Platinum One people - what’s your job/business?

[SYD]

Here's a post from the archives of AFF that asked the same question as this thread: What Does Everyone Do Here ??

Although more specifically this thread is about what does one do to get to P1. Obviously a lot of BoS flying with QF and presumably a lot of work related travel funded at the more pointy end of the plane.

As other have mentioned and I can confirm, big corporations have *significantly* discounted Corp rates on many airlines that make all that schlepping around a bit more affordable than the average Joe booking direct. But still 10s of thousands of dollars to P1.

 

[Human]

As other have mentioned and I can confirm, big corporations have *significantly* discounted Corp rates on many airlines

Just out of interest, can you give a ballpark figure re what the corporate discounts are? If, say, there's a Qantas MEL-SYD flight available in business for $800, what would some of the big corporations be charged for it? (bearing in mind that they may well be able to claim the GST back as well).

 

[sudoer]

Just out of interest, can you give a ballpark figure re what the corporate discounts are?

It varies by booking class (J/C/D/I) with the higher categories offered more of a discount. For Business class I would guess a large corporate (spending millions per year) to be getting around 25-30% off the fare component only on mainline domestic J/C fares, based on what I've heard SMEs with far less volume are roughly able to negotiate. D/I discounts are lower.

Hotel room discounts can go a lot deeper.

 

[RichardMEL]

I've done a grand total of zero trips funded by my work.

Yes, I have some disposable income (let's not get carried away) and definitely play all the games. While I haven't chased P1 per se (because it's not worth the chase imo) I've had it for the past 8 or so years - the last few of course with extensions and near zero travel. That is picking back up again and I'm taking opportunities when they come up.

QF is pretty hard to justify these days on a number of levels, bar domestic (which I've been doing a bit of). I'd much prefer better products such as SQ or better pricing to where I want to go.. but I will give preference, when reasonable, to partners of the loyalty schemes I have focus on to use those as much as possible. A recent destination I visited in the US is only served by DL and AA, so AA was an obvious choice (and DL was more pricey anyway!)

I do agree the vast majority of P1 are funded by business travel. That makes perfect sense. Doing the road warrior thing is no fun though. Luckily I can pick and choose.

Everyone has a different situation and story.

As for getting there or wanting to do the things to get there. Again I say chasing it is not really worth it.. but of course you'd rather the trips in F to interesting international places than a weekly grind on flex Y fares on domestic flights.

oh and for the record to the pooch... even P1's make mistakes with the routine of travel from time to time. ie: someone left his belt on through security (duh) or the time that same moron half asleep hit the "traveling with dangerous goods" prompt during OLCI.... it happens.

and praying you'll make a connection OK in SYD as delays mount.. that's not fun for anyone.

who knows... for those wanting to do the things to get to high status.. it may be a case of "be careful what you wish for..."

 

[SYD]

Just out of interest, can you give a ballpark figure re what the corporate discounts are? If, say, there's a Qantas MEL-SYD flight available in business for $800, what would some of the big corporations be charged for it? (bearing in mind that they may well be able to claim the GST back as well).

I was thinking more about long haul international J where Precovid a Corp rate to Europe might be in the $5k to $6k range but the retail is $7k to $8k+.

Most corps are less likely to offer domestic J to employees.

 

[jpp42]

Slightly off topic as I haven't reached P1, but I did keep WP on both QF and VA for several years almost entirely on economy fares (just a handful of W/Y+ in there). I work for one of the largest corporations globally and while we have preferred airlines, I have never noticed any discounts in our booking system. I typically use Google Flights to find my preferred routing, and then compare to our corporate booking system (which doesn't always have all of the airlines that Google can see). We are required to choose the 'least cost logical airfare' but "logical" is determined by some rules/heuristics which aren't always perfect, so we have a buffer of about $100 domestically and $500 internationally, meaning we can choose a slightly higher airfare in some circumstances, and I've used that to my advantage to ensure I can credit to either QF or VA. We also have leeway to book directly for domestic if the airline isn't available in the booking system and saves time or money (used a lot for Indigo in India, or Southwest in the US). Premium Economy was only allowed for ULH type flights with prior approval.

I wonder what restrictions airlines place when negotiating discounts - do they require that airline to be chosen 100% of the time for certain routes, for examples? There must be something about the terms and conditions that have stopped my corp from engaging in this. I will note that we often have very steep discounts on hotels - for example the Hilton Brisbane was selling at $400 per night and I was about to book the same room for $225 in my corporate tool.

 

[moa999]

I work for one of the largest corporations globally and while we have preferred airlines, I have never noticed any discounts in our booking system.

Believe it depends on the contract.
Some will have guaranteed rates (eg some US subs back to headquarters), others will have a rebate on preferred airlines.
(Eg. If you spend $x and put 80% of Dom flights on QF, you get x% back. This is why going away from the preferred airlines can mean approvals at some companies)

 

[Mwenenzi]

offish topic

I work for one of the largest corporations globally and while we have preferred airlines, I have never noticed any discounts in our booking system.

For one large corporate I was associated with the "discount" never showed in booking system, but was a volume cashback 1 or 2 levels up the accounting tree. The discount never showed in the direct project costs. but some bean counter got beanies for saving money every month.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

In NSW, government employees aren't allowed to accrue FF points or SC when flying for work.

