Company keeps SC and FF points

[Oneworldplus2]

I would never work for a company that did this.

I even quit a company because they made me fly JQ, PER-SYD Red-eye.

 

[777]

In 25 words or less my understanding of this -- unless i've missed something -- is that it is illegal or against the T&Cs of the program.

 

[hydrabyss]

I would have thought the system would not allow the name to not match the velocity number.I sure the old booking system use to pre fill the name when you finished adding your number.Not sure on sabre though.

 

[notzac]

Name of account generally has to match name on booking for points to be awarded to anyone. I'd be *very* curious as to whose name appeared on the account that was listed on your boarding card - someone else using your name and presumably other details is heading toward identity theft territory.

 

[markis10]

In 25 words or less my understanding of this -- unless i've missed something -- is that it is illegal or against the T&Cs of the program.

Assuming its a velocity number:

1. USA residents cannot be a member.
2. Each member can only have one account.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

If we knew who the OP's employer was, we could institute an AFF ban on buying their products and services to teach that company that points and status credits are all part of your total compensation package.

 

[Spacetravel]

If we knew who the OP's employer was, we could institute an AFF ban on buying their products and services to teach that company that points and status credits are all part of your total compensation package.

Tbh I'd rather not say, however we run events so we don't directly sell anything to consumers anyway.

This thread has given me a lot to look into so thanks. I was posting more because I was concerned whether or not I could use my status benefits. But ended up with a lot more helpful information . I'm still the new guy so i'm not going to go around demanding things but I'll see how I can go about using my own velocity account for bookings.

 

[moa999]

Query also whether it is company policy, or an overzealous PA/travel manager

 

[hydrabyss]

I was going to say no amount of status points are worth loosing your job over, but then realised what forum I'm on.

 

[eastwest101]

Query also whether it is company policy, or an overzealous PA/travel manager

If that were the case then I suspect a "soon to be unemployed PA/Travel Manager" could be a more accurate description!

 

[JohnK]

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.

Serves me right for not reading the fine print.

I could never work for a company with this type of travel policy. And if I was desperate to work for them then all travel, including flight time, will be on company time.

 

[Hvr]

Of course an anonymous call to VA asking if it were legal might generate some action.

 

[williamsf1]

something does not sound correct about the OP's company policy . It sounds like he has SG from personal travel , my question would be what points have to " hand over" to the company .. just the base ( ie domestic would be 5x$$$)? could he keep his 75% status bonus ( that he has "earned") or have to give that back as well ?

 

[markis10]

something does not sound correct about the OP's company policy . It sounds like he has SG from personal travel , my question would be what points have to " hand over" to the company .. just the base ( ie domestic would be 5x$$$)? could he keep his 75% status bonus ( that he has "earned") or have to give that back as well ?

Thats a good point,a side from the arrangement likely to be in contravention of the velocity terms and conditions.

 

[ReLoad]

I would never work for a company that did this.

I even quit a company because they made me fly JQ, PER-SYD Red-eye.

Likewise I knocked back a decent customer as they wanted me to fly Tiger.

It's not so much the flying TIger which sucks(as it does) but if they are already acting like turnips then what's it going to be like later on.

To the OP, do as much research as you can before you speak to your employer.

 

[markis10]

Likewise I knocked back a decent customer as they wanted me to fly Tiger.

It's not so much the flying TIger which sucks(as it does) but if they are already acting like turnips then what's it going to be like later on.

To the OP, do as much research as you can before you speak to your employer.

You could have made some decent kip if travel time was chargeable, not that I would be tempted.

 

[grubbidok]

Sounds super-dodgy to me. Perhaps as a US start-up they don't know the rules of VA (and that what they're doing is against the T&Cs)? Makes me wonder how much the companies doing this are doing against the FF T&Cs. Also makes me wonder how much the airlines turn a blind eye to it to keep their corporate accounts.

However, it's not hard to open an account in someone's name, I wonder if that's what your company has done? I'd feel a bit off if they'd done that without my consent. I had the points from a return trip BNE-SIN-BLR on SQ skived off to a fake AI Flying Returns account an enterprising corporate travel agent had created in my name. Turned out he too was pooling them and used the points to fly himself around India (AI even showed me the TRV-BLR flight I'd 'purchased'). Both AI and SQ were pi**ed about it though, and said it breached their conditions, they were investigating, and I got my points eventually (which were actually the ones that ticked me over to SG and into VA from QF).

FWIW the universities has a system (admittedly unenforced) that allows you to keep points & SCs, but do require that points earned on uni travel are redeemed for other uni travel. This seems like a much fairer arrangement to me than the one you have. IMO the uni can keep their points, but they know full well that status is what makes us moan less about the huge amount of travel they make us do, as it at least makes it less unpleasant than normal.

At least hit your company up for a paid lounge membership if they're going to keep up with this cough. You might not have your own access for much longer if relying on leisure travel alone.

 

[samh004]

FWIW the universities has a system (admittedly unenforced) that allows you to keep points & SCs, but do require that points earned on uni travel are redeemed for other uni travel. This seems like a much fairer arrangement to me than the one you have. IMO the uni can keep their points, but they know full well that status is what makes us moan less about the huge amount of travel they make us do, as it at least makes it less unpleasant than normal.

As was mentioned above, does the policy state that they require you to use the base miles for uni travel only, or the bonus you got from them because of your status too?

 

[grubbidok]

As was mentioned above, does the policy state that they require you to use the base miles for uni travel only, or the bonus you got from them because of your status too?

The travel directives at the three universities I worked at never said, it's always just "points". TBH it's very rarely enforced (in ~10yrs I've never been asked) so I'd be surprised if they are used for anything other than upgrades (J is not allowable on university flights, but you *are* allowed to use your points to upgrade an existing flight on university business). I think you could make an argument pretty easily for base points if pressed though - and they'd likely work it out any 'balance owing' using the airline's online calculators instead of what's in your personal account. This would be based on other processes they use for reimbursement, e.g. you don't get reimbursed actual price paid overseas that appears on your credit card statement, but what the online exchange rates say is the AUD equivalent. They're sticklers for auditing here so they'd want a process the auditors could replicate and verify.

I've used them once or twice to attend conferences, though we do often take holidays coinciding with international work travel. I also often touch base with local academics when on personal trips too. When you work in the academic the whole work time-personal time thing blurs anyway, so I'm sure the university feels they're getting value.

 

[UP4014]

The travel directives at the three universities I worked at never said, it's always just "points". TBH it's very rarely enforced (in ~10yrs I've never been asked) so I'd be surprised if they are used for anything other than upgrades (J is not allowable on university flights, but you *are* allowed to use your points to upgrade an existing flight on university business). I think you could make an argument pretty easily for base points if pressed though - and they'd likely work it out any 'balance owing' using the airline's online calculators instead of what's in your personal account. This would be based on other processes they use for reimbursement, e.g. you don't get reimbursed actual price paid overseas that appears on your credit card statement, but what the online exchange rates say is the AUD equivalent. They're sticklers for auditing here so they'd want a process the auditors could replicate and verify.

I've used them once or twice to attend conferences, though we do often take holidays coinciding with international work travel. I also often touch base with local academics when on personal trips too. When you work in the academic the whole work time-personal time thing blurs anyway, so I'm sure the university feels they're getting value.

Why wouldn't you simply not tell you're Uni employer you even had a FF account and simply claim them back form the airline afterward?



Matt