How much is your per diem?
#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?
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?
#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?
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?
#3




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.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
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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?
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?
#6



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.
#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.
#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
#11



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.
This has worked great for the past 2.5 years.
#13


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.
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.
#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!
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 sunabe1; Nov 30, 2005 at 2:19 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.

