Company keeps SC and FF points

[Ansett]

I would not work for such a company and agree with other members that this could well be against T and C's.

It is more likely to be an employee trying to get something for themselves rather than the company. Although the last company I worked for wanted to stop people earning status or using status when travelling as they said it meant people made travel decisions purely on the benifit that the employee may gain and that this was unethical.

In addiiton there was the concern as to wether it was a fringe benifit and that the company would be liable for additional taxes....

 

[markis10]

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

The OP has the slight issue of the employer putting another FF number on the booking, claiming it after the flight would be problematic in that circumstance.

 

[UP4014]

The OP has the slight issue of the employer putting another FF number on the booking, claiming it after the flight would be problematic in that circumstance.

I was referring to grubbidok and his uni jobs, hence including his post in my post.

If I was the OP I would ask for it to be changed at check in. Just act dumb and produce your FF card and get it changed.

Matt

 

[markis10]

If I was the OP I would ask for it to be changed at check in. Just act dumb and produce your FF card and get it changed.

Matt

I agree, and if queried, stating you want the status benefits is a reasonable excuse. Such penny pinching practices would certainly make me think twice about being an employee.

 

[grubbidok]

Although the last company I worked for wanted to stop people earning status or using status when travelling as they said it meant people made travel decisions purely on the benifit that the employee may gain and that this was unethical.

This would certainly affect my travel decisions. I never want to do half the travel I'm asked to do, but status makes it bearable. I would just stay at home and wish them good luck finding someone else who will go.

 

[Anna]

I rarely fly VA so I'm not very savvy about Velocity, but I'm still struggling with the idea of the company earning SCs. How can this be? What use are SCs to a non flying entity? Points on the other hand can be exchanged for airfares or upgrades for other people, so I get how that works (whether it's legal or not in Velocity).

I'm familiar with the concept of some people who fly QF for work only earning SCs but not FF points when they fly, but I've never heard of an employer keeping the SCs before.

 

[grubbidok]

I was referring to grubbidok and his uni jobs, hence including his post in my post. 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?

I guess you could do what you suggested. The end result is the same, it's never enforced. If it was I'd imagine a lot of people would be doing the workaround.

Informally, most of the executive here support having status. The better treatment means we are more inclined to travel when required (rather than find an excuse to avoid it). And we can get a lot of work done in the lounge which would otherwise be wasted. It also means we have a free meeting facility at most major airports.

I feel the stingy travel policies of some companies are probably actually counter-productive, and they don't get as much bang for their buck from their travelling staff.

 

[Gredgy69]

Banana0692 why don't you just ask your employer for the name of the ff number? That will tell you who it is going to and whether it is dodgyish (the company) or really dodgy (PA or someone else). Then you can have a conversation with them about the merits of what they are doing. If they can't/won't give it to you I would be contacting Virgin.

 

[Spacetravel]

I should clear some things up, it appears to be standard company policy they earn the frequent flyer points. Its not 1 person earning them for themselves, the company earn the frequent flyer points to redistribute to save on travel costs. I think the keeping of status credits is just a side effect of them using their frequent flyer number to earn the points which at the same time means they earn SC.

Things like finding another employer isn't that simple. This dodgyness aside, I enjoy the work I do and the company I work for. It really is 1 of a kind, so they kind of have me by the balls that there is literally no other company that employs for the work I do.

I have a feeling they setup the velocity account in my name and pool to their account. Possibly the account they are using just hasn't earned status yet since I'm new and they aren't "taking them" but I don't have the login details to see what's going on.

I think I am going to just have the lounge/ call centre update the bookings as they come to my frequent flyer number. If I get pulled up on it, I'll plead ignorant that I was just doing it for the status benefits (which is my main concern anyway) and transfer them the points.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I should clear some things up, it appears to be standard company policy they earn the frequent flyer points. Its not 1 person earning them for themselves, the company earn the frequent flyer points to redistribute to save on travel costs. I think the keeping of status credits is just a side effect of them using their frequent flyer number to earn the points which at the same time means they earn SC.

Things like finding another employer isn't that simple. This dodgyness aside, I enjoy the work I do and the company I work for. It really is 1 of a kind, so they kind of have me by the balls that there is literally no other company that employs for the work I do.

I have a feeling they setup the velocity account in my name and pool to their account. Possibly the account they are using just hasn't earned status yet since I'm new and they aren't "taking them" but I don't have the login details to see what's going on.

I think I am going to just have the lounge/ call centre update the bookings as they come to my frequent flyer number. If I get pulled up on it, I'll plead ignorant that I was just doing it for the status benefits (which is my main concern anyway) and transfer them the points.

No matter what method they are using, I'm certain VA's T+C's will say that only the person who is flying can earn the points. I'm not sure *how* they can associate a company's name to all that.

 

[eastwest101]

I should clear some things up, it appears to be standard company policy they earn the frequent flyer points. Its not 1 person earning them for themselves, the company earn the frequent flyer points to redistribute to save on travel costs. I think the keeping of status credits is just a side effect of them using their frequent flyer number to earn the points which at the same time means they earn SC.

Things like finding another employer isn't that simple. This dodgyness aside, I enjoy the work I do and the company I work for. It really is 1 of a kind, so they kind of have me by the balls that there is literally no other company that employs for the work I do.

I have a feeling they setup the velocity account in my name and pool to their account. Possibly the account they are using just hasn't earned status yet since I'm new and they aren't "taking them" but I don't have the login details to see what's going on.

