Ethics of status runs

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Status runs create jobs for more workers. Therefore they are morally sound.

 

[Duffa]

What about flying for status when work is paying? A Melbourne relative who has had a promotion is now flying a lot. They told me that they have booked outbound to NZ via Sydney and back via BNE. Direct flights were similar price.
As a business owner, I don't see a problem as long as it doesn't cost me.

 

[SCM]

Nothing you do matters and it all pales in comparison with what India and China are doing. The industry is moving forward, and if less co2 is something it cares about, changes will be made over time (it's happening now). Flying less doesn't do anything, other than deprive the industry of funds needed to make the transition.

There is a lot to be said about the ethics of elites doing any given thing, while telling you to live in a cage, eat bugs, and not do anything interesting with your life, while themselves doing the opposite and quietly promoting the opposite.

 

[mel-world]

And I thought this was a politics free zone, especially during an election campaign.

 

[Forg]

And I thought this was a politics free zone, especially during an election campaign.

I'd like to think that many many attitudes & beliefs aren't political, it's just that politics/politicians have latched onto people's attitudes & beliefs in order to "buy" votes ... this isn't being political, it's the politics being apolitical that's the problem!

 

[Cloud9]

I dunno. Technically, you could call quite a bit of my weekend relaxation flying a "status run" - across the ditch for dinner, a nice night out, comfy digs and then back to the broom cupboard in Auckland for a coffee before flying back. But, really, the "status run" side of it is just a secondary component.

That said, since having to spend more time travelling for work, it's become something of an eye opener the way that OWE can get you a bit of a comfier experience even in Y. Would I burn the cash to get back up to P1 (thank you boss for paying for about 80% of the way there on that one) - probably not, but I've also not been into SYD F to try the secret menu yet. CX and JAL have been extremely generous with the complimentary bumps to W and J in the last few months (as were BA last year).

I probably would do the status runs for the creature comforts of WP in future years, though. Would I be overly concerned about the ethics of it? No - as has been mentioned above, the planes are flying anyways, and muppets like me would be supporting jobs. If you're going to be flying a dozen flights anyways, a couple of extra shots in a seat to bump up your comfort level isn't going to have a broad impact on the planet. But it might have a broad impact on your state of mind.

P.S. I drive an electric car and have the house off the grid on solar. I'm no petrol monkey, but I think we'd do well to maybe focus on the big industrial polluters before kicking Joe Bloggs for damaging the environment by having a jolly.

 

[offshore171]

I guess one solution would be for the airline to allow you to buy a "ghost ticket".

Basically you pay the fare, dont fly, but still get the credit. Such tickets would also probably be exempt from airport fees and taxes.

 

[Haplo]

Airline probably should just sell status credit as an option. For those who want the status they can pay for it instead of going on a status run.

 

[Chicken]

I'd like to think that many many attitudes & beliefs aren't political, it's just that politics/politicians have latched onto people's attitudes & beliefs in order to "buy" votes ... this isn't being political, it's the politics being apolitical that's the problem!

And ethics is important to everything we do. As an example: If there is no law which says it is illegal to steal someone's wallet, would it then be OK to steal someone's wallet? This question is clearly not political.

At the risk of being off topic, on stop of status run, is the pointy end. I only do economy class when flying short haul or under 5 hours, but always in business when flying out of Australia (sorry never been to WA). The pointy end is also responsible for more carbon footprint. "Is it ethical to fly business class in light of the climate crisis?"

 

[CaptJCool]

I guess one solution would be for the airline to allow you to buy a "ghost ticket".

Basically you pay the fare, dont fly, but still get the credit. Such tickets would also probably be exempt from airport fees and taxes.

They don’t like you buying the hidden city cheaper tic

They’re hardly likely to appreciate ghost tics even if my friend fails to board in September… they’ll pocket the cash and I get a comfort seat … without the status credits

 

[DC3]

I have never done a pure status run, as in booked a flight solely for the purpose of earning SCs …