What jobs does everyone do, to do so much flying

[blu]

I dropped from (tourist) SG after the demise of QF's JASA and now retired (was in IT accounting).
My son is WP. With all economy flights, as with many these days, he never sees the 'romance' in flight.
He FIFO's to O&G fields all over Aus (& heli's to oceanic). Also training o/seas, mainly Asia (avoiding PNG).

 

[liamsal]

Self funded WP, don't do any travel for work (Government)

 

[YSSY]

I work in the Maritime Industry, former Ships Captain. FIFO a lot, different clients means anything from travelling in business down to 'SEMN' tickets (some of which are non points earning)

 

[Cossie]

Previously in IT for several major govt. departments, no travel there, unless you count a couple of days in Baulkham Hills. Now retired, all travel is self funded, this forum has helped greatly in experiencing the pointy ends of planes, to which I'm very grateful.
Several of my former colleagues never made it to retirement, who knows what is around the corner, make the most of every day is my motto.
I've always enjoyed traveling, it was my goal to visit every country in the world, that isn't going to happen, but I'm very close to being able to join the Century Club. Fortunately the boss enjoys travel as much as I do, we actually met in Nairobi, and she speaks German, so that helps!

 

[takenbyaliens]

I run sports, cultural, music, business studies etc tours and events in China. Participants are all school aged with kids from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand attending / touring each year. Spend one month a year in South Africa ( 2018 is my 19th trip ) and about 3-4 months in China. Add in my holidays ( usually also overseas ) and it adds up. 145 days at home this year. Travel only in J and pay for it all except when I use points for my holidays also in J.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

For the moment, I'm a Partnership Operations Manager for a Sydney based RTO, this has mostly involved monthly or twice-monthly trips Sydney - Melbourne/Brisbane, mostly day trips, with an overnight stay maybe every 2mths for the last 2 years, all in Y and on VA.

This effort, with a few self-funded MEL, BNE and ADL trips and 2 major Overseas holidays with Lady Lenny has seen me hit WP last year.

Recently we've moved into International Delivery so I've had a trip to Malaysia on SQ for work. Sadly I don't see many more in the future, not sure how much longer I'll be at the company. Luckily we both love travel, and travelling to Europe on SQ so with my soft landing and then family pooling I should be able to retain Gold for the next 2-3 years hopefully.

That's of course if my next role doesn't include any travel.

 

[Groundhog]

My last role was as an Aviation Security Consultant across Oceania? Sometimes i would fly to a destination and deliberately stay at the airport.

I am now the GM for a multi-national security business (mostly corrections and infrastructure clients) and travel extensively around ANZ with a quarterly trip to Singapore regional HQ. All whY unfortunately, unless an upgrade request comes through.

 

[laffer]

International playboy. Have a lot of FIFO missions for clients.

 

[harvyk]

IT here, used to do a lot of travel but that has dried up. These days I tend to fly only a few times per year, but I prefer the quality of the travel I'm doing now compared to the quantity I was previously doing. Only so many times flying the same route can be exciting before the boredom sets in.

 

[fifo]

Environment Manager and Engineer. Do a lot of construction in rail, dredging, wharfs etc. Did FIFO for 5 years to WA from SYD, got QF LTS this way. Now in Doha working on the metro, so all leisure travel for me now. Working towards LTG with a lot of UL J flights across the region.

 

[HockeyMonkey]

Work in engineering management for a US based software company. As my role has advanced and the company has grown, including M&A activity, international travel has increased rapidly.

Offices and customers in US, Europe, Asia and India.

Unfortunately travel policy is strictly Y only so upgrades are at my cost either in dollars or points.

Mrs HockeyMonkey is a university academic so does a lot of conference travel which tends to drive our vacation schedule.

 

[kookaburra75]

I have a small consulting company, specialising in procurement and evaluation. I do 1-2 domestic flights a week, and NZ every couple of months for BD meetings and project work. And each year, 2-3 runs to the UK for work with a partner company. All in Y, although I do put in for point upgrades to J on the UK runs.
Mrs Kookaburra and I get away a few times a year from Canberra to other parts of Australia, and overseas every couple of years - using points for flights or upgrades.
If you are going to start doing the run to Ireland on a monthly basis, learn how to put yourself into a zen like state so the flight goes quickly.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Contract cleaning.
Dates are fixed.
Do I know when I can book a short every few months trip Au - NZ.

 

[chelzmalee]

Residential property manager. I fly to avoid murder. (Sort of). It’s all at my cost, hence why I hang out here

 

[OATEK]

When I first found myself flying weekly it was as a property manager, looking after about 170 properties around NSW. So mostly flying with East-West and Hazeltons originally, and their later incarnations. Then moved into IT and went to about a third the number of sites regularly, and a few interstate conferences & meetings.

 

[bertflyer]

University sector for me, so all work travel in Y but enough to keep SG for the last 8 years or so. Plus annual trip to EU for family visits. Mostly international travel for work (S and SE Asia). AFF meant I quickly learnt that not all Y seats are the same and now rarely have someone reclining in front of me (even if I have pay for the privilege nowadays). Have an unhealthy obsession with watching EF for rows 23 (A330) or 32 (A380) to open up and usually burn my QFFs for upgrades a couple of times a year.

 

[Boca68]

After many years working for one of the major supermarket chains here in Oz and having a small catering/restaurant business on the side as a silent partner in Lima and Rio de Janeiro.
Circumstances, life, opportunity and love have combined with a bit of luck, now has me diving in to a new fresh produce export business based in Lima. I feel like Elon Musk, meaning I'm spending lots of money, lots of free publicity, but making diddly squat!!

So most of my travel is to South America (LIM/SCL/GIG), a little to Brisbane, Sydney and now a new opening to Mexico.

 

[juddles]

I think a misconception can occur in this area that everyone who flies lots is "rich" or "work-funded". In my case it is driven by necessity, and situation. I suspect few even in this forum spend such a large percentage of their income/resources on travel. It is by far my biggest cost of living. Why do I do it? Because in my situation, I have to.

 

[Matt_01]

I ran my own show for 5-6 years so I travelled to the work location be it AU, Asia, or the US. I am back to being a wage slave but my work is not in the same state that I live in and it will remain that way for family reasons. I do not do a daily commute, it is weekly on a bus with wings and far more expensive than a weekly train or bus ticket. My employer as no hesitations in sending staff around AU or international for work purposes and it happens with regularity.

I am in same situation as Juddles, it is just the way it is.

To the OP FIFA, interstate, AU-NZ, and international commuters are more common than most would think.

 

[BAM1748]

Work for an American railroad which has operations in Australia.