How do you explain your frequent flying?

[JohnM]

Ah that bloke. My old flatmate used to work with him

They both now have a 'flat' in prison...

 

[tuapekastar]

They don't have to be mutually exclusive...

Shouldn't read anything into this comment should we blackcat20?

 

[Atleastonce]

I get similar comments.

I do have to ask though... What is a lifestyle audit!?

Does your pay align with your personal luxuries. Merit in it but only if done for reasons other than jealousy.

 

[blackcat20]

Shouldn't read anything into this comment should we blackcat20?

Not right now, no.

 

[JohnM]

Does your pay align with your personal luxuries. Merit in it but only if done for reasons other than jealousy.

Yes, but in the context of this thread, surely it would be fun to stick it up the jealous commissar when they were shown to be wrong!

 

[Hvr]

<snip>
In relation to travel I had out Chief Risk Officer threaten a lifestyle audit on me the other day. Can't wait for this, bring it on!

Actually this would be fairly easy for most of us because we put everything on our credit card(s) to get the points.

Looking at lifestyle including holidays is actually very common if you have/need a security clearance. Too much money (compared to reported income) and/or extravagant habits can be seen as a security risk including the possibility of being corruptible.

 

[medhead]

I had opportunity to discuss my frequent flying at work today. Someone was booking themselves a Jetstar companion fare. I said something about wanting to do the same but no companion. Someone volunteered but said they had no interest in the destination. I replied "that's ok, I won't be leaving the airport".

 

[boomy]

How does everyone go with Immigration around the world with such frequent activity/solo activity/short long haul trips?

Was stuck at LHR once for like 30mins as the officer was suspicious on the frequent activity, when I started mentioning FF points/Credit Card offers she called her supervisor! Been grilled by Melbourne Outgoing immigration many times too, might be something to do with my age, late 20s and solo traveller!

When JQ just introduced 'star class' they had some excellent promos so I booked a weekend in BKK. Remember landing back in SYD with HLO hoping to get out as quickly as possible. Well it didn't happen... Immigration put a mark on my arrivals card and I was stopped for questioning. While checking and swabbing my bag the officer kept asking what was my purpose of flying business class to Bangkok just for a few days. Tried to explain the ticket was cheaper then QF Y and I just felt like going for no specific reason. My young appearance (back then) and casual clothes didn't help my case. He was not convicted at all but after not finding anything suspicious on me and in my bag he eventually had to let me go.
Some people just don't get it

 

[Isochronous]

A little of travel but I had a mate who constantly hassled me about the car I drive and how could I afford it. I phoned him at 1am and woke him to tell him I was leaving the office and then again at 5am the same day when I was getting ready for work. That was the last time he mentioned how could I afford my car.
In relation to travel I had out Chief Risk Officer threaten a lifestyle audit on me the other day. Can't wait for this, bring it on!

That sounds hilarious. Can't wait to hear about the audit!

 

[Limewood]

Friends ask how come you fly in business class when you two go overseas, its so expensive, a few I've tried to explain buying US miles, paying about 1/3 as much and how it works, they just don't get it, well some of the time I don't get it all either, thats just another reason to be on AFF

 

[burmans]

When JQ just introduced 'star class' they had some excellent promos so I booked a weekend in BKK. Remember landing back in SYD with HLO hoping to get out as quickly as possible. Well it didn't happen... Immigration put a mark on my arrivals card and I was stopped for questioning. While checking and swabbing my bag the officer kept asking what was my purpose of flying business class to Bangkok just for a few days. Tried to explain the ticket was cheaper then QF Y and I just felt like going for no specific reason. My young appearance (back then) and casual clothes didn't help my case. He was not convicted at all but after not finding anything suspicious on me and in my bag he eventually had to let me go.
Some people just don't get it

To be fair, I migrations officers are trained to look out for "unusual" activity and this is unusual. Long may it remain so, if everyone did this I'm pretty sure the opportunities would not be so great!

 

[Hvr]

When JQ just introduced 'star class' they had some excellent promos so I booked a weekend in BKK. Remember landing back in SYD with HLO hoping to get out as quickly as possible. <snip>

Are you sure it was SYD? I can't remember JQ flying from BKK-SYD.

I did a quick trip (MEL-BKK-MEL) as well on a $600 return fare to obtain WP for the first time. Actually had the same CSM on the return trip and she remembered me, asked why the quick trip so I told her.

 

[boomy]

To be fair, I migrations officers are trained to look out for "unusual" activity and this is unusual. Long may it remain so, if everyone did this I'm pretty sure the opportunities would not be so great!

I don't blame the officers, they are just doing their job and I don't expect anyone who is not FF to understand our bizarre way of life.

Are you sure it was SYD? I can't remember JQ flying from BKK-SYD.

You're right, home was indeed MEL.
Don't know why I recall landing in SYD.

 

[YSSY]

I think there is a lot more that goes into the profiling of passengers then just the travel history, because a lot of people have unusual travel history because of their work and I personally have done some incredibly strange and bizarre trips and have some unusual stamps in my passports yet have never had an issue with officials entering any country (oh actually I tell a lie, once when entering on a diplomatic clearance in Singapore, that was a bit of a hassle because the aircraft arrived at a different terminal to that planned and so my paperwork was in the wrong place...)

Otherwise, I don't think I ever really explain my travel or work to anyone, I tend to avoid the subject because I assume that it would be of very little interest to anyone else.

 

[JessicaTam]

I left work tonight telling my colleagues that I would have 4 hours at the airport. One of them deigned to suggest that it was a long time to spend there before a flight. It took but a glance in his direction for him to say "Oh yeah, never mind".

 

[farawaymum]

Everyone needs a hobby, that's how I explain trips that seem illogical to the uninitiated.

 

[CaviAck]

I left work tonight telling my colleagues that I would have 4 hours at the airport. One of them deigned to suggest that it was a long time to spend there before a flight. It took but a glance in his direction for him to say "Oh yeah, never mind".

Only 4?

 

[JessicaTam]

Well I was constrained by having to wait for night shift.

 

[Limewood]

Nothing like a good lounge hop before a flight, when I as a Q Plat my wife enjoyed it all immensely
(now as a SG nothing much has changed)

 

[cambriamarsh]

I'm flying to ZQN in 2 weeks for a weekend. I asked one of my friends if they wanted to come with me and he said "Why on earth would I want to fly all the way to NZ and only spend 2 days there?"

It's only 3 hours, why not?