Jan 11, 2015, 10:39 pm
Last edit by: tcook052
This new annual thread has been carved out of the previous thread in an effort to reduce the number of megathreads on the AC forum. For those interested the original 2004 - 2014 thread on the topic may be found here.
That original thread started by accident but quickly became a popular place to come and discuss off topic things such as hockey, new movies, or almost anything that wouldn't fit into existing AC forum threads. More Air Canada or Aeroplan topics such as flight feedback, in-flight services issues or mileage earning/redemption are all topics that should go into existing AC forum threads so others can benefit from this information. Topics about other airline/hotel loyalty programs should be posted elsewhere on FT.
While the conversation is more relaxed as it would be in a lounge that doesn't mean however that the FT rules don't apply her as they definitely do so please refrain from controversial topics such as politics or religion, avoid profanities and treat other lounge patrons with the same respect you expect.
tcook052
Air Canada Forum Moderator
That original thread started by accident but quickly became a popular place to come and discuss off topic things such as hockey, new movies, or almost anything that wouldn't fit into existing AC forum threads. More Air Canada or Aeroplan topics such as flight feedback, in-flight services issues or mileage earning/redemption are all topics that should go into existing AC forum threads so others can benefit from this information. Topics about other airline/hotel loyalty programs should be posted elsewhere on FT.
While the conversation is more relaxed as it would be in a lounge that doesn't mean however that the FT rules don't apply her as they definitely do so please refrain from controversial topics such as politics or religion, avoid profanities and treat other lounge patrons with the same respect you expect.
tcook052
Air Canada Forum Moderator
The Air Canada Forum Lounge Thread (2015)
Aug 31, 2015, 6:15 pm
#2101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
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Booked CDG-YVR-CDG for 350USD...
How many days until BA cancels it, claiming SHOULD'VE KNOWN THAT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE CUSTOMER?
:P
How many days until BA cancels it, claiming SHOULD'VE KNOWN THAT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE CUSTOMER?
:P
Aug 31, 2015, 6:21 pm
#2102
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But I didn't say you're breaking their rules. If policy is lowest fare, and you want to book Latitude, and the company said, as long as you book out within 2 weeks of the flight, that's fine. Would you book Tango 3 months out or wait until T-2 weeks and buy Latitude (ok, this is a really extreme example, but would you if that's when only Latitude fares are sold?)
Aug 31, 2015, 6:32 pm
#2103
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Ok, so in your former case, you know there's a cheaper fare than latitude. You're allowed to book latitude, but your employer set a limit to how much you can spend, so obviously the company is trying to curtail you from spending a lot of money. You know the policy is more lax than at other companies, and you know that you could book a cheaper fare. So in this case, you're also going against the rule in spirit of the policy (and the spirit of all corporate policy is to curtail reckless spend)
Aug 31, 2015, 7:51 pm
#2104
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Ok, so in your former case, you know there's a cheaper fare than latitude. You're allowed to book latitude, but your employer set a limit to how much you can spend, so obviously the company is trying to curtail you from spending a lot of money. You know the policy is more lax than at other companies, and you know that you could book a cheaper fare. So in this case, you're also going against the rule in spirit of the policy (and the spirit of all corporate policy is to curtail reckless spend)
It was never about booking the cheapest flight. They explicitly wanted to give you the flexibility to book a better time/routing/airline/comfort. Many people bought Flex and expensed preferred seats too, if they didn't have eUps.
Aug 31, 2015, 8:18 pm
#2106
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Aug 31, 2015, 8:34 pm
#2107
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,714
I'm just curious to ask (not trying to be a jerk, honestly curious)
To both SAP and Cow
If your employer offered for both your flights and meals to pay a maximum each day / flight and any difference between the max and what you actually pay you get to take home - what would you guys do then?
Ie: Max flight $1,000. Actual $900 flex, $450 tango. Do you buy flex and pocket $100 or do you buy tango and pocket $550?
