Pollies Lose their Flight Perks

[medhead]

But the newspapers are reporting what is in the independent assessment that is that the government will be able to sell it off.I have at least read the summary released by the consultants.
Now have you bought shares in an IPO.All have an independent assessment and i have certainly seen a few with KPMG.Quite frequently that assessment is nothing like what happens.I am glad you feel large organisations such as KPMG are infallible-funny none of them saw the GFC coming.

I never claimed they are infallible. Simply pointing that it is wrong to characterise them as a committee. But I do think the consultants are better placed to make a judgement than commentators. And I have plenty of ipo purchases that have exceeded the independant reports expectations.

 

[nonscenic]

It is now three months since APS staff have lost acquiring FF points on work related travel booked through the oligopoly of Commonwealth travel providers. We still get SC which are of more value than the points, which could never be redeemed for official travel because interstate meetings often occur at short notice by which time Classic Awards were rarely available. The travel providers, deprived of commission from FF redemptions, charged an outrageous administration fee if you were successful in finding available seats.

I doubt whether there will be savings to the Commonwealth, as the incentive in booking is now to maximise SC to retain silver, gold or platinum status. The difference between QFF and Velocity status will probably favour staff to book with QF.

Thanks to the Loyalty Bonus, we still get 5000 points every 500 SC, probably enough to redeem a new toaster every couple of years. If we earn SC from a mixture of work and private flights there's no way we can "unscramble the egg" and determine how much of our status or points was the result of official travel.

 

[significance]

Y for international work related travel? What gov agency do you work for with such poor conditions? For international trips, we are entitled to J plus 24 hours rest for recovery - it's part of our basic CA conditions. If you work for a C'wealth agency, you're workers are really getting ripped off. Most C'weath agencies I know have similar basic travel conditions.

I know I'm late in replying, but I just saw this. Yes, I work for a C'wealth govt agency (I'm not willing to say which one here) and yes, I can confirm that we are expected to travel Y internationally for work. Taller colleagues sometimes pay out of their own pockets to upgrade to J for long flights if a points upgrade is not possible. (And yes, like the rest of govt, we no longer accumulate points for work travel).

 

[nonscenic]

I know I'm late in replying, but I just saw this. Yes, I work for a C'wealth govt agency (I'm not willing to say which one here) and yes, I can confirm that we are expected to travel Y internationally for work. Taller colleagues sometimes pay out of their own pockets to upgrade to J for long flights if a points upgrade is not possible. (And yes, like the rest of govt, we no longer accumulate points for work travel).

I too work in a C'wealth agency whose CA has an "entitlement" to J class. Experiences of staff generally are that if you submit a travel proposal with J fare costings you are likely to be "not approved", unless there is external funding for the trip. Often external funding will only cover Y and the agency is reluctant to fund the difference. Agency policy also limits J to flights with sectors more than 8 hours.

Having said this, Premium Economy is often taken as a compromise option and from experience on a flight to the US was quite satisfactory. It can be hard to justify the fare differential between J and Premium Economy on OH&S grounds.

Other changes have made international official travel more difficult, such as the demise of official passports that often allowed priority clearance at foreign airports. At least we still gain SC in many rewards programs which work towards lounge access and other perks that make long distance travel less tiring.

 

[11sjw]

If we earn SC from a mixture of work and private flights there's no way we can "unscramble the egg" and determine how much of our status or points was the result of official travel.

I would've thought a simple audit would sort that out very quickly. Go through each flight and answer "Was it work or private?" and you'll soon know the relevant percentages.

 

[simongr]

I would've thought a simple audit would sort that out very quickly. Go through each flight and answer "Was it work or private?" and you'll soon know the relevant percentages.

Do people do that in the private sector? I never have.

 

[serfty]

I would've thought a simple audit would sort that out very quickly. Go through each flight and answer "Was it work or private?" and you'll soon know the relevant percentages.

Of course, any work place would then have to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of such activity.

 

[nonscenic]

I would've thought a simple audit would sort that out very quickly. Go through each flight and answer "Was it work or private?" and you'll soon know the relevant percentages.

Example: Assume I achieve 750 SC in a year, 600 SC from Work and 150 SC from private and attain Gold. While I have Gold status in the next year am I supposed to not partake of lounge access or extra baggage when on my next private flight? And when I get status bonus points on my next private flight do I count them as "work" points?

The egg cannot be unscrambled!

 

[straitman]

Example: Assume I achieve 750 SC in a year, 600 SC from Work and 150 SC from private and attain Gold. While I have Gold status in the next year am I supposed to not partake of lounge access or extra baggage when on my next private flight? And when I get status bonus points on my next private flight do I count them as "work" points?

The egg cannot be unscrambled!

Isn't this just taking it to the non sensible level :?:

What if it were the reverse :?: Would you simply give the lounge a miss when travelling on business :?:

I don't think so. :shock:

 

[samh004]

Why can’t they just say to QF and DJ, we want an economy, business and first code that is upgradable but doesn’t earn points OR SC’s and use whichever of those for whoever is flying, that way it doesn’t matter if they try credit, it wont.

