FIFO workers - share your experiences/perks

[drewbles]

Not every worker is WP. Just going on what I have observed speaking to people on our site (2,000) about 20% are members of a FF Program.

Less than half of those that are members are actually WP. Most are Gold with some Silver.




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thats a lot more realistic I would say.

Both of this I agree with. Based on my observations in the PER QP, there are a lot of SG's, but far less WP's. If QF had managed to negotiate with PER management for a J lounge space, we would know better, but i'm willing to say it wouldn't be crowded and the 'hi viz haven' would indeed be the J lounge.

 

[QF1]

Now can someone explain the logic here!!!

Every worker is a platinum, every worker queues in the business line and every worker has baggage priority!!!

What a joke!!

The regional stuff needs to be hived off from the regular interstate. This lot need their own airport terminal area and club.

That may be right...but who cares about the J class counters and First class mini carpets . I would go to any counter that will get me to the lounge early.

 

[The Rok]

If you have just spent a measly 7 days with your loved ones and ate about to head to a hot, dusty, snake infested hell hole for 4 weeks the last thing you want to do is cut your R&R short to get to the airport early to sit in a QP!

Much rather be sitting at home with my better half than in a Lounge!

 

[yo yo ma]

My organisations all have dry sites, so one less thing to do!

Dry site up here in PNG... which is good for me as the medic!

 

[Bugalugz]

Well having the "pleasure" of living in Karratha a perk for us "Ressies" (Residential) is the vast number of flights between Karratha and Perth each day roughly 10 each way, 2x Weekly to Bne, 1x to Syd & Mel. So that gives us a lot of options.

Also the best perk to come out of FIFO and airline contracts is Rio Tinto gives every single employee in Iron Ore the ability to become DJ Gold instantly. Which is quite interesting because pretty much all travel is done with QF so get on the Virgin flights and get treated like royalty, get on the QF flights and treated as just another FIFO worker if you have any sort of status (even though you might not be!) I usually do ODU's to KTA from Perth and it's interesting when your the only one in J as the FA's like to have a chat but the first question is always "What kind of roster do you do".....lol always get a look when I say I live up here!

Also another thing that has become common is reverse FIFO, people living up here and flying to Perth to work a 4-5 day week.

Thinking about FIFO myself shortly and AFF is the reason.....have become addicted to SC's and FF Points!!!!!!!! Would make sure I based myself somewhere where the most SC's and points could be earnt lol especially since Rio pays for interstate and regional tag on flights now! Makes a huge difference, can basically live any where in Australia and get flights paid for (usually on QF)

 

[timmitch]

Best thing about FIFO is today.. FLY OUT DAY

 

[medhead]

I thought as much. The media tends to make out it's easier when the publish stories of school teachers throwing it in and getting 100+K per year.

A teacher would easily get a job in quality department, or in a data analysis/ business reporting area.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Happy Trails]

I’ve been FIFOing on and off since 1976 (LHR- ABZ in those days), before the term was coined I believe.
Mostly been in oil and gas which seems not to have the extreme peaks and troughs of mining and, fortunately for me now, a few grey hairs are seen as an asset.
I echo most of the previous comments about the pros and cons of the lifestyle; despite the big $$$ it’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea and it’s particularly hard when you have young children.
These days I’m on a 14/14 roster plus I get a six week break once a year, so plenty of time off to chase those SCs.

 

[setout]

I'm an Engineering Surveyor working in Port Hedland. Generally office based.
I work 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off and based in Melbourne.

For me its a great lifestyle improvement over working in Melbourne.
Im a bit of a snob (private school boy) and I can't stand seeing people wearing hi-vis in the lounge or on the plane.

 

[kiwi2768]

II rack up 60sc and 6000 points every 3 weeks as work book red e deals.

I always thought that companies must book the red e-deal seats, despite assurances from a couple of people who do the bookings for employees that they only book the flexible fares. The red e-deal seats should be left for residents who need to travel to Perth and back, and who pay for their own airfares.

 

[Bugalugz]

I always thought that companies must book the red e-deal seats, despite assurances from a couple of people who do the bookings for employees that they only book the flexible fares. The red e-deal seats should be left for residents who need to travel to Perth and back, and who pay for their own airfares.

Yeah some of the smaller companies who book directly use Red E Deals, hence why it can cost $700 to get PER-KTA or vice versa!

Company's should be booking flexible fares....no excuse. Major all book fully flexibly Y fares.

 

[kiwi2768]

My thoughts exactly. They should, under no circumstances, be allowed to book anything but a full fare seat. Not just mining companies or labour hire companies but any company booking seats for employees.

I've already expressed my disgust about the cost of fares in another post.