Same concept for meals.
To both SAP and Cow
If your employer offered for both your flights and meals to pay a maximum each day / flight and any difference between the max and what you actually pay you get to take home - what would you guys do then?
Ie: Max flight $1,000. Actual $900 flex, $450 tango. Do you buy flex and pocket $100 or do you buy tango and pocket $550?
Same concept for meals.
Aug 31, 2015, 8:37 pm
#2108
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I'm just curious to ask (not trying to be a jerk, honestly curious)
To both SAP and Cow
If your employer offered for both your flights and meals to pay a maximum each day / flight and any difference between the max and what you actually pay you get to take home - what would you guys do then?
Ie: Max flight $1,000. Actual $900 flex, $450 tango. Do you buy flex and pocket $100 or do you buy tango and pocket $550?
Same concept for meals.
To both SAP and Cow
If your employer offered for both your flights and meals to pay a maximum each day / flight and any difference between the max and what you actually pay you get to take home - what would you guys do then?
Ie: Max flight $1,000. Actual $900 flex, $450 tango. Do you buy flex and pocket $100 or do you buy tango and pocket $550?
Same concept for meals.
Ok. So for the flight, I'd buy Flex. If I only fly twice a year, I'd buy Tango + LMU out of pocket. Maybe even lowest J fare, depending on how much out of pocket I would be.
For the meal, I'd eat the same, but I wouldn't drink anything other than tap water.
As irrational as that may sound, that's what I would do.@:-)
Aug 31, 2015, 8:46 pm
#2109
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC*Tangerine
Posts: 417
It's not unusual for employers to pay a per diem for meals and miscellaneous expenses, just to avoid hassles around a quiet pint with dinner or a whole bottle of expensive wine or gin gin gin gin gin gin gin ginnnnn-spill-zzzz....
I've never heard of a spending envelope for flights.
I've never heard of a spending envelope for flights.
Aug 31, 2015, 8:53 pm
#2110
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
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Aug 31, 2015, 8:56 pm
#2111
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It's not unusual for employers to pay a per diem for meals and miscellaneous expenses, just to avoid hassles around a quiet pint with dinner or a whole bottle of expensive wine or gin gin gin gin gin gin gin ginnnnn-spill-zzzz....
I've never heard of a spending envelope for flights.
I've never heard of a spending envelope for flights.
I complained at our last team meeting. I said we can't even choose to buy up into the fare class we want. Almost every manager and engineer in the meeting looked at me like I was crazy.
Aug 31, 2015, 8:59 pm
#2112
Join Date: Jul 2013
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I'm not sure if Cow's willing to share again how it worked. (I don't remember anymore how it worked). My initial thought was...well what about seasonality? Things like high YYZ YYC loads due to Stampede? IIRC the model that that employer used took that into account. Rather neat actually.
Aug 31, 2015, 9:01 pm
#2113
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My employer employs people across 191 countries...imagine the scale of what would be needed....
Aug 31, 2015, 9:03 pm
#2114
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Yeah but for a company to buy said data and then extrapolate it? I mean it worked for the employer that Cow was referring to because they had access to flight data. My employer, and the majority of employers out there don't have access to this. They'd have to buy the info, build a tool, build the process, hold meetings to then hold more meetings etc etc...
My employer employs people across 191 countries...imagine the scale of what would be needed....
My employer employs people across 191 countries...imagine the scale of what would be needed....
Aug 31, 2015, 9:04 pm
#2115
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,714
Yeah but for a company to buy said data and then extrapolate it? I mean it worked for the employer that Cow was referring to because they had access to flight data. My employer, and the majority of employers out there don't have access to this. They'd have to buy the info, build a tool, build the process, hold meetings to then hold more meetings etc etc...
My employer employs people across 191 countries...imagine the scale of what would be needed....
My employer employs people across 191 countries...imagine the scale of what would be needed....
Make a company, buy the data, use it for all your clients.