Who is right? Is this fraud?

[Thefajita]

One partner in a couple frequently works away and has a large number of hotel loyalty points as a result. Their partner has suggested using these for a holiday, but they do not want to as they believe this is potentially fraud. Who is right here?

I would check. My partner used points thinking it would be OK (retail chain) and his employer was very very unhappy. The employer was of the opinion that ultimately they reimbursed so they actually owned the points.

That being said they were pinched mouth, sour faced cadre of bitter men and very petty. With a 'employees are never to be trusted' mindset but had different rules dependant on if you were in their 'good books' or not.

Wouldn’t even occur to me that they belong to the company! Your credit card, your points!

There was a case at my work when someone was fired for claiming Avios on company flights. This was when booking multiple flights for colleagues - so not exactly the same - but I wouldn't risk it now without clearing first.

If its his card its fine. If its the company's its generally not (as the points then belong to the company). So if he pays and expenses it is fine. If he justs puts on a work card it is potentially different. Its not fraud in my view though. Most large organisations have a policy in this and it is generally accepted to be legitimate - even on a work card.

Likewise, most organisations let you keep any claimed travel compensation - e.g for delayed flight.

Note - we've had so many holidays via business travel points! If we have to go through the hassle of paying on our cards and waiting the 4 weeks to get the money back through expenses, I'd be very suprised by a company that wanted to claim our loyalty points for themselves.

If the company wanted the points wouldn't they do the bookings?

We can't answer this question because we don't know what the company policy is.

Logically, if you're expected to do the legwork and take the upfront cost of expenses then you should be able to use the points. AS LONG as you're genuinely going with the best value option and not paying more knowing that you're employer will cover it and you'll get the points. With all this in mind, I would never consider it fraud.

Realistically, employers are hit and miss. Mine don't care... How the hell would they spend the 6x Nectar points I got on a printer I had to buy myself?! Always check company policy first but, just because someone considers something fraud, doesn't mean it is.

My old employer actually put out a policy on this that points should be used for future corporate travel and not personal travel. So people stopped putting down their cards on things like airfare etc. They couldnt enforce it. I also personally stopped being ameniable to cheaper flight times.

Oh you want me to travel on the first flight out at 7am (meaning i would need to be up at 4am) to be ready for a meeting at 10am with a customer?? Then get the 5pm flight back (to avoid expensive European city hotel bills) and arrive home at 8pm the same day? No... ill leave the house at 8am get the more expensive 11am flight, get the the customers at 1pm. Have a meeting, stay over night and get the 9am flight back next morning meaning i wont be back to work till lunchtime. Double the cost.

It was rescinded in roughly 3 months.