How do your employees fly?

Lola815

We have sales and field service techs who fly out of the country and on those flights we allow them to fly business class and if they don't we pay them $500 for flying coach. Times aren't as good as they use to be, so we are thinking of doing a way with this and have everyone fly coach. What do you guys think? What policies do you guys have at your place of business?

Thanks....

Sunny

Everyone in our organization - including the President - flies coach and cheapest way. This usually means Southwest to Midway rather than Delta to O'Hare - in other words, we trade inconvenience for frugality. Not fun, but since everyone does it, no one complains.

Parabeagle

Likewise at my company. Everyone incl. the pres bargain-shops the best fares on the cheapest carriers and we all just pray the wings don't fall off before we arrive.

Seriously, $ drives our travel policy and no one flies business class unless they are willing to pay the difference between a business class seat and a coach seat on the same flight.

marc

We also fly the cheapest way available. The only concession we make is to allow the EEs to keep the mileage credits and any upgrading or free trips that come along with those programs.

rad

We fly the cheapest way possible. And if it saves money in the long run, we encourage employees to leave early and stay over on a Saturday and enjoy the city they are visiting on a Sunday before they attend their Monday meeting. Since most everyone this type of Satrday stay airfare would apply to would leave on Sunday anyway to make a Monday meeting, it does save money, even when you factor in hotel and meal allowances. I have a co-worker from Texas who loves that "rule" when he has to come to Boston, he loves walking around the city for the day.

deniseE

We also fly as cheaply as possible...in many cases that means that travel must be made 30 days in advance when possible.

We also have nearly stopped using our travel agent since we discovered that ee's can book more convenient flights at lower rates through the on-line sites (orbitz, expedia). One caution though, most of these tickets are nonrefundable...if the trip doesn't happen then you're out $$$...although, most of the airlines will work with you...

Ethel

Lowest fare available is our usual policy. However, on overseas flights of long durations, we do allow business class with prior approval. (This change came about after our CEO experienced the "flight from hell" on an overseas cheap trip.) We do not use a travel agent due to fees, we use the internet. Our employees keep all mileage earned and any and all perks associated with flgihts.

Roberta

Lola, I noticed that your post "How do your employees fly?" is right above one about "Medical marijuana". Talk about interesting topics being together.... ;>)

Kiwi

Our company always flies the cheapest, for everyone. My husband travels a lot for business. He gets to keep his miles and perks, which is very nice. He can use the miles to upgrade his seat. When he flew almost exclusively with 1 carrier, his company would pay for a Gold Card type membership with that carrier so he could use their business lounge. For $300 or so he could work during lay overs much more comfortably than being stuck in the terminal. He really appreciated that perk.

dbutton111

We fly the most inexpensive way except on flights longer then 8 hours (total flying time, not including layovers). This would catch most international flights, at least US to Europe or Asia. For long flights we bump them to business class. Employees keep all miles/bonuses.

turbo

We take the Company Plane....Southwest Airlines.....

We always book online and if overseas..same thing the cheapest way to go - if ugrades are needed then the employee can upgrade.

The employee keeps all bonuses mileage/trips from travel as a way to 'compensate' for having to travel.

From this company (small manufacturing) to two of the richest law firms in the country...Southwest and/or cheapest fare has always been the policy anything extra was up to the employee to cover...overnight stays of one night if cheaper airfare was the goal were also allowed.