If you are transitioning into consulting from school or a job in industry or government, you will likely begin traveling more than ever. Sure, maybe you have gone to a few conferences or travelled to your company’s annual meeting, but once you begin a consulting career you will be on the road much more frequently than before. The average consultant travels at least once a month, with the upper end of the spectrum being every Monday through Friday throughout the year.
If you find yourself traveling frequently, you should be taking advantage of travel reward accounts. The way to build travel rewards is the same way that you get in shape: consistency, consistency, consistency. If you build up points on certain rewards platforms, you can earn additional bonuses that compound over time for your own personal use.
In this article, we will explore a variety of rewards you might be able to gain on airlines, hotels, rental cars, and credit cards. It is worth noting that some consulting firms have begun using outside services for planning trips, which may make it more difficult to reap the same level of benefits as before. However, hopefully you can still profit from some of the advice that follows.
1. Airlines
Unless you plan to drive to your consulting projects, which does not happen too often anymore, you will likely be flying. You have a lot of options here. In America, this includes Delta, American, United, Southwest, and even Alaskan.
Ultimately, your choice of airline may come down to the classic real estate mantra: location, location, location. It is best to look for a nearby airline hub. For example, Delta Airlines is headquartered in Atlanta. If this is where you most often need to travel to visit corporate headquarters or a large client, then this airline is likely to be best for you. If you live in Chicago, Houston, or New York, then you will need to compare the two airports on offer, which may influence which airline rewards program you choose to join. Additionally, you might want to compare the benefit program, reward system, premium offerings, and lounge access to determine which airline is best for you.
By choosing one airline and becoming a repeat customer, you will build up miles, which can unlock rewards. Over the course of a year, you can build status (Silver, Gold, Platinum) which can provide you with benefits to use while traveling for work, as well as points to exchange for free trips for personal use. There are many factors for you to consider. Use their webpages to collect info, but once you pick an airline, you are best to stick with them for the long term.
2. Hotels
Staying in hotels goes together with flying, but in some ways there are more options here. You might have to fly to Dallas for work, but there are hundreds of hotels within the city limits.
You might choose between some of the larger hotel brands such as Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, or Hilton, as they contain a variety of options at differing levels of comfort and price. Like airlines, the best plan is to pick one hotel and stick with it. Most of the previously listed chains exist in most cities, so you probably cannot go wrong. Personally, I have found Marriott hotels to provide suitable options when I travel.
Sometimes you will have limited choice. You may be sent to a small town with only one or two options. On the other hand, your company might choose your hotel for you if they have a pre-existing agreement. In that case, just choose your preferred brand when you get the option.
3. Rental Cars
The third piece of the travel trifecta is the rental car. Once again you have a plethora of options, from Avis to Hertz, Enterprise to Budget, and many more.
Firms often have a preferred vendor for rental cars, so check out the potential benefits from that brand first. For example, my firm offers Hertz Gold to allow me to get preferred cars, last minute reservations, and a variety of vehicle choices. If your firm does not offer any special promotions, then follow the same mantra as above: consistency, consistency, consistency. You can accrue points or miles and trade them in for rewards later on.
Rental cars are not always used for consulting projects. Sometimes you are placed in hotels within walking distance of the client office. If it is too far to walk, consider using Uber to build up credit card points. Alternatively, if you do not need to fly and are instead driving to your project, consider renting a car instead of putting the miles directly on your personal vehicle.
4. Credit Cards
The piece that ties it all together is a credit card. Why not maximize your benefits for all the purchases above (flights, hotel, and rental cars) by getting a travel friendly card?
There are cards for airlines, hotels, and more that offer bonuses, cash back, or extra points by collecting travel related charges. For example, we recently earned a flight and hotel stay in Cozumel by racking up Southwest Credit Card miles, which we used to purchase flights.
You can also look at other cards such as American Express Platinum or Gold which have big perks for consistent travelers. One thing to keep in mind is that you need to be the one to book your travel arrangements. If your firm uses a third-party travel agent or has you book arrangements on a company card, you might not be able to get credit card points.
For More Information
When it comes to hacking your travel benefits, I just scratched the surface in this article. For more information, the first place you should go is to check out The Points Guy, a site that provides a full breakdown of travel points, credit cards, and more. Additionally, staying up to date on the latest business trends will give you insight into the travel sector, so reading the Morning Brew everyday may be another step to take.
Ricky Hollenbach is a Thermal Sciences Associate at Exponent Scientific and Engineering Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia. He solves problems and assists clients in the thermal-fluids, heat transfer, aerospace, and turbomachinery fields. He earned his master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Duke University, also completing a certificate in Aerospace Engineering and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
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