Bombshell (for me) - New travel policy

[Blinky]

I've never had an issue getting an earlier flight on QF coming home from SYD. in fact they offer it nearly every time i go to the lounge. I have been knocked back on VA before (as have other people i know), so it isn't a sure fire thing.

Well if I were QF WP I'm pretty certain I would fly forward, but I doubt I can with a mere red card. I haven't had success in the past.
And the only way a DJ Gold won't get an earlier flight is if it was absolutely full.

 

[richie9x]

Just got to play the hand you are dealt. Learn the best way to work within the new travel policy. Although the no SCs for Qantas is a bit harsh. See if you can negotiate some exceptions to the policy with your manager, try to frame them as being of benefit to company.

I have to work within a fairly restrictive travel policy. Last year they even introduced a 'travel ban' but I still managed to work with the new policy enough to gain or maintain status on a few airlines. Most of my travel is arranged last minute so even with the best fare tickets are often in high fare classes. If someone else (customer, supplier or a branch in another country) is paying for the travel then I can travel under their travel policy instead.

 

[Blinky]

Just got to play the hand you are dealt. Learn the best way to work within the new travel policy. Although the no SCs for Qantas is a bit harsh. See if you can negotiate some exceptions to the policy with your manager, try to frame them as being of benefit to company.

I have to work within a fairly restrictive travel policy. Last year they even introduced a 'travel ban' but I still managed to work with the new policy enough to gain or maintain status on a few airlines. Most of my travel is arranged last minute so even with the best fare tickets are often in high fare classes. If someone else (customer, supplier or a branch in another country) is paying for the travel then I can travel under their travel policy instead.

I agree with you here, but sometimes policies can be implemented in a silly way. Our policy has been refined recently, and the flight back from Sydney next week has been booked on Qantas 30 minutes later to "save" $10. So I get home later, and don't get to use the Lounge (I used to have Qantas Club membership, but you can only have one now).

 

[nlagalle]

Well if I were QF WP I'm pretty certain I would fly forward, but I doubt I can with a mere red card. I haven't had success in the past.
And the only way a DJ Gold won't get an earlier flight is if it was absolutely full.

Actually you can.. most times the quick check kiosk will offer earlier flights.

 

[Blinky]

Actually you can.. most times the quick check kiosk will offer earlier flights.

Okay, thanks. I'll try that next week.

 

[obrienja]

I used to work for a UK university who should remain nameless. We had a policy similar to what someone mentioned above "treat company mine like your own & eat like you'd eat at home". That became problematic for them when staff did enjoy a glass of wine at home so had one with dinner. As most are probably aware the UK higher ed market is squeezed for funds so there was penny pinching everywhere including arguing over the 4th decimal place of an exchange rate to save a few pence. Sadly this economising didn't extend to flights as the fares arranged through our "preferred" travel agent (as in preferred by the travel coordinators who were allegedly receiving benefits) were generally more expensive than tickets available directly. On a number of occasions I was able to fly BA Club Europe for less than the cost of an Economy fare (which caused all sorts of troubles in the reimbursement process).

My new employer, an Australian university has a BFOD policy with a preferred TA but if you can beat the deal you're welcome to and staff regularly book their own travel. The new boss takes the view that you should arrive happy, rested and ready to work (but it's still Y long haul but you're welcome to upgrade with all the points you've earned)

 

[Ewing]

I'd be annoyed if I didn't get to keep points/SCs. I look at it as partially making up for having to get up at early hours, or get home late.

Snippets from our travel policy (10,000+ company):

All benefits obtained as a result of business related travel by <redacted> people currently accrues to the individual. This decision is always at <redacted>' discretion, as is the choice of airline. Cost effectiveness cannot be compromised simply to enhance frequent flyer benefits.

Note: Any benefits obtained under Frequent Flyer points programs may have tax implications for the employee. Individuals should consider obtaining advice in this regard.

They'll also take out a Qantas Club membership if you travel on average once a month.

 

[EmilyHoward]

This is an interesting thread! I let all my staff book and travel how they like. We don't allow Business unless it's over 7 hours and I always 'encourage' them all to travel Qantas or at the very least OneWorld! So they do get the SCs and FF points. A happy staff member is worth their weight in gold!

An unhappy staff member on the other hand has unlimited ability to get back at their employer ... as I well know ...as I was an employee once upon a time.

If you need any suggestions let me know LOL

I do wonder if Qantas is doing deals with employers for cheaper flights but no SCs or FF points a lot of individual flyers could be affected. Maybe a short sighted view?


