Delta has just added another way its SkyMiles members can accrue points toward reward travel, and you can get them just by sleeping on your next trip. Besides booking flights and making purchases with a Delta credit card, now members can earn points when they choose Airbnb as their lodging. Members must book lodging through deltaairbnb.com, and earn one mile for every dollar they spend.
We’ve been fans of Airbnb for a
while,
and recently talked about how Airbnb is returning to its roots and working to attract business travelers.
The arrangement has benefits for new Airbnb members too who are looking to “Fly Global, Live Local,” with $25 credit earned toward any stay totaling $75 or more if they book via the Delta dedicated site within 60 days of opening a new Airbnb account. In addition to the flat mile per dollar deal, those whose stay totals $75 will earn an extra 500 miles, and those whose stay totals $150 or more will earn 1000 extra miles.
The benefits aren’t just one-sided. New Airbnb hosts can incent their potential customers by advertising the partnership and can accumulate miles with Delta in the following increments:
- 2500 miles after $250 in earnings
- 7500 miles after $1000 in earnings
- 10000 miles after $2500 in earnings
Delta’s goal with this partnership was to entice millennials with greater options and more reasons to choose the air carrier when they fly for leisure or business, Sandeep Dupe, vice president of Delta SkyMiles, said in a company press release.
The partnership benefits Airbnb by increasing its credibility as a trusted lodging option. The online home rental company has been working to position itself as part of the mainstream travel industry, especially to business travelers, instead of a quirky indie rival. Airbnb can only benefit from Delta’s “most trusted airline” status. Airbnb also has miles-earning partnerships with Virgin America and Qantas, as well as with United Airlines through its MileagePlus X shopping app.
Does this kind of arrangement make you more likely to want to stay with Airbnb? Have you stayed at an Airbnb before? What did you think? Share your ideas and experiences with us in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or in our Twitter stream.
Photo credit: BriYYZ (Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons 2.0)