If flight crew are looking out for their employer they are looking after themselves. A good enough reason to do what you can to limit the negative effect opportunistic price gouging has wherever possible in my view. Pay it when there is no choice but use what discretionary power you have to maximum effect.
Pay an extra $100 for an FBO to operate beyond normal hours? No problem, fair is fair. Pay an invoice full of nickle and dime ups and extras? Sometimes it's necessary and sometimes reasonable accommodations can be reached. Always let it be known that you appreciate good service and that your continued good patronage is recognition of that fact. Where there is no better choices, sometimes poor business practices on the part of opportunistic business entities must be accepted as a cost of doing business. Any corporate pilot having a decent working relationship with the boss will figure out what the parameters of their own influence and discretion in short order.
I've seen and worked with guys who take the money saving thing to a ridiculous and counter-productive extreme and also with guys who carelessly blow company money as though they were punishing the boss for being rich.
Discretion...
westhawk
Last edited by westhawk; 29th Dec 2012 at 21:03.