Looks like Nominee Tickets are history, according to an e-mail that was sent out by HR Services less than an hour ago:
In accordance to the new company’s strategy and direction to improve the staff travel facilities and benefits for its employee, Gulf Air has revised the current Staff Travel policy and entitlements and accordingly we regret to advise you that the Nominee Tickets are no longer part of your entitlements and will be discontinued effective 1st January 2011.
However, at present we are revising the current Staff Travel benefits and facilities and we are going to implement the new entitlements and benefits very shortly, with more facilities to the employee and their immediate families.
We are sure you have enjoyed the previous benefits, and hope that you understand the company’s present decision.
For any partially used nominee tickets, cancellation or refund you may process it through STMS or approach our staff travel outlet for any assistance.
I will be curious to see the results of the Company's strategy and direction to improve staff travel benefits, and how the discontinuation of Nominee tickets fits into the scheme.
I suspect that the suspension of the Nominee scheme is due to some unscrupulous individuals trying to make a little extra money by selling these tickets to strangers ("friends"); and those passengers cause problems because they do not understand the protocols for "staff" passengers. Once again, a minority ruins it for the majority and instead of the Company punishing the offenders, all employees suffer the consequences. Saw it at my previous employer also.
Over the last few years our staff travel benefits have slowly withered away, in part because of what I perceive as a lack of effort of HR Services to 1) increase the number of airlines we can access, 2) revise and improve the benefits on existing airlines (especially those which are not immediately in the GCC area) and, 3) the merger or bankruptcy of airlines with which we had agreements (ie. Mexicana) and no effort made to fill the gap.
I feel it is important for the Company to understand that, as an employee, I do not view Staff Travel as a "privilege" per se, but as an important piece of my total compensation scheme of which my pay, medical and dental benefits, etc. all play a part. It is one important benefit which discriminates and makes an IATA legacy carrier, like Gulf Air, considerably more attractive as an employer than some Low-Cost Carriers which otherwise may offer some more attractive options.
I wish all of you a safe and successful 2011.