MilesBuzz! - Jobs meant to fly...

Inspiried bu the "Million Mile FLIGHT miles a year Guy", I was wondering...

Can anyone (this isn't trivia, just a question) give me an example(s) of jobs where it involves paid flying (to earn 100's of 1000's of miles).

Thank-you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Zach

mostly consulting, I would think. A lot of people on FT who fly a lot consult, many in high tech fields.

I sit next to people sometimes who do 4 days on the road, often in other countries, home for the weekends in the USA. That is a lot of miles!

Consulting of what...???

Investment banking also works pretty well.

Any job concerning Architecture will require business flying?
I think visiting the site is not a suitable way since either only a few time or setting up of local branch/office....

Ohh... If I know FTboard eariler, I would change my major! (sounds to horrible idea, isn't it?)

In asking many traveling companions, I guess technical or pharmaceutical sales or consulting would be the most common profession of my fellow travelers out of my home airport, RDU. I do almost zero international, but I fly over 200K domestic base miles per year...of 40 individuals in the technical consulting kind of work I do, 90% turnover from 4 years ago, primarily due to travel burnout.

For those who based on the East Coast, and then get involved in product design and manufacture over in Asia, the miles can mount rapidly. This year is turning into a record-setter for me, with over 100k YTD on *A. (Happy to report a successful upgrade experience on UA876 BKK-NRT today.)

Conference and Trade Show Producers. The firm I work for produces a number of conferences and trade shows both domestically and in international locations. As a result of the high number of events planned for the year, I am required to travel to each location to oversee set up of the area I am responsible for. In some cases, I will travel to a location for a site visit – to make certain that the location is appropriate for the intended event. Occasionally, the coordinator I work with will stay for the entire week of the event while I only attend for the first few days overseeing the set up and to make certain that all goes well. The number of points earned in both airline, hotel and car rental programs, as well as using my charge and credit cards for payments and expenses in my job has earned me a considerable amount of points for free hotel stays and air travel.

In the Telecom field, there are install/test supervisors/testers. We are required to goto customer site to install and test the equipment our company has just sold to them. However, I am trying to look for something that will allow me to return home every weekend instead of the dreadful every other weekend....

Of course when those weekends aboard, I can try to find a cheap fare to do some mileage runs, i mean afterall who wants to spend their weekend in a hotel room?



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Al

Sales, sales, sales. (Internet company that actually is not losing money.) If the potential customer says I am ready to talk, I am on a plane. Big enough ticket item that a trip is worth it to get the sale. (Mine are 15K - 250K) I live in DEN and my territory is East of Mississippi... go figure. Means about 10K a month.

while sales is a good one, consulting is better. usually with sales you have to move to an 'office city'. with consulting you dont. i havent lived anywhere near any office of any company i have worked for in 8 years.

one of the 'skills' i offer is unlimited travel anywhere. this is a big bonus for some companies because they have a hard time keeping people that have to travel 50+ weeks a year.

this allows me to live where i want and work where they want. i veiw the bennies from the affinity programs as an exta bonus with a value.

and yes i am married with children (and dogs).

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f

f

How do you keep your family when you travel so much? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif



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Al

HK-UMICH

It's not horrible, nor creepy nor ridiculous. Everyone here has been bitten by some travel/flight bug. I was bitten by my own trAAvel bug... and, coming from a finance/banking field, while I ought to be thinking of dollars and cents, these days I measure everything solely in terms of miles, and no, I don't mean driving. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!

In those large suitcases? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

*no ill-intention meant* http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If you look at the big technology consulting companies, like EDS, Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), KPMG, etc., you can see why there are so many people flying to work. They essentially don't care where the person is based (has a home). You just have to live relatively near a major airport. People are largely classified into "vertical markets". So, for instance, you may be an expert at overhauling manufacturing control systems, so you are put onto a job doing that at some factory in Alabama. They simply bill the cost of your travel straight through to the customer. As far as your employer (the consulting company) is concerned, it costs the same whether you live in Alabama or Chicago or LA.

Consulting, owning your own business with widely dispersed sites, auditing, and those persons with spouses in a foreign city seem to be on the top ten list of copassengers.

