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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect business-class travel when taking a business trip long haul?

69 replies

Mexxo · 19/09/2012 14:50

Have been asked to attend a conference which is a 10 hour flight away. I work for a large international firm. Having said yes I will attend conference, was surprised to be told I am expected to fly economy overnight and get off and go straight into 2-day conference at other end. Then fly back overnight and go straight to work, or take the day off as holiday.

AIBU?

OP posts:

ToothyMcTooth · 19/09/2012 14:57

That does sound quite tough. My dh flies a lot with work and has done long haul economy class but usually only if he has a hotel stop at one end of the day. Could you push for economy plus? I know its not loads more but as a single traveller in economy+ you'd be in with a shot of an upgrade.

msrisotto · 19/09/2012 14:58

I'd understand if it were short haul, but long haul and expecting you to be fresh for work immediately? No way. Is there proviso for even letting you wash?

LaurieFairyCake · 19/09/2012 14:59

Blimey You can't possibly be expected to work on the day you come back if you're coming from the airport after a night flight. That's just ridiculous, surely some numpty has just not thought it through???

Sallyingforth · 19/09/2012 15:00

That's just not acceptable, and might even breach health and safety if you are very tired going back to work.

beachyhead · 19/09/2012 15:01

Our limit used to be 4 hours for economy, anything longer, business or premium economy....

I would take an extra day at each end if they won't upgrade to business, or not go!

TremoloGreen · 19/09/2012 15:01

Doesn't your company have a policy regarding business class travel? For example, ours is any overnight flight and any day flight over 5 hours. Check your contract or company handbook maybe? There's no way I would want to do that, it will be grim

margerykemp · 19/09/2012 15:04

Surely a hotel stay is cheaper than a business ticket?

Original poster

Mexxo · 19/09/2012 15:04

Have requested a quote for economy plus and hoping to persuade them that it's worthwhile. Am hacked off beyond measure because not long ago a colleague told me that the firm's policy is that all qualified employees get business class (trainees have to go economy).

I think the problem is that it's less than a month away so the fares are high now. But that's not my fault!

Don't want to look "princessy" by making too much fuss but would never have agreed to go if I'd known this would be the arrangement!

OP posts:

HaveringGold · 19/09/2012 15:04

Sadly increasingly common. We're now on economy at all times unless manager gives an exception or we travel with clients. Some people think it must be glamorous having a job with travel however the reality is often not very.
How important is the conference? And what are your options to extend?

GiserableMitt · 19/09/2012 15:05

I'm not sure you should expect it, but given your circumstances it would be decent if they did give it to you. If your company aren't prepared to stump for BC, would they fly you a day earlier so you a day and a night in a hotel to recover at least? It would still work out cheaper for your company.

Several times DH has had to do a 16.5 hr non-stop flight at the back of the bus for work.

alarkaspree · 19/09/2012 15:05

So that's two nights out of three with extremely limited sleep? I think that's a lot to ask of you. Does your company have an official policy on business travel, and is this in line with that policy? If so, I guess they could argue that you should have known that this would be expected of you before you agreed to attend the conference.

I would push for the day of your return as unpaid leave, if they won't budge on the flights.

GiserableMitt · 19/09/2012 15:05

I type too slow

squeakytoy · 19/09/2012 15:06

YANBU to expect the next day off, but YABU to expect to fly business class.

whois · 19/09/2012 15:06

YANBU at all!

Our policy is over 4h = business class flights for all grades. Other big co's vary by time or grading. I would expect some flexibility with days of flying or time in leiu if not business class e.g fly overnight on Monday night, Tuesday in the hotel and Wednesday at the conference.

wanderingalbatross · 19/09/2012 15:07

I have always flown economy for long haul flights with work (also big multinational with plenty of money!). It seemed that the senior management got to fly business, but the rest of us didn't. They'd never have made us fly economy overnight each side though and expected us to work straight away!

nordiccamper · 19/09/2012 15:07

YANBU. They are. A day off in lieu would go someway to making it reasonable.

GiserableMitt · 19/09/2012 15:07

Reading your first post again, can you cancel and tell them you didn't realise the extreme set of conditions you'd be held to when you first agreed?

SaraBellumHertz · 19/09/2012 15:15

YANBU - both in my current and last job rules were if flight was over 6 hours OR where you would be going immediately to work then business class.

Frankly I think I'd refuse in your situation.

itsjustmeanon · 19/09/2012 15:15

The company I used to work for, the Chief Executive used to travel economy. He made a point of it. We were told that the difference in price, in going to New York, economy and business was about £1,500 and apparently that was just the one way. He thought it was a waste, and so nobody got the chance to travel business class!

YABU.

NatashaBee · 19/09/2012 15:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

itsjustmeanon · 19/09/2012 15:16

Can you not insist on an extra day conference end.

aldiwhore · 19/09/2012 15:16

I think you should get a travel day either side for such a long flight. I've no issue with economy class, but it should be business class OR economy plus travel days.

Original poster

Mexxo · 19/09/2012 15:22

I could fly the day before the conference starts and have an extra night in the hotel (and extra night away from the DCs).

If I did this and then got the day of return off, maybe that's as much as I can ask for without marking my card as a troublemaker?

OP posts:

Numberlock · 19/09/2012 15:23

Does your company use a travel agent to book flights, OP?

Here, we are (thankfully) responsible for booking our own flights and manage to save lots of money just by shopping around, using different airlines/times etc. If your company is using a travel agent I'll guarantee they're paying way over the odds. Can you see the ticket price and shop around to find your own deal, just for comparison purposes?

Our company rule is business class for over 6 hours (all grades) and we have the smallest travel budget in our group, despite the highest number of flights...

Numberlock · 19/09/2012 15:26

As for time off after long-haul travel, I leave it to the member of staff's discretion as to when they feel they are ready to come into the office.

maybe that's as much as I can ask for without marking my card as a troublemaker

Just make sure the opposite doesn't happen and you are marked down as someone who they can take advantage of and will save them money. I doubt the directors are expected to meet these conditions?

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