...and I was SO close to making Lifetime Silver in 2yrs 10months!

[Febs]

...but the "credit crisis" hit home.

The client I travel most for recently changed their travel policy - economy for all, no ifs or buts.

Not such a big impact for those who do trips to Asia, but for the few of us who regularly do 3 sector, 20+hr trips to the US (one-way), it's going to take its toll!

Worst part is, I'm just over 300 SC's away from LTS (with my US trip in Dec I would've hit it in under 3yrs, if in J/A)...now I guess I'll just have to wait a bit longer (and hope the J travel picks up again, and if not, hope QFF comp me for a while longer!)

Still going to try for a Y->J upgrade though, just to see what the A380 J cabin is like.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. Anyone else been hit in a similar way?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Evan]

Yep, its sad... The company i have worked for last few years has always had whY policy for my level and below... but lots of rest time so dofficult to complain when you get to holiday in a country for free.

But a lot of higher level managers have had to get back to whY so will be interesting to see how they like it :shock:

If you have to turn up for Monday can you fly the friday before ?

E

 

[Febs]

If you have to turn up for Monday can you fly the friday before ?

I've put the case forward that we should get at least a day's rest...because in the past we were landing at (up to) 8pm, then starting work at 9am the next day (fine if in business/First, not so much in economy).

I'm leaving a day early for the next trip, so I've got about 36hrs to kill in LA. Could leave on the Friday if I wanted, but I'd probably have to foot the hotel bill for the Fri/Sat night.

I was planning on making this one a DONE4 as well (because they're cheaper and I was going to visit a mate in DC and London)...ah well, these things happen.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Dave Noble]

I'm leaving a day early for the next trip, so I've got about 36hrs to kill in LA. Could leave on the Friday if I wanted, but I'd probably have to foot the hotel bill for the Fri/Sat night.

Evem travelling J to USA, flew on the friday for start on the monday and had no question over who was going to pay for hotel. Don't travel in own time is the motto of the day

Dave

 

[Febs]

Isn't leaving on the Friday travelling in your own time though? I'm fine with taking a week or two off if I'm turning it into a DONE4 and doing a mini-holiday, but otherwise I'd rather leave as late as possible and not lose a weekend.

We're adequately compensated for the actual travel time - even when we flew J. We basically get 3 days to charge to travel, so if we travel on weekends (we usually leave on Sundays, return on Saturdays), we can charge the three days to the following week and take 3 days off after returning (in the case of my next trip, that takes me up to Christmas ).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Dave Noble]

Isn't leaving on the Friday travelling in your own time though? I'm fine with taking a week or two off if I'm turning it into a DONE4 and doing a mini-holiday, but otherwise I'd rather leave as late as possible and not lose a weekend.

Not too badly. The flight to US was at around 11am

Dave

 

[Shano]

Unfortunately this is the norm with the company I work for.

Have flown to PIT numerous times - arriving at ~ 11pm and starting the next day ~ 8am. My preference at the moment is to tolerate this rather than spend the extra day away from my family.

You are really going to notice the big drop in SC earning from J to discount Y.

 

[serfty]

If you have a day to spare in the US, 300 SC's can be easily travelled for far less than it would cost in Oz.

 

[Febs]

If you have a day to spare in the US, 300 SC's can be easily travelled for far less than it would cost in Oz.

True..and if that meant retaining Plat I'd probably do it. I'm currently sitting on around 3,300 SC's this year so I'll just wait for LTS. We fly full Y domestically, so a few MEL or BNE trips ought to sort it out.

I think the quote we might've gotten for Internal US flights was actually in full Y...which means I might be able to make them YUPs or KUPs for no extra...see how we go.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[markis10]

If you have a day to spare in the US, 300 SC's can be easily travelled for far less than it would cost in Oz.

LT Silver is not something I would consider doing a SC run for unless I was a perenial bronze, after all the letter you get is the only benefit apart from a safety net to fall back to eventually in times when you stop flying!

 

[Febs]

I think the quote we might've gotten for Internal US flights was actually in full Y...which means I might be able to make them YUPs or KUPs for no extra...see how we go.

How strange...no YUPs or KUPs available...but Flexible First (i.e. F, not A or P) came in at exactly the same price as Y.

(It's an AA Codeshare on Alaskan...that may have something to do with it.)

So 180 SC's for the internal US flights...and 90 for SYD-LAX-SYD. It won't get me to LTS, but it'll get me close enough that I may still make it in under 3yrs.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Not such a big impact for those who do trips to Asia, but for the few of us who regularly do 3 sector, 20+hr trips to the US (one-way), it's going to take its toll!

We have an "all Y" policy unless the customer is paying for J (which means all travel for internal reasons is Y). Not as much of a problem for the vast majority of the company that is based in the US or Europe. Not so good for us out in Australia that have to visit HQ in Seattle. I did two trips to Seattle over the course of 3 weeks earlier this year (one week in Seattle, one week back in Sydney, then another week back in Seattle). Four round trips in Y is pretty painful - both mentally (jet lag) and on your backside

And the SC earning on discount Y is pitiful...

That said, only 140 SCs to LTS - should have that in ~2 weeks.