Work paying for F and J flights

[coyote25]

If you work for the federal government (not as an MP interestingly) they insist on QANTAS not giving employees any points (do get status however ). So you can't upgrade to J or even book an award for yourself, even if you wanted to for work.

Never worked out how QANTAS can figure out how not to give FF points for employees but MPs, via the same booking office, QANTAS can never seem to stop them getting the points :?:

 

[wallacej]

My work pays for my flights using points the boss has accrued!!
So I do a lot of travelling for no FF recognition, and I am now related to the boss!!!
If no points are available, they buy tickets on whatever, or whoever the cheapest is... normally virgin so I accrue some points with them...
I don't expect to earn anything though when tiger hits!!!

PS- all domestic travel

 

[Reggie]

I have a question for any of the corporate types who would care to answer and I apologise in advance if this seems like I'm having a go at you because I genuinely am not. I understand that some of you expect your employer to pay for J or better flights on some longer sectors. I am curious to know whether you ever use your FF points to upgrade a Y fare in cases like this? Or, instead, do you believe that the FF points in your account all belong to you, even if you've earned some (or indeed most) of them on business travel or, perhaps, by virtue of a corporate credit card?

I do use my points for company flights when possible. Earlier this month I flew ISA-BNE for work, using ff points. I earn them because my employer pays for me to fly. I earn more because they fly me J most of the time, so I give a little back. I dont enjoy flying anymore, I do it because I have to. I will drive 1000km each way to avoid a plane flight. When I have holidays the last thing I normally want to do is fly anywhere. Thus I use my points trying to upgrade to F and for the one flight my wife may take in a year.

 

[Mal]

Never worked out how QANTAS can figure out how not to give FF points for employees but MPs, via the same booking office, QANTAS can never seem to stop them getting the points :?:

Quite simple really. Qantas doesn't care and will allocate points wherever. The Public Sector employees will most likely be bound to a code of ethics or other guff in which they're told that points are not to be earnt.

No real consequence from collecting the points - unless of course someone is really pished at you and investigates. Then things could become a little scary (ie loss of job or worse).

 

[coyote25]

I'm actually glad we don't get them, I feel it is better the public don't think we use the system for our personal advantage and most public service people get time or like compensation unlike the private sector examples people have mentioned here.

Its the total compensation package. Small business owners mostly travel Y but hopefully get some freedoms being their own boss and some money from the bussines later in life. Corporate workers get some points and occasional J travel but have to work extreme hours. Public sector, don't get the points but do get other compensations.

I just think the MPs should be in the same boat as other people paid on the public purse.

 

[garyjohn951]

I thought this discussion was about normal people until you mentioned MP's !!!

 

[coyote25]

I thought this discussion was about normal people until you mentioned MP's !!!

They're kind of normal.... wait good point

 

[IainF]

So yes in this case if I employed you, I would easily give you the 240000 points you got and expect you to give me as the employer the free overtime for flying etc.

Which comes first, the overtime or the points ?

I do NOT get any overtime or time in lieu. What if I was not educated on the ways of FF schemes ?
Would you feel you had to pay me then for the extra work ?
Most employers would say no.
If my company flew me in J then I would be grateful, but it wouldn't affect my quality of work that I give. I try to give 100% no matter what.

It would certainly get my loyalty though ! :mrgreen:

 

[Evan]

I guess its like lounge access, i often work while in lounge transit or waiting, so the company is getting work from me for no cost.

My company should not complain anyway as they get plenty of overtime from me for nothing other times as well.
But they are a good flexible company and get a good worker as a result so its like everything, it works both ways. Having said that if they ever tried to take my FF points from me. Ggggggrrrrr !

But i still fly Y !!! saves them a lot of money, whats some time in liu and an extra day and hotel changes when you can get $1500 tickets instead of $4500+ for the same flight.

E

 

[tscharke]

I guess its like lounge access, i often work while in lounge transit or waiting, so the company is getting work from me for no cost.

E

a benefit to the employer for flying their staff in J is that you can power up the lappy and keep working while in the air...something that I kept reminding my boss when we had a Y policy!

 

[Tooner]

We are a domestic whY (Aust & NZ & between) and international J for us mere mortals. The intention is for the international travel so we can go direct to work (which we do). Guidelines dictate booking D class where possible and not Sunday/Monday out of Oz and not Thursday/Friday back to Oz.

We get to keep the points, but I've never heard of anyone taking days in lieu. I generally use the points to upgrade domestic flights, flights to from NZ.