But ministers are.

Apparently they're a "perk" and it is therefore banned - we should be happy to spend days away from our home lives, for free. We can't have staff receiving compensation for work, after all (this is why government employees usually have low salaries - apparently paying/motivating employees of a company works, but not employees of a government).

But ministers - that's another story.

I'd be LTG if we were allowed to accrue them.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I'm a bit late to the thread here. I recently qualified for P1

95% of my travel is employer funded.... I agree with others here in that I can't fathom an individual garnering P1 on their own dime (kudos to those that do).

In terms of my situation (keeping it relatively general), I'm in a sales role and fly weekly domestically with international a few times of year with a reasonably accommodative travel policy for the above flying habits. I'm by no means an executive, just a road warrior foot soldier generating revenue. As part of this though, there is a certain expectation on productivity and day trips are certainly not permitted. Our organisation wants us out there even more next year.

 

[cbreeze]

I'm a bit late to the thread here. I recently qualified for P1

95% of my travel is employer funded.... I agree with others here in that I can't fathom an individual garnering P1 on their own dime (kudos to those that do).

In terms of my situation (keeping it relatively general), I'm in a sales role and fly weekly domestically with international a few times of year with a reasonably accommodative travel policy for the above flying habits. I'm by no means an executive, just a road warrior foot soldier generating revenue. As part of this though, there is a certain expectation on productivity and day trips are certainly not permitted. Our organisation wants us out there even more next year.

Still, you must enjoy the fact that you probably have so many airline and hotel points that when you go on a holiday it’s mostly all free?

 

[Matt_01]

I would wager at least 97% of P1s wouldn't get there without employer/client funded J/F, especially given the QF SC component.

I am likely to be in the 3%, I used to run my own show and in 2017 went back to being a wage slave. When I was running my show the rules were simple, when travelling for business all staff (including myself) travelled Y up to 6 hours. There was wiggle room for flights less than 6 hours e.g. redeyes and expected to work on arrival and I was always transparent with staff (their needs) when it came to travel, work, family or a combination of both.

These days the green faction seems to have taken hold/over and I am not interested in debating Y vrs J and how much space is taken up on the aircraft. I guess this is why my P1 days are numbered.

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm a bit late to the thread here. I recently qualified for P1

95% of my travel is employer funded.... I agree with others here in that I can't fathom an individual garnering P1 on their own dime (kudos to those that do).

In terms of my situation (keeping it relatively general), I'm in a sales role and fly weekly domestically with international a few times of year with a reasonably accommodative travel policy for the above flying habits. I'm by no means an executive, just a road warrior foot soldier generating revenue. As part of this though, there is a certain expectation on productivity and day trips are certainly not permitted. Our organisation wants us out there even more next year.

Still, you must enjoy the fact that you probably have so many airline and hotel points that when you go on a holiday it’s mostly all free?

Unfortunately the grind of constant travel gets to you, and getting on a flight is not something to look forward to. I to spend more than too much time on Sales/BD day trips or longer, and there's nothing glamorous about aircraft and business hotels.

Although, I do admit it's nice to travel with MrsK and explore interesting little places I have found while travelling for work.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Still, you must enjoy the fact that you probably have so many airline and hotel points that when you go on a holiday it’s mostly all free?

Check your employer's policy. In many cases, the points earned go to the company, and it's the company which can use them to pay for further employee flights. In lots of cases, the individual doesn't get them.

 

[SYD]

Check your employer's policy. In many cases, the points earned go to the company, and it's the company which can use them to pay for further employee flights. In lots of cases, the individual doesn't get them.

I wouldn’t work for that company.

 

[mrsterryn]

I am not a P1 . Platinum and continue to say I am going lose status. However surely it can't be that unusual to have a mixture of work and holidays to achieve P1. My platinum is all self funded.
I want to see if I can do one of the marvellous status runs from that thread to see how many credits I can achieve
Finally remembered how to travel with carry on , even as an old fat lady

 

[Kendall Roy]

I'm WP based on my BAU travel trends - Tech Consultant. The jump to P1 was just me going a little crazy during the last DSC promo. This was great value and now I'm on final approach to the best (realistic) insurance policy on offer: LTG

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I wouldn’t work for that company.

Many people don't work for companies at all - the largest employers in Australia aren't companies - so I guess it's a moot point.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

All the points 100% come to me…who would travel and get zero points for it?? It certainly is a perk and tbh a key reason that I stay with my particular employer.

I’m still relatively young and new to being on the road (I.e less than 5 years) so it hasn’t worn off and tbh I don’t foresee it wearing off. I think I’m just one of those people that is happy to travel for the company. I would do more, particularly international, if I could and be top tier across all the airlines.

Very few want to do the level of travel I’m willing to do. I’m on an international trip this week and it’s reinforced my love for the process.

The one big downside is that it does spoil you for personal travel when you have to lower expectations.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I travel and get no points for it because as a government employee I’m not permitted to. My job doesn’t exist outside the government, either. There are way bigger things affecting careers than travel benefits. I’m also approaching 25 years in the workforce and recognise that I value my family, friends, and leisure time far more than FF points.