Personally, I fall under the auditing category, and travel three weeks out of each month. The fourth week is an in-home office week and is very light (maybe 15-20 hours of work).

Being able to fly home every weekend helps a LOT, and it is really not all that bad on the family life as long as one can do this. Also, that one week at home per month helps a heck of a lot.

142 nights on the road in 2000. Should be ~ 144 nights this year.

Any aerospace job with customer interface. I work for a large manufacturer and have visited airlines in Europe/Scandinavia and the Middle East/Southwest Asia as well as several domestic U.S. carriers. Some travel comes on short notice.

Consulting will be kinder to your bank account, but aerospace is very rewarding.

Raffy is right! The trade show industry offers some pretty amazing opportunities for racking up miles and points in the seven digit per year bracket.

Obviously one needs to fly to get to a trade show but, moreover, the credit card opportunities are astounding as all shipping costs, drayage costs and freight costs can often be put on the exhibit manager's AMEX to the tune of in excess of $100,000.00 per show. The big challenge is finding a company who goes along with the program and figuring out how to process expenses in a timely fashion.

How long do we travlers last? Usually people in my company would do the travel for 3 years or less... Just wondering how long are you guys gonna plan to fly?

musicians. touring a lot in the us and europe. this year i will be averaging 10k/month.

this is a great thread...

I am a start-up entrepreneur and I have had to fly to various business development and fund raising opportunities. I will do perhaps 10K or more per month this year.

Consulting is certainly a ticket to fly. As a director for one of the Big 5, I'm sending people around Europe and am requesting people to come to Switzerland for projects constantly. I'm personally managing a project in Tokyo for a Swiss Pharma concern and travel there monthly.

I, myself, am in the high-tech industry, but my work keeps me local, for now..

I have a friend, who is working for KPMG, as a consultant.. He travels ~ 3wk / month... KPMG is a great company though. They offer their consultants with wither an AMEX, or DC card..

Work for The Dept of State transporting diplomatic pouches between posts---all you do is fly, fly and fly.

Originally posted by Tango:
Work for The Dept of State transporting diplomatic pouches between posts---all you do is fly, fly and fly.

But working for the government, you get no miles! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

True! Govt employees get no miles, what is the point of traveling?? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

I am now looking for something else with extensive travel and be home for every weekend, anyone here can use some referals? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I know someone who works for the Dept of State and they keep their miles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Originally posted by SRQ Guy:
But working for the government, you get no miles! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif



and get no money... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I do beg to differ though regarding the govt miles.. I know people who use their FF programs with gov't purchased tickets.. All they do is present their FF program card to the agent at check-in.. Some agents don't care..

What a great thread. For the jobs requiring the most travel- Sales Managers, Investment Bankers and the indispensible Software Consultants. Technology is booming so fast and they need people everywhere. These are the guys I sit next to most or beat me out of my upgrades. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
My next job will be one that requires travel, I am certain of it.


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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

I'm a young attorney at a litigation firm that works on cases that span the country, and occasionally the globe. There's discovery to be done all over, and this necessitates probably and average of 50,000-60,000 miles a year per attorney at my firm.

Research scientist and field scientists rack up miles galore to exciting places like kwajelein, dutch harbor, homer, san diego and the panama canal. I reckon some of the scientists I work with go on at least two international meetings a year and three trips to conferences around the US. Put in at least one mid-atlantic ridge or pacific cruise and you have gotten lots of field samples, a nice tan and some miles.

You can't keep your govt accrued miles for personal use, but you can use those miles for travel to conferences etc.

I haven't had to fly anywhere more exciting than DC, San Diego or Dutch Harbor in a long time....for work that is.

However, my crankiness due to lack of overhead space when I boarded Alaska Airlines flights got me my first MVP status (lots of trips to Alaska that year) and started me on my way...

Research scientist and field scientists rack up miles galore to exciting places like kwajelein, dutch harbor, homer, san diego and the panama canal. I reckon some of the scientists I work with go on at least two international meetings a year and three trips to conferences around the US. Put in at least one mid-atlantic ridge or pacific cruise and you have gotten lots of field samples, a nice tan and some miles.

You can't keep your govt accrued miles for personal use, but you can use those miles for travel to conferences etc.

I haven't had to fly anywhere more exciting than DC, San Diego or Dutch Harbor in a long time....for work that is.

