Government travel with DJ

[Jousams]

Just wondering how politicians & their staff travel contracts are shaped.

Before last week I thought all government travel was with QF however I saw Julie Bishop boarding a DJ flight.

And has anyone ever seen politicians in 'the club' or whatever it's called


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[Danger]

In theory, politicians are free to travel with whoever they please. They have more flexibility than staffers. That said, I think it's fair to say that the vast majority would fly QF wherever possible.

I'm surprised Bishop was on a DJ flight.

 

[KCMil]

Technically the contracting is not with QF the airline but with Qantas business travel services, a QF company. This means that they can technically book your travel with anyone, and are supposed to operate using cheapest fare of the day, however, the experience of many people I know in Defence / Govt is that they will move heaven and earth to try and ensure that they book you on a QF service. However, it seems that things are changing slowly. I was waiting to enter the lounge 3 weeks ago in MEL and was waiting behind Tony Abott being served at the entry desk. And have previously sat in the row behind Bronwyn Bishop on another occasion.

 

[mickeyc747]

In theory, politicians are free to travel with whoever they please. They have more flexibility than staffers. That said, I think it's fair to say that the vast majority would fly QF wherever possible.

I'm surprised Bishop was on a DJ flight.

Julie Bishop and a staffer were on PER SYD on 30/08 in J class on DJ, also on DJ I have had the following pollies sit behind in row 2 on DJ Bronwyn Bishop, Joe Hockey, Tania Plibersek all ex OOL due to no J class with other airlines.

 

[Jousams]

Julie Bishop and a staffer were on PER SYD on 30/08 in J class on DJ, also on DJ I have had the following pollies sit behind in row 2 on DJ Bronwyn Bishop, Joe Hockey, Tania Plibersek all ex OOL due to no J class with other airlines.

Yes, the PER SYD flight is the one I was referring to.
I was unfortunately in Y though. Would have loved to have a chat with bishop.


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[mickeyc747]

Yes, the PER SYD flight is the one I was referring to.
I was unfortunately in Y though. Would have loved to have a chat with bishop.


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I was in J and in 1A she was in 1G and her staffer or advisor was in 2G. I spent more of the flight talking to crew they were more interesting and 50% of the crew I had flown with many times.

 

[737NG]

I've seen Kevin Rudd on a DJ flight between MEL and SYD and Bill Shorten on a DJ flight from MEL to OOL.

 

[here2go]

I remember seeing Senator Boswell (National Party for Queensland) on a very full Friday arvo CBR-BNE in Y before the DJ Premium Economy offering. To say he was slightly peeved was an understatement. I'd say some staffers stuffed up.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I remember seeing Senator Boswell (National Party for Queensland) on a very full Friday arvo CBR-BNE in Y before the DJ Premium Economy offering. To say he was slightly peeved was an understatement. I'd say some staffers stuffed up.

He'd have been peeved at the thought of trying to sqeeze his uhmm, frame size into a Y seat! (Did they sell comfort seats back then?)

 

[here2go]

He'd have been peeved at the thought of trying to sqeeze his uhmm, frame size into a Y seat! (Did they sell comfort seats back then?)

Don't know about the comfort seat - but he didn't even have the emergency row.

 

[smatho10]

Tas Federal use the direct DJ HBA-CBR on the E190's.. My 1C seat was taken away at the gate by one of them a few months back...

 

[IainF]

I sat next to KRudd on a SYD-BNE flight a few Fridays ago. He was happy to chat about a mutual aquaintance. The Mrs didn't believe me until she saw a tweet from Krudd later that night to me.... This was DJ J row 1. His advisor was in row 2.

 

[Noob]

In theory, politicians are free to travel with whoever they please. They have more flexibility than staffers. That said, I think it's fair to say that the vast majority would fly QF wherever possible.

I'm surprised Bishop was on a DJ flight.

Out of interest, why do you think this is/would be the case? Why would the vast majority of politicians fly QF wherever possible?

 

[here2go]

Out of interest, why do you think this is/would be the case? Why would the vast majority of politicians fly QF wherever possible?

Chairman's Lounge?

 

[Fruitcake]

Chairman's Lounge?

Would certainly sway my preferences if I had access to it - especially when the fare is from someone else's pocket.

Rightly or wrongly this is why 'The Club' is a commercial necessity for Virgin.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Out of interest, why do you think this is/would be the case? Why would the vast majority of politicians fly QF wherever possible?

Also habit. For a decade QF was the only viable option domestically for anyone wanting something better than budget. Habits are easy to create, harder to break (and that's the habits of pollies, agents, PAs etc etc)

 

[here2go]

Would certainly sway my preferences if I had access to it - especially when the fare is from someone else's pocket.

Rightly or wrongly this is why 'The Club' is a commercial necessity for Virgin.

It's not the service either - it is who you meet in there. Deals are more likely to be made there than in formal meetings with staffers around.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Govt now works off the Whole of Government fare basis (WOAG). Basically, QBT book it (different to QANTAS, separate company) and it is supposed to be best fare of the day. Still seems to favour QF but no where near as much as the old days.

I believe you can now end up on one of 14 int'l carriers (not United, thankfully).

 

[Danger]

Out of interest, why do you think this is/would be the case? Why would the vast majority of politicians fly QF wherever possible?

Chairman's Lounge?

Yes. My reason for believing most "would" is, principally, the CL. Additionally, routes and frequency. For example, QF has a daily direct service to CBR; DJ does not. From ADL, QF has recently upped frequency to CBR (albeit minimally).

I'm most happy to be corrected, however.

From my perspective, when viewing available fares between CBR and PER on the government booking engine, QF can have as many as four times the flight options (ie. for every one DJ, there's four QF).

 

[pat25d]

What a terrible time when the people we elect to represent our needs, wants and struggles with everyday issues only travel in J, lounge in an intimate lounge for no cost and so on.