Business travellers embracing cattle class

[Reggie]

Reggie,

I disagree with you. Our company policy will not allow for a self paid upgrade. They even have trouble with the concept of a points upgrade though they will reluctantly accept it.

OK I stand corrected, but I did say nearly all. Do you (or oz_mark) have the choice to not travel, or would that result in loss of job?

 

[oz_mark]

No, I do not need to travel. In fact for people at my level it is unusual, but overall my flying has somewhat decreased over the last year.

 

[Shano]

Our travel policy is very simple - Y for every employee regardless of distance.

If I wanted I could pay for an upgrade from Y to J, but according to Mrs Shano that money is better put towards our house renovations.....

But there is no restriction on use of points to UG.

 

[Travel Guru]

When you look at SME's (something my agency services alot of), the travel policy isn't as clear cut, and depends on where you sit in the company with most CEO's, MD's etc travelling J, but with their staff travelling Y.

I disagree with you also Reggie, I don't know too many people who could refuse to go simply because they aren't travelling J and still find they have a job on Monday morning.

TG

 

[Reggie]

I disagree with you also Reggie, I don't know too many people who could refuse to go simply because they aren't travelling J and still find they have a job on Monday morning.

TG

My point is that when people take a job they know (or should ask) what the policy is. They make a choice to work for a company, if they dont like the travel policy they can make another choice.

Others on this board make a decision of employer based on travel policy.

Many miners in WA choose to fly in and out, whilst others make the choice to live near a mine so they dont have to travel.

 

[JohnK]

I disagree with you also Reggie, I don't know too many people who could refuse to go simply because they aren't travelling J and still find they have a job on Monday morning.

I think we have done this one to death.

I don't mind travelling WHY but if the company wanted me to travel then it would be up to me to choose the carrier within reason. So if QF was priced at say $1200, SQ was priced at $1150 and TG was priced at $1100 I should still be allowed to choose QF. If the company insisted that I travel with airlines like JQ, Garuda, Aeroflot etc then I am no longer available to travel. If that means that I no longer have a job on Monday morning then so be it. I am not that desperate to travel.

The same goes for giving me time before and after the business trip to recover. So if I arrive back at 5:00am do not expect me back at work until the next day. And travel in company time not my time. They are not doing me a favour sending me overseas so that I can bill out 100 hours in 7 days straight work. I am doing them a favour.

By the way I have not worked for a company that has refused these requests....

 

[dajop]

I disagree, nearly all corporate travellers, and pax for that matter, have a choice on flying economy. The other choice(s) are pay the difference to fly J, or not fly at all. Personally I make the first choice, its amazing how many people say I wish I could fly J, but wouldn't pay for it themselves.

There are sometimes when I've made the second choice (ie pay the difference to fly J) ... but only for domestic flights in Thailand & Philippines where it's been a matter of $20 or so (... and the other day our corporate TA booked for me in Y from BKK-MNL - only full Y available. I cancelled the fare and rebooked in D class - I would have been quite happy if the company actually let me pay the difference (D class was $150 less than Y ) but alas, they picked up that difference ....)

 

[simongr]

I disagree with you also Reggie, I don't know too many people who could refuse to go simply because they aren't travelling J and still find they have a job on Monday morning.

Interestingly most people I know that have unexpected travel requirements (i.e. the job is not sold to them as xx% travel [note whenever anyone quotes xx% travel either double it or half it - never believe the % unless it is 100%]) are happy to travel any class thus the surprise of travelling whY is not a deal breaker.

My point is that when people take a job they know (or should ask) what the policy is. They make a choice to work for a company, if they dont like the travel policy they can make another choice.

Others on this board make a decision of employer based on travel policy.

This was my position completely - I have told my boss that if the policy changed then I would not be travelling and would look for another job.

I have travelled enough now that if I am not in comfort I don't need to travel. Conversely though I am happy to travel on my own time...

 

[Reggie]

Interestingly most people I know that have unexpected travel requirements (i.e. the job is not sold to them as xx% travel [note whenever anyone quotes xx% travel either double it or half it - never believe the % unless it is 100%]) are happy to travel any class thus the surprise of travelling whY is not a deal breaker.

Only double it, you are more conservative than I thought, other than that I agree

This was my position completely - I have told my boss that if the policy changed then I would not be travelling and would look for another job.

You were one of the members I was referring to I have it written into my contract about J, so if the policy changes, my contract requires renegotiation.

I have travelled enough now that if I am not in comfort I don't need to travel. Conversely though I am happy to travel on my own time...

Likewise, the thrill of travel as ended, it is now the same as catching a train, if there was another way, I would use it.