Changing Flights Paid For By An Employer

[NoName]

I'm assuming the answer will depend on which company the bookings go through so happy for a general sort of answer. If I have an overseas work trip booked and want to change the flights so as to allow some time for sightseeing at a transit point will the change be relayed back to my employer if I call the airline directly and pay for any change fees myself?

 

[Hvr]

Who ever the booking company is will be liable for the charges. They are the only ones who can alter the booking.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Changing a ticket from a transit to a stopover can invoke reticketing and additional taxes/fees at the transit

As above, only the Travel Agent who booked can change it before the first flight.

Best to discuss openly with your employer. Where I work several guys have been sacked for air ticket issues. If anyone reporting to me tried something fishy, they would be on one way ticket.

 

[bismarck]

I agree - best to discuss.

For my company at least, they don't really care what I do as long as I tell them in advance and the overall cost is no different to the standard flight.

 

[drewbles]

I agree - best to discuss.

For my company at least, they don't really care what I do as long as I tell them in advance and the overall cost is no different to the standard flight.

Same for me. My employer is more than happy to let me take a holiday before/after a work trip providing the cost of the fares is no different to what it would be if I travelled only for work (and in some circumstances it's worked out to be a lot less, so they've been extremely happy).

 

[DrA]

My employer certainly cares. If you take personal time on a work paid trip, you are potentially liable to pay fringe benefits tax. This has been an absolute nightmare for my employer, because we all used to do this, and as of 2 years ago, the government changed the rules. It's hit them (and some employees who've been forced to repay considerable sums of money) quite hard.

Be careful.

 

[bismarck]

My employer certainly cares. If you take personal time on a work paid trip, you are potentially liable to pay fringe benefits tax. This has been an absolute nightmare for my employer, because we all used to do this, and as of 2 years ago, the government changed the rules. It's hit them (and some employees who've been forced to repay considerable sums of money) quite hard.

Be careful.

Yes, FBT can be a problem which is why my company is keen to discuss first. Can be quite painful.

 

[Happy Trails]

It was a lot simpler in the old days of paper tickets.
Back in the 70s & 80s I was able to change dates, destinations, even airlines, no questions asked.

 

[pauly7]

Yes, FBT can be a problem which is why my company is keen to discuss first. Can be quite painful.

Yes same here for one of my employers - they now have a blanket rule banning it unfortunately (too hard basket to manage being one of the largest companies in the world)

 

[eastwest101]

Yes same here for one of my employers - they now have a blanket rule banning it unfortunately (too hard basket to manage being one of the largest companies in the world)

Yes I suspect its in the "too hard" basket of many private sector companies now, as its difficult and time consuming to manage and can have nasty FBT consequences if something goes wrong.

As a lot of corporations use corporate travel providers with presumably corporate discounts (although some here are dubious as to whether the discounts are meaningful), when tickets/fares do have to be modified/changed due to say sickness/missed connections or a variety of other reasons by the corporate travel agent - are they subject to the same fare rules and penalties as people whom have booked their own flights? I would assume so - as it would be tied up in the fare class and fare rules but would like to hear from any corporate travel agents about whether it is different or not.

 

[pauly7]

Yes I suspect its in the "too hard" basket of many private sector companies now, as its difficult and time consuming to manage and can have nasty FBT consequences if something goes wrong.

As a lot of corporations use corporate travel providers with presumably corporate discounts (although some here are dubious as to whether the discounts are meaningful)

The upfront discounts are usually more 'guaranteed rates' with flexibility built into the rate. For example the very large company I referred to before has a corporate rate with SPG that I use sometimes - it isn't always the cheapest but has flexibility built into it and holds the price down for last minute travel.

Then there are the volume rebates that come afterwards and are unseen by the people not in procurement/accounts - so that is probably why most people don't think the corp discounts aren't that great!

 

[DrA]

Yes same here for one of my employers - they now have a blanket rule banning it unfortunately (too hard basket to manage being one of the largest companies in the world)

We're not forbidden from it. But we have to fill in very detailed travel diaries and sign off on paperwork saying we're aware of all the FBT implications and insurance issues etc.

