Who Pays for Business?

[BBoomer]

Often wondered who pays for business and why. Is just a case of the company is paying so why not. Before I sold my business travelled domestically I guess about 25 times pa and several Internationals. My business could have afforded it but I only saw it it the biggest waste of money. Generally in business we strive to be cost efficient, but blowing 10's of thous a year on a bigger seat and more dodgy food, just does not add up. If I want to eat well I go to a good restaurant, not get on an plane.
Now I travel everywhere at my expense, and I still don't get it. I have an overseas holiday in the Carribean for what some will spend on their seat.
Jet lag etc is a load of rubbish. We get to the other end feeling the same as anyone else.
Interested in how travelers justify this stupidity.

 

[TonyHancock]

I don't disagree with some of your comments. I have struck a happy medium between company paid J and JASA's. It basically equates to a total cost of Y+ for the year. If I had to fly in Y or Y+ for all of my flights I think it would drive me insane after a year. :-|

 

[djfuzz]

Welcome to AFF. Again, this has been covered at length here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-questions/why-fly-business-i-dont-30541.html

Mods - what's the policy on all this duping lately?

 

[JohnK]

I don't believe there would be too many self-funded business travellers.

Personally I believe domestic business class, not including SYD/MEL/BNE-PER, is a waste of money and companies that pay for it must not care about profits in anyway. I worked as a contractor for K-Mart automotive for a number of years and the executives went down to Coles MEL head office quite regularly on VA flights in economy first thing in the morning. Think that K-Mart head office is in Castle Hill and most live out that way so they would go to airport at 4:00pm for a full day of meetings. Now if they can do it so can other companies.

One of the things that irk me the most is companies who are tight on payrises to their most valuable assets, yes the workers, yet continue to pay ridiculous amounts on business class or fully flexible tickets for executives.

 

[Stephen65]

I doubt that most or indeed many people flying in J domestically are paying for it out of their own pockets. I have flown about 95% J since 2001 but I haven't ever bought a J fare for cash. For me it's a combination of clients paying for me to travel or private trips funded on QF classic awards and JASA's.

 

[Foreigner]

I don't. I can't figure out why so much is wasted on business class when it may not be justified.

 

[harvyk]

Whilst I think these threads should be merged (although there is a subtle different in the question), the question could be asked why chose to fly at all? Why waste thousands of dollars to go overseas for a holiday? A memory and your experiences (plus any daggy souvenirs) isn't going to be worth anything of value (apart from sentimental value) in a couple of years time...

The people who fly business who then pays for it have either saved up for the flight (as a couple of the other members have said, a flight is as much a part of the trip experience as anything else), or the amount of money which it costs is no object to them anyway.

 

[notzac]

I think we have this topic come up about once every 6-12 months .. for me it's the same reasoning as it's always been; I wouldn't spend up on short haul J, but have paid for premium cabins (whY+ and J) for longer haul because I value my sanity.

 

[samiam]

I think we have this topic come up about once every 6-12 months ...

...err, weeks

 

[notzac]

...err, weeks

You may have a point

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Personally I love these threads.

I came from the wrong side of the tracks 30 years ago and started my business career with nothing - today I still have most of that left - nowadays I do 10 to 12 international flights each year - all self funded on ultra cheap carriers - MU, PR whoever - or on points on SQ, CX etc - I fly up the pointy end cause I love it and I have earnt it - my best staff get to experience the same - but I always look around and wonder.

Boomer - F and J occupied by all types - those who pay for it, those who deserve it and those who weasel in, I have been very lucky in life - sometimes I sit up front and watch others boarding - thinking and knowing some of the older pax walking past me will never experience the enjoyment / luxury of premium travel - so what do you do?

Whatever - gotta tell you if you can get your cough in a seat up the front I think you gotta go with it.

 

[yohy?!]

I'd pay to fly J all the time if I could afford it, unfortunately have to stick to Y for work and J for the occasional award redemption.

Last QF Y sector is probably a good indicator of justifying J travel.

-Complete scrum at gate in SIN with all manner of bogans pushing and shoving
-Abrupt, surly service on board
-Child sized food and drink selection
-Awful contortionist Y seat
-At least an hour in line at BNE immigration

All of which would have been avoided or at least minimised if travelling in J.

