Company keeps SC and FF points

[Spacetravel]

I have recently started a new job where I fly at least 1 flight a week, all accommodation and travel is booked and covered by the company. I have no say in where I stay or who I fly with however they use their frequent flyer number and pool the points and status credits into their account so the account I am using is only red. I asked the company about it, however their motto is they pay for the flights so they get the points and credits. Is this common practice? I always thought the FF and SC was for the person who did the flying. I am currently a SG VFF (soon to be WP) for my personal account.

I am still new to status benefits, so I was wondering if just flashing my card would get me the benefits such as check-in, baggage and boarding when flying with VA and partners? I get into the lounge with my card, however at the moment I haven't attempted to use other status benefits when travelling for work.

 

[markis10]

Its not unheard of re the company keeping the points etc, and by all means flash your card and use the benefits.

 

[Spacetravel]

Thanks. I'll give it ago on my next flight.

 

[markis10]

I wonder how the mechanics work for the company to get the points etc?

 

[serfty]

I wonder how the mechanics work for the company to get the points etc?

"Family Pooling"? In the OP's case such would be outside the T&C's of Velocity.

 

[SeatBackForward]

"Family Pooling"? In the OP's case such would be outside the T&C's of Velocity.

And I'm fairly certain FF Schemes would say that the person who is earning the points would have to be the person flying? So Hopefully its not a case of a single individual within the company's FF number earning the points.

ETA: I have heard of companies striking deals where points and SC's are forgone for cheaper rates, perhaps that is the case?

 

[samh004]

On the face of it, certainly sounds dodgy.

Isn't the QF solution the soon to be released Aspire, thus VA should have a similar setup for businesses to earn points.

That said I thought flights that didn't earn SC and/or points were normally drawn up as part of very large deals, but not that they pooled to a company. Perhaps this company has set up duplicate account for all of its employees to transfer and pool. That wouldn't seem... worrying.

 

[Fruitcake]

Isn't the QF solution the soon to be released Aspire, thus VA should have a similar setup for businesses to earn points.

VA has Accelerate:
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/corporate-travel/accelerate/

 

[moa999]

But Accelerate is just a rebate and still enable the individual to earn points/SCs.

Certainly I understand QF has some contracts (eg. government) where points aren't earned (but I believed SCs were)

 

[vertisol]

Not sure how the SC's work.

I'm in the Commonwealth public service and while we don't earn FF points we still get SC's and I'm sure if there was a way to not give us those then they would have signed up to it.

What could a business entity do with a pool of SC's anyway?

 

[eastwest101]

I have heard of companies striking deals where points and SC's are forgone for cheaper rates, perhaps that is the case?

Sounds much more likely to me, perhaps the OP can come back with a report back and have a look at their own bookings/fare class to see whats going on? More information needed from the OP to really figure out whats happening there. Even if the OP just rings up the VA call centre with his/her booking reference then the VA phone operator may be able to tell them what class/fare/type of booking this is, is it a charter flight to a mine site? Is it a coprorate travel agent or not? Is the OP's velocity number associated with the booking or not?

 

[nonpop]

Not sure how the SC's work ... What could a business entity do with a pool of SC's anyway?

I would presume it would cut the airlines liability / costs for sundry services such as direct lounge and also curb indirect associated costs with partner network and obligations.
This way any back-end ticket rebate structure could be a little deeper or front end pricing a little sharper or some other benefit paid back to the company. So it would kind of strip the product (the airline seat) back to the essentials of it being an airline seat to move a warm body from point A to point B.

Removing additional incentives may also reduce the employees desire to fly as they gain no personal benefit. So they may think twice about travelling (for benefit or detriment to the company).

 

[TomVexille]

This does happen. It's usually outlined in a companies travel policy, and if you are taking a position that involves travel, it can be wise to read said policy before accepting the position.

WalMart in the States is notorious for pooling the points of their corp travel and using them to book work travel (always in Y).

 

[Danger]

I have recently started a new job where I fly at least 1 flight a week, all accommodation and travel is booked and covered by the company. I have no say in where I stay or who I fly with . . .

I hope you fly strictly during business hours, including the commute to and from the airport. If you're deriving no benefit at the expense of somebody else who's not flying the hard miles, then it's time to play hardball.

 

[Spacetravel]

Its a rather small US company, they don't have a corporate deal setup, they just book via the website from the looks of things. The last flight I went on had another frequent flyer number on the boarding pass. I was considering calling VA and asking if they can change the VFF to my number and hope the company doesn't notice.

I don't have another VA flight for a while and its the only 1 I have an account setup with at the moment. So it will be a little while till I can check some things.

 

[markis10]

I would get the lounge to put it in, and if questioned say you wanted to use your benefits. Having another FF number is breaching the program's terms I suspect.

 

[samh004]

Is there anything in the terms (probably so absurd a scheme that it's a no) that would preclude a company from creating an account in another persons name for their points? Seems like there would be something, but you never know.

 

[Fruitcake]

Is there anything in the terms (probably so absurd a scheme that it's a no) that would preclude a company from creating an account in another persons name for their points? Seems like there would be something, but you never know.

Yes, Velocity T&Cs state that the name on the account must match passport name and the name of the travelling passenger.

10.4.1 It is the responsibility of the Member to ensure the name on their Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Account matches:
(a) their valid passport name; and,
(b) the name recorded in their Virgin Australia and/or Airline Partner Itinerary. If the Member fails to ensure the above, Points may not be earned.

 

[UP4014]

Its a rather small US company, they don't have a corporate deal setup, they just book via the website from the looks of things. The last flight I went on had another frequent flyer number on the boarding pass. I was considering calling VA and asking if they can change the VFF to my number and hope the company doesn't notice.

I don't have another VA flight for a while and its the only 1 I have an account setup with at the moment. So it will be a little while till I can check some things.

Act dumb and request directly with the airline it be changed to your FF number at check in. Easier to beg to be forgiven.....

Matt

 

[boomy]

Its a rather small US company, they don't have a corporate deal setup, they just book via the website from the looks of things. The last flight I went on had another frequent flyer number on the boarding pass. I was considering calling VA and asking if they can change the VFF to my number and hope the company doesn't notice.

It's not an uncommon practice for international companies. My parents live overseas and my dad is often invited to attend business meetings in different countries (mostly in Europe). The companies that book the tickets for him always add their FF number and sometimes they even use award miles.
I don't think it's a good idea to change the FF number on your BP without asking your company first. I'm pretty sure someone there is keeping track of the miles and using them, either for their own benefit, or to book tickets for employees.