It's not just about FBT, because the corporate travel insurance policy we are covered under doesn't cover us for personal travel. It's caught a few people out.

I suspect my employer wants to put in the "too hard basket", but they know if they did they'd have riots on their hands

 

[NoName]

Thanks for the replies all. I didn't consider those aspects.

I will be travelling A-B via C and wanting to stopover in C on the return leg. What would happen if I simply didn't board the final C-A leg home and bought my own ticket home a few days later? Any FBT issues here and would the failure to board be notified to the travel agent?

 

[Hvr]

Well you would need to have hand luggage only otherwise it would be checked through to the final destination.

I'd assume you're still getting paid by your employer for the journey home so you would need their permission to change from paid duty to leave. It might be considered fraud otherwise.

You would need to organise your own travel insurance for the time you're on leave.

The travel agent may or many not be liable for any extra charges if 'hidden city ticketing' comes into play. (Very unusual if it does but there is a very small possibility it may come in to play.)

The TA would probably be asked what happened to you and inform your employer.

As with most things, the actual event may not cause you problems, but not informing your employer beforehand or worse, lying about it, will very likely cause you serious problems.

 

[Mwenenzi]

..Best to discuss openly with your employer. Where I work several guys have been sacked for air ticket issues. If anyone reporting to me tried something fishy, they would be on one way ticket.

As with most things, the actual event may not cause you problems, but not informing your employer beforehand or worse, lying about it, will very likely cause you serious problems.

Thanks for the replies all. I didn't consider those aspects.

I will be travelling A-B via C and wanting to stopover in C on the return leg. What would happen if I simply didn't board the final C-A leg home and bought my own ticket home a few days later? Any FBT issues here and would the failure to board be notified to the travel agent?

Anyone trying to game the corporate system without discussing first would be at risk. Traveling for business has responsiblities. I would consider the trustworthiness & integrity of that person. Its soon becomes know if someone has had "few days" on the company's money. Perception (of fraud) means a lot. (I have sacked people for less)

 

[muppet]

There's no suggestion it was on company money. The OP even suggested buying a new ticket?

What planet are you on where you think that's fraud?

Was the travel bone fide?
Was the expense approved?
Did the employee attend the required meetings/event?
Was the employee at work next as scheduled?

90% of business travel is on PERSONAL time - unpaid overtime. Having a break in the journey cannot be fraud, unless your employee pays you during travel - i know most my travel is before 8:30am and well after 5pm = my time! Yes, claiming travel allowance would be fraud - but the OP makes no such suggestion.

I feel like the responses in this thread are written by people in corporate (HR / Travel) who never travel and think the whole thing is a junket.

 

[muppet]

I should add - yes I need approval to do this.

And its so onerous that i don't bother anymore. Next week i have a friday morning flight back home and friday night i fly straight back to the destination for private reasons = utter nonsense but i couldn't be bothered with the approvals.

 

[drewbles]

Well you would need to have hand luggage only otherwise it would be checked through to the final destination.

I've found most check-in agents are happy to not check a bag through to its end destination. I've done it 5 times this year already after I had urgent situations pop up that meant the cheapest way for me to be where I had to be involved going from A to C via B, jumping off at B and purchasing a separate flight at B. The agents do ask why and I simply tell them that my plans have changed due to an emergency. They then don't mind at all.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I would just be upfront will the employer & ask what steps you need to take so it's possible. That way the booking could be ticketed for the actual dates you want without the need for the ticket re-issue & associated re-issue fees etc.

They would need to check with the corporate TA that the dates you want would not make the fare more expensive than for the dates the employer would have originally booked.

A previous company I worked for would give employees a day in lieu if we travelled on a day off eg Sunday if we had to be there that night to start a training course Monday morning.

Quite often there's a lot more you don't know about that happens behind the scenes as others have already mentioned eg the FBT bit, company travel insurance etc but it may be worth the effort & speaking to HR or appropriate department to find out what paperwork there is required.

It may be a blanket no or you may be surprised & find that there's a legal way to do it so it's a win/win situation.