EH

 

[Paddy55]

Our travel policy is a simple deal. Treat company money like it is your own. Eat like you would at home. We feel that FF points belong to the person flying as they may experience some hardships.
Keeping it simple seems to work.

Very practical policy

 

[Paddy55]

I agree with you here, but sometimes policies can be implemented in a silly way. Our policy has been refined recently, and the flight back from Sydney next week has been booked on Qantas 30 minutes later to "save" $10. So I get home later, and don't get to use the Lounge (I used to have Qantas Club membership, but you can only have one now).

Unfortunately this says more about how your company values its employees than anything else.

 

[serfty]

...

I do wonder if Qantas is doing deals with employers for cheaper flights but no SCs or FF points a lot of individual flyers could be affected. Maybe a short sighted view?
...

Or perhaps a long sighted view with regard to FiFo contracts.

 

[bjaust]

My company's rules are that you must get three quotes and take the cheapest reasonable one. Everything over three hours in is J. You can argue to not take the cheapest one if there's a good reason (for example, too many connections, lousy reliability record, lousy safety record, or a particular need to be in a certain place at a certain time). All frequent flyer miles and SCs accrue to the traveller with no expectation of using them for work, with the exception of carriers who give out upgrade certificates. While travelling, all reasonable expenses are met, including tips and alcohol. Personally, on several occasions I have booked Y+ to save money, or travelled earlier/later than I wanted to to save some money, and my food and beverage bills are rarely much unless i'm entertaining someone. I should also mention that I can be fired on the spot without cause, so that's an automatic brake on overspending .

 

[Baysider]

Or perhaps a long sighted view with regard to FiFo contracts.

Hmmm, possibly a Qantas originated answer to the always overcrowded PER lounge - stop turning every FiFo worker into Gold and Plat.

 

[Fantic125]

I note some comments have been made along the lines of "If travel is part of the job".. I should clarify that my position doesn't specifically mention travel, but does say additional hours may be required etc..

Question for those whose roles specify that travel is required - is there a renumeration component attached to this specifc item? So if you were to agree to doing less travel, would the renumeration be adjusted to reflect this?

I have an incentive package linked to the organisational financial performance and my performance objectives. I have minimal influence over the financial, but my objectives are directly linked to achieving specific tasks and activities with suppliers which would be extremely difficult to complete without travel.

So if I travelled less, my salary wouldn't be impacted but my incentive package would be.

 

[Moody]

My comment :- harden up Princess, and you'd better hope your employer doesn't browse AFF!

 

[Happy Trails]

Hmmm, possibly a Qantas originated answer to the always overcrowded PER lounge - stop turning every FiFo worker into Gold and Plat.

Won't stop me. FIFO only accounts for about 25% of my travel.

 

[Blinky]

Unfortunately this says more about how your company values its employees than anything else.

It really doesn't speak for the company as a whole. We have quite a lot of money in the bank, which I have made a major contribution to, and I'm well looked after. Our Travel Officer, however, has riding instructions to save wherever she can. We had 18 staff when I started 14 years ago, and have 1100 now. Our travel budget is around $2million and the Board is all over travel expenditure, even though it is about 1% of our budget. I'll have a chat to her tomorrow and ask her to be a little more flexible. Meanwhile I'll just put up with 27B.....

 

[JohnK]

That does not sound like a very friendly travel policy. In my mind the solution is fairly simple

- No SCs and FF points and I do not give up any of my time if required to travel
- SCs and FF points and I will sacrifice some of my personal time if required to travel

 

[Blinky]

That does not sound like a very friendly travel policy. In my mind the solution is fairly

- No SCs and FF points and I do not give up any of my time if required to travel
- SCs and FF points and I will sacrifice some of my personal time if required to travel

Yup. My view too.

 

[anat0l]

I suppose we should keep in mind that all of us on this forum reserve the only opinion that FF points and SCs are a must when travelling, whether it be for work or otherwise. There are several other people out there who cannot care as much and thus would view the changes made to the OP's travel policy as no big deal.

Also, many people who travel couldn't care whether they get credits for travel or not, as sometimes it's just travel itself (and the amount they do as well as the timing) is enough to worry about.

Finally, let's face the double standard: had the OP revealed that they worked for the government, most of us would hands down agree that FF points and SCs are not deserved, because we all pretty much agree that the government is most ineffective with spending money (a.k.a. "our tax dollars") and thus should not afford any additional perks because that's being dishonest to the general populace.