred I just stayed at the more convenient hotel that was $50-60 more?Benefits and incentives are part of what encourages people to take a job. I like traveling for work in most cases and usually don’t mind it. Part of that reason is travel rewards. I then get to take my wife on trips with those points. If it’s a trip where we need to send someone, I don’t mind going because it’s an opportunity to earn some travel rewards and a chance to just travel. Meanwhile some of my coworkers have kids and they would prefer not to travel (or other reasons for preferring not to travel). The situation right now is a win-win for them and me. Take away travel rewards though and it’s no longer a win-win and then, hey, those other folks in my office can start taking some of those trips.