Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > DiningBuzz
Reload this Page >

How much is your per diem?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

How much is your per diem?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 6:50 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Land of the Free
Programs: AA 1MM Plat, PC Plat RA, HHonors Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,440
How much is your per diem?

My company is not known for being extravagant (they prefer the term "well-managed"), but I'm curious as to how their meals policy stacks up with other companies.

The policy is "reasonable expense," but in practice, I've found the cap to be $35 per day (very occasional exceptions allowed).

My usual way of dealing with this amount is to have the free breakfast in the hotel when possible, skip lunch (or just have a cheap snack), and then have a decent dinner with a coupla drinks at a mid-range place.

What's your company's per diem/meals policy, and how careful do you need to be to stay within the limits?
WonderDude is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 7:09 pm
  #2  
In memoriam
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DAL
Programs: SWA A list preferred and CP, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz President's club
Posts: 9,803
Originally Posted by WonderDude
My company is not known for being extravagant (they prefer the term "well-managed"), but I'm curious as to how their meals policy stacks up with other companies.

The policy is "reasonable expense," but in practice, I've found the cap to be $35 per day (very occasional exceptions allowed).

My usual way of dealing with this amount is to have the free breakfast in the hotel when possible, skip lunch (or just have a cheap snack), and then have a decent dinner with a coupla drinks at a mid-range place.

What's your company's per diem/meals policy, and how careful do you need to be to stay within the limits?
As a consultant I havent had one (we have been charging the exact amount of the expenses) but I am considering changing that to simplify billing. Another way you can stretch your per diem (or pocket more of it) is to get status at a hotel that serves evening appetizers, drinks and so on in their executive lounge. That has been dinner many nights for me.
Lehava is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 7:17 pm
  #3  
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1K (2MM), Marriott Lifetime Titanium (UGH), Uber Diamond
Posts: 751
$70 / day for all individuals who travel. They watch it pretty closely, but I have never had to cough up the difference when I go over.
SFO_Chad is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 7:23 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,314
Some interesting related threads:

What is the strangest thing you've expensed?
Hotel Dry Cleaning: Your company's expense policy?
You write the travel policy - what goes in it?
Travel per diem and hotel allowance
What "fraud" do you commit on expense reports to avoid questions?
expense acct question
Expense report guidelines
Do you expense your booze on flights/in airports?
Corporate Travel Policies
What's Your Hotel/Meal Per Diem, Company Size?
gleff is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 7:27 pm
  #5  
In memoriam
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DAL
Programs: SWA A list preferred and CP, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz President's club
Posts: 9,803
For what its worth the federal Meals and Incidentials per diem ranges from $34 to $69 depending on region of the country.
Lehava is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 7:30 pm
  #6  
5M150 Countries Visited15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: US
Programs: LH and BA
Posts: 2,324
Originally Posted by SFO_Chad
$70 / day for all individuals who travel. They watch it pretty closely, but I have never had to cough up the difference when I go over.
Depends on the city and country ... range between 20 (Tuvalu) and 126 Tokyo. Hotels between 33 Lampung (indonesia) and 399 Bermuda
roundtheworld is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 8:09 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Plat, PC&HH Gold
Posts: 2,602
Ours varies by city -- regardless I still find that travelling costs ME money unless I'm content eating fast food on the road. I also look for hotels with bfast included to ease the pain.
doglover is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 8:09 pm
  #8  
In Memoriam
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
35 a day except in five or six cities, then it's 50.
cordelli is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 10:35 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Oahu (windward)
Programs: UA(1k)/AA/NW/HHonors Diamond/Priority Club Gold/Golden Circle
Posts: 145
Originally Posted by Lehava
For what its worth the federal Meals and Incidentials per diem ranges from $34 to $69 depending on region of the country.

Yep, pretty much right on. In fact there is a decent site on GSA that breaks down the max lodging plus M&IE for each state--very useful for fellow "federal" employees:

GSA DOMESTIC RATES

For US Government overseas travelers on Uncle Sam's dime, you'll have to go to State's site:

STATE DEPT OVERSEAS RATES

One of the things on state's site that I noted is that there is no lodging reimbursement for Baghdad or Kabul!

Last edited by hiflyer66; Nov 25, 2005 at 10:58 pm
hiflyer66 is offline  
Old Nov 25, 2005 | 10:42 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Platinum LT Marriott Titanium Platinum LT, Hertz Presidents Circle, National EC,
Posts: 119
$50 / day. Then no reimbursement above that.
hoshman is offline  
Old Nov 26, 2005 | 12:11 am
  #11  
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: FRA
Programs: LH HON
Posts: 1,294
With my company it's basically "whatever it costs, within reason" meaning I have an understanding with my boss that I don't try to rip off the company and try to make wise choices, and he signs the expenses at the end of the month.
This has worked great for the past 2.5 years.
FS_FRA is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2005 | 7:50 am
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Auburn, GA
Programs: Bowling Team Capt.
Posts: 598
$48/Day
10 breakfast
14 lunch
24 dinner
ninerfan is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2005 | 9:27 pm
  #13  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MLU DL fans know where that is.
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Avis
Posts: 490
Depends upon where the porject is and how many hours I will be billing. If it is a high cost area and only 40 to 50 hours per week then I can more about the per diem rate. If it is a low cost area and I will be billing 70 to 90 hours per week then the per diem is a small factor.

Usually get from $35 to $50 per day for meals. But no recipets, If they offer $35 per day I get that every day. If I spend more it cost me, if I spend less then I get to keep it.
powerplantop is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2005 | 2:17 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Japan (Southern)
Programs: UA Premier, HH, Imperial Hotel, NOC
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by hiflyer66
Yep, pretty much right on. In fact there is a decent site on GSA that breaks down the max lodging plus M&IE for each state--very useful for fellow "federal" employees:

GSA DOMESTIC RATES

For US Government overseas travelers on Uncle Sam's dime, you'll have to go to State's site:

STATE DEPT OVERSEAS RATES

One of the things on state's site that I noted is that there is no lodging reimbursement for Baghdad or Kabul!
$169 a day to eat in Tokyo! It's one of the perks of being a Federal employee overseas. When a meeting takes you to Tokyo....just eat like the locals do at yakitori stands or curry houses and you can earn some serious extra income!

Last edited by sunabe1; Nov 30, 2005 at 2:19 am
sunabe1 is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2005 | 2:25 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Diego
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, Starwood Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 23
My company policy is $45/day for domestic and $65/day for International. They start paying once you arrive in the city. They are evaluating changing the International rates...cost of food in Melbourne or Singapore for example is much lower than London or Tokyo.
CIWinSanDiego is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.