I think its OK for small businesses to set whY if they want - if they can't get staff, they may consider J, but its got to work for the business.

 

[Evan]

a benefit to the employer for flying their staff in J is that you can power up the lappy and keep working while in the air...something that I kept reminding my boss when we had a Y policy!

Working in Y is out of the question even if i did have power ! can be done with a 12" notebook but mine is a 14" as i need the screen space for some applications so can't even really open the lid

Yes its one of the smaller models that has a 1400x1050 res screen, i can't stand anything larger but one you get used to high res going back to 1024x768 on a 12" is too difficult, i think now they can be had a bit higher res on 12".

E

 

[Febs]

not Sunday/Monday out of Oz and not Thursday/Friday back to Oz.

Wouldn't that make things a bit difficult when you have to do a full week's work in the US? When I travel to the US, I always leave on a Sunday, and usually return on either Fri or Sat.

I can't imagine all employees would be happy spending an extra night (ie: Sat) away from home, and what about hotel and other charges for that extra night?

(Or are Saturday D flights cheaper/more readily available than Sunday flights?)

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[garyjohn951]

Yes, D flights are much easier on Saturdays, and almost non-existant on Sundays. Save a few $1000 on a D ticket over J. Also upgrades are easier for those who use points to upgrade.

 

[NM]

If you work for the federal government (not as an MP interestingly) they insist on QANTAS not giving employees any points (do get status however ). So you can't upgrade to J or even book an award for yourself, even if you wanted to for work.

The reason for this is not that the government does not want its staff to receive points, but that they have screwed the airlines so low on the fares they pay that Qantas offered a lower fare if it did not earn points - and the government accepted the deal.

Never worked out how QANTAS can figure out how not to give FF points for employees but MPs, via the same booking office, QANTAS can never seem to stop them getting the points :?:

Its all in the fare basis and associated rules. They have special fares that use specific fare basis for different types of staff depending on their entitlements. So when you and I may be buying a KIPOX fare, a government employee may be using completely different and only available to the Fed Govt, but still booking into K inventory.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yes its one of the smaller models that has a 1400x1050 res screen, i can't stand anything larger but one you get used to high res going back to 1024x768 on a 12" is too difficult, i think now they can be had a bit higher res on 12".

E

Toshiba have had 1400x1050 on a 12" panel for years (e.g. Portege M200, Portege M400). The M400 is a dream machine if you want small-size power. High res, 12" screen, Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM, two hard disks (if you need that), and a tablet PC to boot.

 

[Shano]

I upgraded a 15.4" WXGA (NEC) to a Toshiba Tecra M5 with the 14" 1400x1050 screen and that took me a while to get used to. Trying to see the same resolution on a 12" screen would be tough for me, but I guess it depends on what you are using the machine for. I do a bit of work in AutoCAD when in the office, which can be a little tough on a 14" screen, so now have a 17" LCD monitor plugged in at my desk.

I liked the idea of the table PC, but size (and cost) meant I went for the Tecra.

 

[tscharke]

...I liked the idea of the table PC, but size (and cost) meant I went for the Tecra.

are you impressed with the M5? My last 2 employers provided Dell (C640) & IBM (T42) however the new employer provides the Tecra M5 and I must say its a powerhouse...eats multiple 'power hungry' apps not probs! the 2Gb of RAM helps

Im ok with the smallish size screen when out of the office and have a dual screen set up when in the office - overall very happy with it

...sorry for pushing this thread off track even more

 

[simongr]

Umm - I think some of us only had a T40 at your last employer (they have now moved to T60s I think)

I am really happy with my Dell D410 - its the wirght that gets me - so light and small - just wish I could get the widescreen version - same weight but bigger screen...

The only power hungry app I use is DivX player - and hard to justify that to my boss

 

[AnonymousCoward]

are you impressed with the M5? My last 2 employers provided Dell (C640) & IBM (T42) however the new employer provides the Tecra M5 and I must say its a powerhouse...eats multiple 'power hungry' apps not probs! the 2Gb of RAM helps

Im ok with the smallish size screen when out of the office and have a dual screen set up when in the office - overall very happy with it

...sorry for pushing this thread off track even more

Sorry to push this further OT as well. I also have a Tecra M5 (as well as half-a-dozen other models before you ask). It runs significantly hotter than my M400 for some reason. But power-wise, it's just as good. As you say, with Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM (and if required, multiple hard disks), it's a pretty neat machine. Also high res, but on a bigger panel, if your eyesight's not as good.