 

[Flashback]

Dream job involves FIFO-ing all the time and working in an office at a mine site. That type of job probably doesn't exist and I'm dreaming, but I'd be seriously keen to do all that flying, and earning all that money.

Dreams are free, I suppose.

Plenty of those exist. Just depends on what you want to do, really. I was doing a 4/2 (weeks) roster earlier in the year, to another country (approx 8 hours travelling air time) and when I sat down and looked at it all, I wasn't that much better off. I value seeing the wife much more than the 20,000 or so points I would earn.

I agree with Oneworldplus2 in if something happens, they'll do what they can to get you home. That happened with me and they couldn't have been more supportive (in fact it was their idea I get on the next flight home!!).

I'm now working on the same project, however based in the London office and much happier. YMMV.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I always thought that companies must book the red e-deal seats, despite assurances from a couple of people who do the bookings for employees that they only book the flexible fares. The red e-deal seats should be left for residents who need to travel to Perth and back, and who pay for their own airfares.

Yeah some of the smaller companies who book directly use Red E Deals, hence why it can cost $700 to get PER-KTA or vice versa!

Company's should be booking flexible fares....no excuse. Major all book fully flexibly Y fares.

My thoughts exactly. They should, under no circumstances, be allowed to book anything but a full fare seat. Not just mining companies or labour hire companies but any company booking seats for employees.

I've already expressed my disgust about the cost of fares in another post.

It's a free market, nothing can be done about it. What if l do freelance work as a sole trader and purchase the tickets through my own company. Should I also be penalised?
People (companies) can book whatever they want.
Not only that, as l have said previously, when Woodside book tickets for workers, the ticket books as a "Red Edeal", cost wise, but books into full Y.

I even did some hypotheticals;
Lets say BHP has workers flying Perth -> Newman, but could be any number of out-back towns. Lets say that the morning and afternoon flights are heavy with BHP workers, both ways.
Plane is a 738, 156 Y, 12 J. BHP has 40 workers, each way, 2 flights, ticket is $130.
40 (workers) x 2 (flights) x 2 (2 returns) x 130 (ticket) = $20,800 per day.
Thats a lot of money. Will Hi-Viz still be in the lounges throughout the QF network, IMO, yes.

 

[eastwest101]

My thoughts exactly. They should, under no circumstances, be allowed to book anything but a full fare seat. Not just mining companies or labour hire companies but any company booking seats for employees.

Companies take the same risk as self funded people when booking non-flexible fares, the intended traveller getting sick and being unable to fly to or from work or other last minute roster variations such as annual leave etc. With more complex commercial flights connecting through multiple flights and/or carriers then I have found most companies book fairly flexible Y fares.

Don't forget a lot of FIFO is charter work with Metro's all the way up through EMB120's, SF340's, F50's, F100's, Bae146's and in these cases the company already owns all the seats on the planes - filled or empty! The good companies also allow locals to fly on these charters if need be...

 

[amaroo]

My thoughts exactly. They should, under no circumstances, be allowed to book anything but a full fare seat. Not just mining companies or labour hire companies but any company booking seats for employees.

I've already expressed my disgust about the cost of fares in another post.

Why? It's not public transport!

 

[11sjw]

Why? It's not public transport!

Agreed. Plan your travel and you can score the cheap seats.

The larger companies negotiate great rates with Qantas equivalent to Red E Deal prices but get full Y flexibility (and SC's ).

 

[kiwi2768]

It seems FIFOs have suddenly become VIPs at our airport. Fairly recently someone (the Shire or airport management) decided that residents must park in the short-term carpark instead of being able to pull up in the two minute drop-off zone outside the terminal. That's all very nice if you have only one bag and it isn't pouring with rain. They expect the disabled and people with kids to lump their luggage, child seats, portacots, prams etc across to the terminal. Only buses and vans are allowed to pull up outside the terminal and the ranger happily gives out infringement notices to anyone else who dares to drive around there.

 

[The Rok]

It seems FIFOs have suddenly become VIPs at our airport. Fairly recently someone (the Shire or airport management) decided that residents must park in the short-term carpark instead of being able to pull up in the two minute drop-off zone outside the terminal. That's all very nice if you have only one bag and it isn't pouring with rain. They expect the disabled and people with kids to lump their luggage, child seats, portacots, prams etc across to the terminal. Only buses and vans are allowed to pull up outside the terminal and the ranger happily gives out infringement notices to anyone else who dares to drive around there.

That's the way ah ha, ah ha I like it, ah ha ah ha.....

 

[samh004]

I tend to FIFO a lot, but don't work in any mines, I just do it for fun.

My tips? Comfort seats make a lot of sense, so you don't need to sit next to anyone and double up your points and SC. can't tell you how to improve seat selection though, seeing as advance selection doesn't work on QantasLink.


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