Of course, you could also then just say, don’t present your card when you check-in but I think we all know that wouldn’t be enforced well

Or have I missed something here?

 

[Flashback]

It is now three months since APS staff have lost acquiring FF points on work related travel booked through the oligopoly of Commonwealth travel providers. We still get SC which are of more value than the points, which could never be redeemed for official travel because interstate meetings often occur at short notice by which time Classic Awards were rarely available. The travel providers, deprived of commission from FF redemptions, charged an outrageous administration fee if you were successful in finding available seats.

I doubt whether there will be savings to the Commonwealth, as the incentive in booking is now to maximise SC to retain silver, gold or platinum status. The difference between QFF and Velocity status will probably favour staff to book with QF.

Thanks to the Loyalty Bonus, we still get 5000 points every 500 SC, probably enough to redeem a new toaster every couple of years. If we earn SC from a mixture of work and private flights there's no way we can "unscramble the egg" and determine how much of our status or points was the result of official travel.

You should be getting the loyalty bonus for every 450 SC.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Why can’t they just say to QF and DJ, we want an economy, business and first code that is upgradable but doesn’t earn points OR SC’s and use whichever of those for whoever is flying, that way it doesn’t matter if they try credit, it wont.

Of course, you could also then just say, don’t present your card when you check-in but I think we all know that wouldn’t be enforced well

Or have I missed something here?

A few years ago if a particular QF charge card was used for ADF bookings, it would inhibit points accrual but now they use Diners for payment not sure what QF do.

 

[nonscenic]

Isn't this just taking it to the non sensible level :?:

What if it were the reverse :?: Would you simply give the lounge a miss when travelling on business :?:

I don't think so. :shock:

Of course I was being pedantic, but such is the life of beancounters in some government departments. In practice we never bothered to keep any tally of which points came from where, and enjoyed the lounge access whenver we could and probably used "work" FF points for holiday flights.
In legality the court decision in Diners Club v Menthe (Ansett Administrators) was that frequent flyer points are not the assets of anybody, and are legally "Invitations to Treat" that have no value until the airline exchanges it for a ticket. Furthermore the contract is between the FF program provider and the member of the program - who pays for the ticket is irrelevant. It would also be a breach of privacy for the program provider to supply the employer with details of a members points statement.

 

[pauly7]

I'd be interested in hearing from our public servants here on whether this has channeled more people onto DJ in their opinion....?

I frequent Canberra and all 3 QF lounges seem to still be doing a roaring trade with the gov travellers and the Red roo's planes are still packed to the gills with them!!

 

[nonscenic]

A few years ago if a particular QF charge card was used for ADF bookings, it would inhibit points accrual but now they use Diners for payment not sure what QF do.

I'm not sure if government travel providers use private booking classes that inhibit points. I still received points on a couple of flights that were booked before Jun 30 but not taken until July or August. I did notice that on one DJ flight that was booked before June 30 I didn't get the points and this was paid for on Diners Club.

 

[nonscenic]

I'd be interested in hearing from our public servants here on whether this has channeled more people onto FJ in their opinion....?

I frequent Canberra and all 3 QF lounges seem to still be doing a roaring trade with the gov travellers and the Red roo's planes are still packed to the gills with them!!

If anything it has made me stick with QF more. I'd only use DJ if their flight times fitted in better with my travel plans, such as the evening flight from DWN to MEL.
I object to paying $4 for an instant coffee on DJ flights and think they should at least provide free non alcoholic drinks as a health measure.

 

[markis10]

You can always take on cold drinks, if they said no to that then it would get interesting.

 

[Danger]

I'm reliably informed that the change has been reversed. Apparently it was Lindsay Tanner's way of giving the finger before he shot through and now the new Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, has put things back the way they were. Fingers crossed it's all true.

 

[nonscenic]

I'm reliably informed that the change has been reversed. Apparently it was Lindsay Tanner's way of giving the finger before he shot through and now the new Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, has put things back the way they were. Fingers crossed it's all true.

That's good news if it eventuates. Pity about the period since June. I'll just have to hope my last redemption toaster lasts a bit longer!

 

[Danger]

I'm reliably informed that the change has been reversed. Apparently it was Lindsay Tanner's way of giving the finger before he shot through and now the new Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, has put things back the way they were. Fingers crossed it's all true.

Much to my disappointment it seems the reversal didn't eventuate. I've recently started working for a federal politician and for business travel booked with QF I'll earn SCs but not FF points. It's better than nothing. Nonetheless, I'm wondering if it hasn't actually been changed for some top level government staff and it simply hasn't filtered down to the plebs.

That aside, I wonder if there's anything stopping someone from earning the points with, say AA. Would it be considered unethical to attempt to claim points with AAdvantage?