However, my crankiness due to lack of overhead space when I boarded Alaska Airlines flights got me my first MVP status (lots of trips to Alaska that year) and started me on my way...

SRQ Guy,

I, too, question the validity of your statement concerning govt miles. In addition, I have about 1/4M (govt) miles per year to the contrary.

Government agencies can permit their employees to retain ff miles. However, these miles can only be used to upgrade on government related business, and only for a one-class upgrade.

The specific agency can enforce more stringent rules if they desire. E.g., they can forbid their employees to accumulate miles. This is very rare. The only agency which I have heard of which does this is the State Department. Reason being that they are also the only agency where persons openly used miles for their own (personal) benefit on personal travel. The case was prosecuted, and the offending parties had to reimburse the govt for the miles which they used for personal reasons.

-They got what they deserved. 'Tis a fine use of the miles for upgrades on government travel, and those persons who abuse the rules run the risks.

I have been completely misinformed, and I apologize for my broad generalization. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif Anyway, I thought that gov't employees couldn't use miles... (trust me, I think that policy would be abhorently wrong!)

The question is...

When will they pay us to fly? LOL!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Thank-you all very much for responding, and complimenting the post. I really appreciate it.

Any one else have any ideas? FEEL FREE TO POST http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif!!!

ZACH

Those that I know that used to be in uniform could not keep their miles. (Of course some of the time, the flights were in a cargo plane with a porta-john for a lav.)

The person I know who got to use his miles waited until retirement. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I guess I can only really speak for myself - and others that I sit next to on planes. I would have to say national/international sales, typically management level.

i.e.: National Sales Mgr, Director of Int'l Development, etc..

Originally posted by Butcher Bird:
SRQ Guy,

I, too, question the validity of your statement concerning govt miles. In addition, I have about 1/4M (govt) miles per year to the contrary.

Government agencies can permit their employees to retain ff miles. However, these miles can only be used to upgrade on government related business, and only for a one-class upgrade.

The specific agency can enforce more stringent rules if they desire. E.g., they can forbid their employees to accumulate miles. This is very rare. The only agency which I have heard of which does this is the State Department. Reason being that they are also the only agency where persons openly used miles for their own (personal) benefit on personal travel. The case was prosecuted, and the offending parties had to reimburse the govt for the miles which they used for personal reasons.

-They got what they deserved. 'Tis a fine use of the miles for upgrades on government travel, and those persons who abuse the rules run the risks.


I think the gov't would have a hard time finding out if an amployee put the ticket on their FF program... They give you the ticket, and you present your FF card to the ticket agent, upoon check-in..

I hope you get to use them for upgrades.. Gov't travel is free, but is not as nice as corporate travel, as the Gov't per diem is crap.. I can't believe they expect people to live on the per diem...

Check it out..
http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/pdrform.html

For example the per diem rate for San Francisco:

Max Per Diem (per day): US$205.00

This amount encompasses your lodging, and meals, for one day.. Don't get me wrong working for the gov't has is percs, but I gave it up for the corporate world...

DelRay Chris,

Say it like it is, brother! Yes, the Govt. per diem is not all that great. Still, we do get very good rates in most cases and this helps a bit. Still, yes there are times when we wind up in Motel 6's, etc.

Surprisingly, on the food you can pretty much get by on per diem. However, there are clearly no splurges or lobster dinners, etc. Your San Fran example was a good one, and there I get about $200 for the week for food, and spend about $400. -However, that is splurging and it makes sense that I should have to pay out of pocket if I get carried away and eat out at nice places. Point being that we do not have as much leeway as the open market, and I think that that is appropriate, actually.

As for the miles, yes, most agencies let you use them for upgrades and do not monitor. Using them for upgrades is a dang fine option, and I for one (and many others) do just that. Yes, many use them for personal reasons and it is one of those "don't ask, don't tell" type situations. Still, it is not worth risking getting your rear chewed for doing so; and first class is sweet anyway!

Originally posted by DelrayChris:


For example the per diem rate for San Francisco:

Max Per Diem (per day): US$205.00

This amount encompasses your lodging, and meals, for one day.. Don't get me wrong working for the gov't has is percs, but I gave it up for the corporate world...

