Staff Travel Query

[Travel_Lover]

Hi Everyone,

A friend of mine has just become a companion (i think that's the right word) of a Qantas staff member and so he tells me that for 6 months he's able to fly around Oz pretty cheaply, as long as he doesn't mind missing a flight or two when it's busy.
I was having a search here on the forum and read a few posts saying that a some staffies don't necessarily use their staff travel coz of the lack of a definite seat - which is fair enough, sounds like a pain most of the time.

So a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help me with are:

1) are all staff eligible for cheap travel? Even the cleaners?

2) Would some staff have spare room on their staff-lists that others could use?

Just thinking that a part-time cleaning job may get me some cheap flights...if Ihave any time left to travel after two jobs that is! LOL


Cheers.

 

[markis10]

The general consensus amongst those that have had access to staff travel in the past is that it is nice but unless you like uncertainty not a good option compared to what can be purchased by the public if planned well in advance. I doubt there would be any staff travel on the deep discount fares getting a seat at present, all you need is a bit of ash or a grounded tiger to make your day become a week!

 

[Justchecking]

Staff travel isn't worth as much as it once was. A lot of discount economy fares these days are pretty close to staff travel fares with the added benefit of being confirmed travel.

 

[BadgerBoi]

Years ago I had staff travel benefits (as a family member). I would occasionally get a guaranteed ticket which was worth taking (ie a couple of hundred dollars return to the USA), but got caught badly once using an ordinary staff fare (ie no guarantee), flight was cancelled, credit cards maxed out and couldn't get home from overseas for several days.
That was in the days when the benefits were worth something, but I never touched staff travel again.
Not worth it imho.

 

[milehighclub]

Staff travel is a good benefit, you just need to plan, and have backups. Even with the current ash, staff have still been able to get on (through cancellations)

My friends just left on a trip, in school holidays no less, and got to their destination fine through smart planning.

I have missed 3 flights in 7 years and used staff travel quite extensively.

To answer your question - yes cleaners are entitled to it, if they are Qantas cleaners. Like most companies that have office space, they use an external company for cleaners but even then some contractors also get staff travel. Qantas does have it's own cleaners though as well for aircraft and some airports

I'm not aware of anyone that has a spare companion spot.

 

[rechoboam]

As a student it was pretty cool (a relative was TA) and I was offered $99 to NYC etc. With no money and plenty of time, why say no? Some of the routings were pretty crazy though.

 

[stew1e]

I love using my staff travel, but agree that you need to plan and just be patient. I have family that live interstate, so the benefit for me is worth a considerable amount (being able to jump on a plane at sort notice, especially in times of need!) Like I said, you need to be patient though as sometimes it is a bit of a wait at the airport if the flight get's full.

Some of our contractors get staff travel, but mostly you need to be employed directly by the airline.

Also think it is better/ easier domestically than internationally, prefer flying internationally confirmed where I don't have to worry about getting on and getting back to work on time

Anyway, just adding my two cents!

 

[Justchecking]

Also think it is better/ easier domestically than internationally, prefer flying internationally confirmed where I don't have to worry about getting on and getting back to work on time

Anyway, just adding my two cents!

This +1, domestic staff travel is pretty handy as generally flight frequencies mean if you miss out on one plane the next one will be along shortly. But internationally is harder as the frequency can be as low as 3 times a week which can really throw an international trip into disarray. You can also be up for a bucketload of $$$ if you have to buy a last minute fare to get back home.

 

[tuapekastar]

Years ago when we lived in SIN, family friends who worked for AN (lived in MEL) were returning home from a world trip on staff travel when they got offloaded in SIN and had no money left (no ATMs, few credit cards) - they had to stay with us for 3 or 4 days before they could get on a flight home. I don't know what the risks are these days.

 

[trooper]

Sat next to a young lady on an NZ flight LAX-AKL who was travelling on some sort of staff/buddy pass... and she had paid NZD$3000 for a one way just to get home for work.. having been told she'd probably be waiting 3 or 4 more days for the standby/staff ticket to "clear"...

The flight was sold out in all cabins.... so my points upgrade sure wasn't going to happen (thank goodness for pre-selected exit aisles!) AND apparently there were around 80 people trying to get on that flight as standby pax.... families included... (Last Sunday of NZ school holidays)

Made staff travel look quite unattractive to me....

 

[elbarto]

It has it's pros and cons. I recently spent most of a day at LAX recently trying to get on a flight back to LHR. After talking with the Duty manager we (my BA staff member and I) came to the conclusion we would be better off forking out a few bucks and flying AA to DEN and going from there as the flights were wide open.

If you're using staff travel, I would suggest adding a tool such as experflyer to your bag to help you out with planning.

 

[LiamR]

I often will do OOL-SYD-OOL for a day trip or overnight on standby. If you plan it correctly, and allow time to be put on the earlier or later flight, it can be really useful. I'll usually book a 5pm flight home, knowing there is 5 or so flights before the end of the day. Never had a problem.

Only ever been moved to the next flight last week, when it was state of origin, ash cloud aftermath, sunday and tiger disaster.

 

[Pvcmenace]

Totally irrelevant, but my best friend in primary school late 80's His father flew for Ansett and his mum used to go for shopping in Sydney for $5 each way I'm sure those days have passed... would be nice though.

 

[browski]

Not all classes of staff tickets are standby, mainly the ID90 ones.
Most of the ID50 flights are confirmed seats.
SYD-SIN in J for about $550 return...........not bad.

 

[williamsf1]

Staff travel / ID travel is never 100% confirmed no matter what you pay . Even on a ID50 ticket .... if flight is oversold , you will be bumped off before commercial Pax .

Tips for staff travel
1- avoid school holidays ( and also consider what holidays are at the destination)
2- Travel alone ( easier to get 1 seat than 5 for a family)
3- Remember things can happen on the day ( flight could be half full few hours before, and then another flight goes OS and you miss out )
4- Allow a few days before you have to return to work ( just in case you get stuck at the other end)
5- depending on destination , try for a mid afternoon flight ( so you have other later options to get on )
6- Staff travel has categories it works on years of service and how senior you are ( if you are traveling without the staff member you will be one of the last on)
7- have back up plans - if a option staff tickets on other airlines.
8- be prepared to wait days ( LA is well known for this)
9- have a credit card just in case you need to but a full fare home !!

Staff travel can be great ........ but for all the " good" stories you hear ..... there can be just as many " bad" ones