What's the point of Frequent Flyer Programmes?
Join Date: Mar 2003
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The main benefit of FF programs is money! For those of us that are self-employed and pay our own fares it is a choice between buying an upgraded seat for twice the points or ten times the cash....no contest. If I had to pay money all the time I'd almost always be in the back.
Join Date: Sep 2004
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quote:
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For those of us that are self-employed and pay our own fares it is a choice between buying an upgraded seat for twice the points or ten times the cash....no contest. If I had to pay money all the time I'd almost always be in the back.
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Has there ever been a thread along the lines of
'If the company offered you cash to cover flying up front, but you could get the cheapest option avail and pocket the difference' - what would you do?. Might be interesting - personally I would take the cash every time.
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For those of us that are self-employed and pay our own fares it is a choice between buying an upgraded seat for twice the points or ten times the cash....no contest. If I had to pay money all the time I'd almost always be in the back.
__________________________________________________
Has there ever been a thread along the lines of
'If the company offered you cash to cover flying up front, but you could get the cheapest option avail and pocket the difference' - what would you do?. Might be interesting - personally I would take the cash every time.
Paxing All Over The World
I'm not sure if we've had a thread about but I have probably mentioned this before ...
On a VS flight to NYC in 1986, I was sitting next to the Finance Director of Calvin Kline. I remember. I remember it all very clearly as it was my first trip to NYC and my first in Upper Class, indeed first long haul biz ever!!
He told me that staff who were entitled to travel Biz had the choice to go Coach and the company would split the money. Whatever the diff between the two fares, if the staff travelled Coach, they got 50% of the money as a bonus in their next monthly pay packet. Sounded like a good plan to me.
On a VS flight to NYC in 1986, I was sitting next to the Finance Director of Calvin Kline. I remember. I remember it all very clearly as it was my first trip to NYC and my first in Upper Class, indeed first long haul biz ever!!
He told me that staff who were entitled to travel Biz had the choice to go Coach and the company would split the money. Whatever the diff between the two fares, if the staff travelled Coach, they got 50% of the money as a bonus in their next monthly pay packet. Sounded like a good plan to me.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: He's on the limb to nowhere
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Done this quite a bit when working for US companies, they see the advantage of giving money to shareholders, employees or contractors in preference to airlines. I've never had so much luck doing the same deal with UK companies. One hits a wall of HR jobsworth policy, procedures that cannot be changed, lack of empowerment of budget holders, and a desire not to have somebody rock the boat because in the UK it appears travelling in premium cabins is a status symbol more than anything else and others don't want to lose it. Those thousands of pounds/dollars that you earn by flying in the the back can add up fast, and if you fly enough and pick the right airline/frequent flier program you can often get upgraded anyway.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Falkirk,Stirlingshire,Scotland
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Hi,
I like the BA FF programe with its MFU fare - Miles For Upgrade ( pay for a Premium Economy ticket use 25k miles and get to travel in Club world ( business).
I got back from Vancouver and with the bonus miles for a Prem Econ ticket and the Gold Card ticket I earned 17k miles so the upgrade only cost 8k miles.
The VS Gold card is useful getting you into the Revivals lounge even if travelling in Y.
Regards
TBS
I like the BA FF programe with its MFU fare - Miles For Upgrade ( pay for a Premium Economy ticket use 25k miles and get to travel in Club world ( business).
I got back from Vancouver and with the bonus miles for a Prem Econ ticket and the Gold Card ticket I earned 17k miles so the upgrade only cost 8k miles.
The VS Gold card is useful getting you into the Revivals lounge even if travelling in Y.
Regards
TBS
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Europe trying to enjoy retirement “YES”
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As a frequent flyer and employed by a company that provides the option of Business class or if necessary cash equivalent, I can say that any one who has sat in cattle class for 13 ish hours non stop to Melbourne has serious mental problems if they should wish to voluntary choose that option in order to make a few quid off the company. The air miles gained during these business trips are more than welcome when taking the wife/girlfriend on long weekend breaks to relaxing destinations and being pampered in a business class seat and taking full advantage of the facilities available for free, don’t knock the system and use it to full advantage. Also bless your company for unknowingly providing these additional fringe benefits.
Outhouse.
Outhouse.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Depends what your definition of a 'few' quid is, outhouse. If you can get half the difference between club and economy fares in your back pocket that's almost £1000 each way (based on BA fully flexible LHR-MEL) or around £45 an hour. That should pay for a relaxing long weekend!