Sent from my HTC Legend using AustFreqFly App

 

[simongr]

Why do people buy BMWs rather than fords, champagne rather than champagne style sparkling pinot noir chardonnay blends, a big house rather than a small house, a house close to the city rather than a house on more land, eat at maccas rather than Aria? Why do people do stuff differently? Because we aren't clones. Why do people pay to go to the Grand Final and other listen on AM? Because we aren't clones.

I hate these threads as they always start out with a premise that people flying J are wrong and/or wasteful - I wonder how many of these threads are started by smokers or people who eat waygu beef or don't drive 10km below the limit to save gas or people who have a history of gambling.

They seem to be written to find information and garner opinion but they are often written as an accusation with a holier than thou tone. I hope when you respond you examine every part of your life with the same magnifying glass.

I personally don't judge anyone who chooses to spend their money in a way that they feel is right or decide to work for companies who will facilitate travel in a way that is comfortable to them.

I hope I can restrain myself to this being the last thread I post in on this topic.

 

[ozmille]

Why do people buy BMWs rather than fords, champagne rather than champagne style sparkling pinot noir chardonnay blends, a big house rather than a small house, a house close to the city rather than a house on more land, eat at maccas rather than Aria? Why do people do stuff differently? Because we aren't clones. Why do people pay to go to the Grand Final and other listen on AM? Because we aren't clones.

I hate these threads as they always start out with a premise that people flying J are wrong and/or wasteful - I wonder how many of these threads are started by smokers or people who eat waygu beef or don't drive 10km below the limit to save gas or people who have a history of gambling.

They seem to be written to find information and garner opinion but they are often written as an accusation with a holier than thou tone. I hope when you respond you examine every part of your life with the same magnifying glass.

I personally don't judge anyone who chooses to spend their money in a way that they feel is right or decide to work for companies who will facilitate travel in a way that is comfortable to them.

I hope I can restrain myself to this being the last thread I post in on this topic.

Where is the like button on the app when you need it?!?


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[HardieBoys]

Each to their own... why are people prepared to pay millions of dollars for housing when cheaper options are available?

I fly economy domestically and to Asia; I fly premium economy to Europe and the Americas for leisure. I work for myself and for deductible trips I'll fly Business long-haul, but this only ends up happening once year. Every few years I treat myself to a Business fare for leisure, and if I had the cash, I'd always fly it. For the moment, Business is a treat.

 

[russ]

Life is too short to sit in economy

 

[ozmille]

Life is too short to sit in economy

One could say that sitting in whY makes it seem longer


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[pshepvic]

Where is the like button on the app when you need it?!?

Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

I was thinking the same!

Domestic - I fly J if >2 hours, usually with upgrades or JASAs, because I find the price in Aus is not value for money compared to what you can pay for domestic J/F overseas (partly due to a lack of competition that hopefully is now changing, albeit only a little). I'm 6'2" and can't stand being in a confined space.

Work travel we get Flexi fares with DJ, and it doesn't cost me much to pay for PE/J upgrade so I pay the difference out of my own pocket. The tax deduction, extra points and SCs make the cost neutral.

For international, I'm prepared to sit in Y+ for day flights under 10 hours, but anything else must be in J. It's completely self funded and I don't care. Sure, I try to get a good deal, and get companion fares and the like, or make the most of sales (like QF's recent J class sale where it was $5.5k to the US). But I do see the value.

Overseas I do a lot of the domestic flights in F/J as well - I just booked 8 domestic flights for the US in Dec/Jan - 6 are in F (out of the two in Y, one is only 2 hours and the price was 10% of J/F, and the other is a Y only aircraft). The whole lot cost me under $2200. In Australia the same would have been about $6000, if not more.

As for jetlag it absolutely makes a difference. I get off the plane rested and ready for the holiday - you can see the difference in people's faces when you are standing in a queue for immigration at LAX or LHR after a 14 hour flight. It's pretty easy to tell who has been sitting in J or F!!

 

[pshepvic]

Life is too short to sit in economy

Life's too short, and I'm too tall!

 

[Durin's Bane]

Interested in how travelers justify this stupidity.

Are you a socialist?