My company doesn't do Per Diem and I like it. They will pay for the lodging, and we get up to $45 a day in SF,Boston,NYC,Chicago and Miami, and $35 for the rest of the States.
I like it this way, since they will put you in a $200/day hotel http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Originally posted by afang:
f
How do you keep your family when you travel so much? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif


let's see......
1. i make bank
2. they travel all over in first class, stay in 5 star hotels
3. i make bank

i must admit i have only done domestic travel and only for about 2 years solid. prior to that it was not very often over a 5 year period. i am expecting to do ONT-MCO for a few years at 50 weeks a year. that is about 250,000 base miles a year.

i am expecting some int'l. travel this year or next, but nothing is certain in consulting. least of all your current assignment.

i spent last year in 8 separate locations plus a short stint working from home.

f

I have been an corporate auditor with various companies for the past three years, and it involves simply moving from country to country for project work. The current role is 4 days away, one back in London - so lots of miles heading my way. Some of my old colleagues are still 100% travel. As for family time ? What family ?

try, show biz...

we're always going somewhere...

especially if the tour manager doesn't understand the meaning of the word, "routing" -- or in other words, "itinerary created by guy wearing a blindfold throwing darts at a map."

cpd

Ideally, working in a sales or consulting role for a company just breaking into a regional market... selling high-tech products for the European market for an American based Tech company that doesn't want to committ to opening an office in Europe.

You would get the flight home to the U.S. (or wherever you live), once or twice a month, all the hotel stays you could ask for, and finally, the internal European flights (almost all in C/J class because the fares are almost no different). Finally, you could even skip one of the flights home every once in a while, keep the ticket and exchange it for some very nice trips to other locations with the girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/dog/cat, you get the idea http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

As mentioned, Investment Banking is good. Also, project finance (similar to IBanking)is good, where you go out an evaluate specific projects. It doesn't need to be finance either, as mentioned architecture is good.

Ideally choose a company that wants to do / is doing International business, is small (i.e. doesn't have a lot of dedicated travelling headcount) and is not yet committed to opening foreign offices!

Originally posted by carpeperdiem:
try, show biz...

we're always going somewhere...

especially if the tour manager doesn't understand the meaning of the word, "routing" -- or in other words, "itinerary created by guy wearing a blindfold throwing darts at a map."

cpd

Where do I sign up for that tour manager stuff?? A little unrelated, BUT, met up with Steely Dan, and their crew when they were in PBI... They were flying corporate... How's that for routing!

If perhaps misinterpreted the question as (paraphrasing) "in what jobs do you get PAID to fly" rather than "in what jobs do you travel quite a bit on company funds."

In answering the first question, to state the obvious, pilots and FAs get paid to fly. I also, sometimes, get paid to fly. I am a consultant, and if the client requires me to fly on Sunday (actually, requests, since I can choose not to do so), the client pays for my time door-to-door. Since I'm bonused based on billable hours, I get a piece of that.

FF

I think the question is what is an example of a job that gives you the opportunity to travel.

If you work for an airline you might fly alot in business but most likely you will not earn any miles http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Kempis,

It is not that easy to fly in biz or F just by working for an airline. Airlines are liberal with free coach seats to airlines employees but Biz/F are a different story.
They try to not "dilute" the brand or the value of Biz/F.

If you want to travel in J/F and earn max miles, then consulting (IT, Biz Strategy, etc.), audit, investment banking with Global 2000 companies is the best. You fly a lot internationally and most companies are liberal with Biz/F travel policies on international travel. You can use those miles/credits/status to upgrade fairly easily on domestic travel.

Originally posted by enjoystravel:
Kempis,

It is not that easy to fly in biz or F just by working for an airline. Airlines are liberal with free coach seats to airlines employees but Biz/F are a different story.
They try to not "dilute" the brand or the value of Biz/F.

While UA may not want to dilut their first class (they will only let 1Ks early board with business on international flight, first is on its own!), they try hard to upgrade their fellow employee's! This is not un-common either. Also, whenever flying for the airline (not for personal stuff), they fly business or first (on a 3-class aand 2-class respectavly).

I dont wanna start another UA Employee Class Post, so I wont even post my opino http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

ZACH http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif