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Original poster

Do you travel by plane for work?

49 replies

mwmw · 19/02/2019 16:52

If so, do they pay for business for you? Was this always company policy, or did you have to become senior?

OP posts:
Hefzi · 19/02/2019 16:54

Yes--and no: it's not allowed (I work in HE) for any staff no matter how senior (though I suspect this doesn't apply to the VC).

I sometimes pay to upgrade myself if I've got a crappy journey or am going straight from the airport to teach though.

TheQueenSnortsAvocados · 19/02/2019 16:56

Yes, but only short haul as it is cheaper than the train. Even if there were a BC option it would def not be allowed.

StarsStripes2016 · 19/02/2019 16:57

Yes. Only business class if flight is over a certain length (can’t recall might be 6 hours). Think same rule for all levels.

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BusterTheBulldog · 19/02/2019 17:00

Yes, sadly never business class whatever the length (I often go long haul). I also work for airlines and airports and still don’t get any perks Hmm

AlbusPercival · 19/02/2019 17:01

Yes, only business class of longer than 4 hours

VimFuego101 · 19/02/2019 17:04

Yes, but no business class on long haul flights unless you are above a certain level. I don't want to get a DVT just to attend work meetings so have avoided long haul work travel.

WinterHeatWave · 19/02/2019 17:06

I used to.
8hrs+ for business.

DH is 7 hrs + for the longest leg.

Those eligible for overtime could also choose to downgrade to economy, and bank half the difference in cost. I hated that policy, because I couldn't switch for the cash (and didnt get paid OT fof travel or while abroad), but if I was travelling with someone who could and did, I felt I had to down grade and travel with them.

falcon5 · 19/02/2019 17:09

Yes and no. I used to fly to very east Russia and be expected to crack on.

tldr · 19/02/2019 17:11

Never went business, but flew often enough I was often upgraded.

TheCuddlyOctopus · 19/02/2019 17:11

We're supposed to be able to if it is 9+ hours but in practice is so difficult to get it approved no one bothers. I'm quasi public sector.

I have insisted a couple of times when in back to back meetings/being expected to get off the plane and do a presentation.

They have no worries about paying for extra nights hotels to give a day to adjust so it's daft really (I did used to do that before DC and have a day exploring/shopping/pool but can't really do it now).

Youmadorwhat · 19/02/2019 17:12

No but DH does and yes they pay.

ItsAllGone19 · 19/02/2019 17:15

Yes if the journey is excessively long (for example Cardiff to Glasgow) or obviously international.

Everyone who travels has to have a company credit card, we pay for our travel on there and it's balanced against our wages once a month. Being hot on reconciling receipts is advisable!

wholetthekittlesout · 19/02/2019 17:17

Business class if over 6 hours

Chewbecca · 19/02/2019 17:18

Yes, business class if over 6 hours and above a certain level.

IWouldPreferNotTo · 19/02/2019 17:19

No. Clients wouldn't pay for it and then I was working for a US company who thought being nice to employees was a sign of weakness.

However, I did rack up enough points for frequent 50% upgrades on international flights

PoshPenny · 19/02/2019 17:20

No I had to travel standard class and it was regular trips to Caribbean Islands.

SimplyPut · 19/02/2019 17:22

Yes but only CEO and immediate personnel if working together on a journey over four hours.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 19/02/2019 17:22

Yes and only if the flight is over 8 hours and you are a senior enough person OR the client is willing to shell out for it. The company policy is clear and has been in place for years.

anniehm · 19/02/2019 17:28

Depends on route and price - public sector so money is everything

sweetpeach91 · 19/02/2019 17:37

No, I guess it would feel quite exotic though to be important enough to travel by plane. Grin I hate flying though and as I'm doing my Law degree atm it could be quite possible in the (distant) future when I've established myself and got a good job I'll be flying to see clients/drop contracts off etc.

MeganChips · 19/02/2019 17:50

I fly for work and it depends if the client is willing to pay for it. So far it has always been economy.

I live in hope!

Stupomax · 19/02/2019 17:54

DH flies all the time, is pretty senior, and they don't pay for him to fly business. But because he flies so much he's often upgraded for free.

He also uses a lot of his airline points to buy lounge passes which his team can all use.

The CEO has his own plane, so occasionally they fly with him if they're going to the same meetings.

Luckingfovely · 19/02/2019 18:01

Used to years ago, but those days seem to be gone now.

It seems that 6 hours plus is the minimum for most companies I work with now.

Anothertempusername · 19/02/2019 18:05

6 hours plus here for BC.

Glasgow to Cardiff??!!

lerrimknowyouretheyir · 19/02/2019 18:13

Above 5 hours, business, under and it’s economy.
Pre 2008 it was business for all flights. Thems were the days.

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