University staff

[UniFlyer]

I just want to know if there are any University staff members as members on this site. My new job is within the university sector and I have around 3-4 trips overseas msotly to north asia. I have just registered with Singapore airlines but looks like Cathay Pacific might be better frequent flyer problem. Any advise. all my travels are economy class.

 

[anat0l]

Used to be staff... familiar with uni travel, though.

Depends a lot on your project, centre and uni travel policies, including e.g. preferred carriers.

 

[tuppaware]

I'm Pro staff at a uni. But my work is strict on what we can and can't fly. Plus I'm not high enough up to do much travel :-(

 

[dalereardon]

Hi,

I'm a PhD postgrad student at ANU. The University sector has a good corporate membership deal with either Qantas Club or Virgin. You might want to join and get lounge access depending on the airlines you travel with.

You can usually salary sacrifice the membership fee.

Also check out the website:

www.government.travel

and that isn't a typo with the url. It offers great accommodation and other deals to Government sector / University members. You need a .gov.au or .edu.au email account to register.

Dale.

 

[casanovawa]

Thanks for that dale, have registered and might use sometime...

 

[maomaocat]

Also check out the website:

www.government.travel

and that isn't a typo with the url. It offers great accommodation and other deals to Government sector / University members. You need a .gov.au or .edu.au email account to register.

My partner is in the public science sector and at times she's been pretty annoyed with her organisation's default travel agent for bookings. Do you know if government.travel lets you earn FF points / SC?

 

[dalereardon]

Not sure if bookings made through Government.travel can earn points or not. I imagine it will depend on the individual hotels. Government.travel is a booking facilitation website rather than a travel agent from what I have gathered.

Send them an email and check - they have always answered my emails,

Dale.

 

[iambents]

Uni staff here - but have next to no control over who I fly with for work - strictly cheapest fare on the route. Only way to manipulate is to make a specific request (timing etc) that can only be met by a specific carrier and this will often be greeted by raised eyebrow. Unlike government travel in NSW (in the health sector at least) - we do earn our points though.

 

[bertflyer]

Also Uni staff here, we have to use the University system to book all flights but (still) have some control over which carriers we chose. Thus I look for QF or OW flights and send them to the travel people and usually get the flights I want. We do earn SCs and points.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You can usually salary sacrifice the membership fee.

Also check out the website: www.government.travel

Thanks for the link, I never knew it existed.

As for the salary sacrifice, in Qld at least, that was the case until recently, but I'm sure I read an email that the education sector salary sacrifice has been, well.....sacrificed by Mr Newmans fiscal festerings so carefully check that before committing. It may not have changed yet, but I think it is about to (I don't salary sacrifice due to other business arrangements so I deleted the email....sorry I can't confirm one way or the other).

 

[grubbidok]

Welcome UniFlyer!

I'm in the university sector too. I'm now at a 'newer' ATN university after spending a few years at a G8. Every uni (even Schools within unis) has its own culture in its approach to everything, and travel is no different.

As for FF programs, I would make sure that you choose one that has good domestic benefits and recognition and good return from your domestic flights. As even though you probably think its those North Asian trips that will give you the most towards earning for status, it will actually be the multiple domestic trips you are required to do. I think this is particularly true for uni staff as they are restricted from flying anything but Y, and usually end up in discount Y at that. A lot of the tips floating around here just won't work for you as J, and usually even Y+, is out of the picture. YMMV depending on your specific situation, and what works for us may not work for you.

FWIW I've moved over to VA from QF. This is because only being allowed to fly Y has to be accommodated in my decisions. I usually have 1-2x European, 1-2 Asian and 2-3 North American trips per year. I specifically chose VA as SQ flights that count towards full economy rates are within budget compared to the other airlines. For example, a $2062 W-class economy fare on SQ to London this April will earn me 280SCs and ~21300 points as it falls in the "full economy" bracket, while a similarly priced (in fact slightly more expensive) VA or EY flight would only earn me 140SCs and ~18500 points as they fall in the "discount economy" bracket. I've got another one to Paris in July. Those two flights alone assure me of VA Gold requal on SQ (560SCs), but wouldn't in discount economy even on VA metal (280SCs).

All my QF flights were discount economy previously too and I was sometimes struggling to get Gold even with those international flights and flying at least every other week. Delta are also a better partner than American ever were for my US trips. I heard on the grape-vine VA are in discussion with Aerolinea Argentinas to have a DL-style 'deep partnership' as well, which for my work would be the cherry on top.

Status definitely makes frequent travel more bearable, and you should try to make it happen.

Another thing to note with your situation. Most of your uni travel is likely to be discount Y, especially internationally. For CX and SQ their discounted rates often don't give you anything (or basically nothing - I think it's 10% on SQ, on their own program!). Make sure your flights count.

We usually have to pay for travel with our own money, rather than the Faculty's (well our own accounts, which the grants and consultancies we win get poured into). We do have a lot of say in airlines, but are required to use one of two university-approved travel agents (we can get away with that for domestic if we can show cheaper fares). Though often we have to demonstrate it is 'reasonable' often by including one or two other fare prices on our travel funds release request form, particularly if we are accessing Faculty money rather than our own (they have some competitive schemes here). I find the rates the travel agent usually provide for international are usually more expensive than I can find, but sometimes cheaper (as them first). If I find something cheaper I usually take a screen shot and they price match it. I only use them because I absolutely have to according to the almighty university travel directive.

In terms of buying lounge membership. Our university policy specificallysays that we cannot do this, but it caveats that by saying we can if the Dean approves it. I've found the "I need it for meetings and to use as an office" always worked to get approval (again only using our own funds), though TBH haven't had to test this for a few years now. It isn't eligible for salary sacrifice here, but was at UQ. If you are NHMRC or ARC funded, you'll also have to find different ways to pay for your travel, as these avenues are basically cut-off now.

One last thing. All university travel policies have a statement that points incurred should be used for university business. Ignore it. Everyone else does, including uni administrators.