Originally Posted by
Duckouttahere
Enjoy the government rates at hotels and (1)when flying. Some of us can't get those rates. Recently read an article here in California about (2)a lawyer suing restaurants because they were offering California workers discounts due to the budget impasse while not offering it to everyone.
(3) Another recent article focused on government employees living it up at taxpayer expense whether it was pension funds or booking higher rate hotels or airfare.
Not a good time for people public or private to complain about airfare or hotel rates.
BART in the Bay Area may go on strike because they want more money and a lot of people are ticked off because a lot of people don't have jobs anymore.
Just something to consider before complaining in public.
1) I don't know where you get the idea that government employees enjoy government rates at hotels and when flying when they aren't on official business. Government airfares are NOT available to us for personal use. Further, although some of the government airfares can be a good deal, many of them are not ($398 is what my rt SEA-DEN was. Is that a deal?). I wouldn't pay that to go to DEN. I can get better deals booking on line. I'll not mention the $866 (before taxes) round trip contract fare between SEA and CVG. Yes, let me spend more of my own money to go live it up at duck's expense. Something closer to home? SEA-EUG $358+taxes. As for hotel rates, its the same thing. Traveling for personal reasons I'm not going to fork out $149 for a hotel in Denver.
2) That lawyer needs to get a life. File that lawsuit under "frivilous" Is he suing Denny's for offering a Senior's discount? Dammit, I want one of those, and I'm not even 50 yet!!
3) I'd like to read that article. I'll agree that there is abuse of government travel cards, that's easy to support. But I do take issue with the assumption or characterization that government employees "live it up" while on an out of town assignment. (Ask about the party we had in Little Rock). I'd suggest that an equal critical eye be cast at private sector employees doing the same. As channa pointed out, it goes for both sectors.
4) Please also consider the "complaint" was fully tongue-in-cheek. I don't have a tongue-in-cheek font on my computer.
will have to suffice.
as for the flights...minimum expectations met, and even exceeded, at least on the return.