I think I am going to just have the lounge/ call centre update the bookings as they come to my frequent flyer number. If I get pulled up on it, I'll plead ignorant that I was just doing it for the status benefits (which is my main concern anyway) and transfer them the points.

Thanks for the additional information - but it now seems that someone in the company has set up a VFF account in your name, presumably without your authority and

1. At the very least this is not allowed under the T&C's of the Velocity program, and
2. Some people could reach the conclusion that this is fraud/identity theft and or possibly a FBT event

In either case I would tread very carefully and document everything.

The question still remains on what happens to the Status Credits, if any, on flights taken (where the status/tier of the VFF is what decides whether you are Silver, Gold, Platinum etc). How are the actual VFF Velocity points calculated and where are they awarded to? If you signed an employment contract what exactly did you sign? No employment contract that I know can specify that you must be a party or accessory to fraudulent actions. Without naming the company yet - I would love to see the travel policy of this comapny! If it exists.

 

[moa999]

I should clear some things up, it appears to be standard company policy they earn the frequent flyer points. Its not 1 person earning them for themselves, the company earn the frequent flyer points to redistribute to save on travel costs. I think the keeping of status credits is just a side effect of them using their frequent flyer number to earn the points which at the same time means they earn SC.

banana0692,

I would probably be up front.
Say that you have an existing account (with status including lounge access) and you would like to use that account, but are still wanting to provided the company the benefit of the points, for example:
1. Happy to change your address to the business address and do 'family transfers'
2. Keep a record of personal v company points, and use the company points to book company airfares for yourself/ or colleagues when they build up.


That way you are doing the right thing by the company, but ensuring that you gain the benefits of the SCs.

 

[medhead]

I'm sorry but it is completely wrong for someone to set up an account in your name. Fraud, deception, etc.

Why not ask the lounge for the name against that velocity number. If it's your name then ring to change the login password. Or something like that.

 

[Gredgy69]

I should clear some things up, it appears to be standard company policy they earn the frequent flyer points. Its not 1 person earning them for themselves, the company earn the frequent flyer points to redistribute to save on travel costs. I think the keeping of status credits is just a side effect of them using their frequent flyer number to earn the points which at the same time means they earn SC.

Things like finding another employer isn't that simple. This dodgyness aside, I enjoy the work I do and the company I work for. It really is 1 of a kind, so they kind of have me by the balls that there is literally no other company that employs for the work I do.

I have a feeling they setup the velocity account in my name and pool to their account. Possibly the account they are using just hasn't earned status yet since I'm new and they aren't "taking them" but I don't have the login details to see what's going on.

I think I am going to just have the lounge/ call centre update the bookings as they come to my frequent flyer number. If I get pulled up on it, I'll plead ignorant that I was just doing it for the status benefits (which is my main concern anyway) and transfer them the points.

banana0692,

If they have set up a second account in your name, then they have probably done that with each employee that travels. Whilst I understand your reluctance to make waves with your employer as you like the place, as most people have commented here, it is against the VA T&C's to have more than one account in a persons name. I'm not sure whether the company can have its own FF number and have points pooled to it. I would say that the points flow through to an end individual who whilst maybe using the points for company travel, is gaining the benefit of the sc's.

I would talk with your company about the situation, and say your happy if they take the points but you want the sc's. Everything should flow through your real account and you would need to keep track of work/personal travel points accrual so you know how much you have for work redemption flights. But you really should get this sorted out asap/

 

[markis10]

If they have set up a second account in your name, then they have probably done that with each employee that travels. Whilst I understand your reluctance to make waves with your employer as you like the place, as most people have commented here, it is against the VA T&C's to have more than one account in a persons name.

Being American they should not even be a member or benefiting in any way from the program.

 

[777]

To make the obvious point: If there are two accounts in your name you risk having your other account cancelled if VA find out. It is clearly a breach of their terms and conditions for you to have two accounts so you are risking your own status and frequent flyer account by flying on account.

It's up to you whether you wish to take that risk but it is not simply a matter for the company. YOU are the person violating their terms and conditions from VA's point of view so therefore you are the one whose accounts are at risk.

 

[eastwest101]

Being American they should not even be a member or benefiting in any way from the program.

Is it possible that the company is setting up Delta Skymile accounts with Australian employee names and USA addresses, and then pooling all the DL Skyteam skymiles status and miles into either a corporate account or a very overzealous travel agent or PA in the USA? Might explain why the OP is not seeing any SC or points posting to his/her Australian VFF account? This just gets more and more interesting.

 

[JohnK]

Things like finding another employer isn't that simple. This dodgyness aside, I enjoy the work I do and the company I work for. It really is 1 of a kind, so they kind of have me by the balls that there is literally no other company that employs for the work I do.

That just sucks.

I know exactly what you mean.

 

[iambents]

I have a feeling they setup the velocity account in my name and pool to their account.

Irrespective of the T&C, you can only pool one other adult into your account can't you? Doesn't sound like a very efficient way of doing this particular activity.

 

[drewbles]

Irrespective of the T&C, you can only pool one other adult into your account can't you? Doesn't sound like a very efficient way of doing this particular activity.

And the other adult must reside at the same address. I'm putting dollars on it being a DL account, that's been opened in the OP's name, with the employers address in the USA. I'd still want to know what it is (and be asking a VA lounge agent).