Traveling in F with co-workers in J
Apr 23, 2013, 12:19 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I have heard several times in this thread that a given F fare was cheaper than the J fare, and the company was saved money as a result. When questioned on this days or weeks after the fact, how would you prove that the F flight was in fact cheaper? How would you convince an auditor that the F fare you selected actually was cheaper than the J fare? How do you prove that the J fare didn't also drop in price - in other words, maybe both the F and J fares decreased, so you should have stayed with J and gotten a refund?
Apr 23, 2013, 1:48 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
When I don't cover travel in general overhead, I try travel under my my client's policies, and use their travel agent when possible. That seems minimize the hassle.
I worked for a company for 6 of the most painful years of my life, where people were more worried about the sorts of things that have kept this thread alive for almost 50 posts, instead of actually getting work done. It was pathetic.
I propose to those who think it is bad form or even career-damaging to snag a great upgrade AND save money because it might affect how others in the company view you, that you are working for a defective company and should be considering a change...
I really like logical people...thanks for the comment! ^
Apr 23, 2013, 11:35 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 946
In which case it would make sense to also rub it in how the OP was cost conscious, saved the company money with his A fare, tell the boss off for being wasteful, and then showing pictures from the F experience.
Adding insult to injury always is a good strategy when dealing with management.
(and sometimes there are those who have a sense of humour where this actually works)
Adding insult to injury always is a good strategy when dealing with management.
(and sometimes there are those who have a sense of humour where this actually works)
Apr 24, 2013, 1:24 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
In which case it would make sense to also rub it in how the OP was cost conscious, saved the company money with his A fare, tell the boss off for being wasteful, and then showing pictures from the F experience.
Adding insult to injury always is a good strategy when dealing with management.
(and sometimes there are those who have a sense of humour where this actually works)
Adding insult to injury always is a good strategy when dealing with management.
(and sometimes there are those who have a sense of humour where this actually works)
This whole up-front-seat-envy discussion points out to me how far we have to go in terms of organizational development.
Let me try to illustrate with a couple of questions:
Is it better to implement strict, penny-pinching, inflexible controls that often have the side effect of giving people a bad attitude and setting up exactly that "stick it to them when you can" culture, as well as engendering envy of clever people who can manipulate the rigid control structure to their advantage?
OR
Is it better to encourage overall a more transparent working (and financial) environment with guidelines that do preclude using separate common sense, with an emphasis on making people more productive and value-added so that it doesn't matter if they spend 4.000€ or 5.000€ on a ticket because the trip generates orders of magnitude more value for the company?
OF COURSE one should save money when it makes sense to do so! If you don't do that, your competitors will put you out of business. But even in very large organizations, an unhealthy focus on penny-pinching and strict controls often kills off the very creativity and initiative that is needed to keep these lumbering bureaucracies moving forward...and remaining profitable.
(hmmm...lumbering bureaucracies threatened by competition...where have we seen that recently...
)
Apr 26, 2013, 1:09 pm
#53
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
Yes. I've flown both J and F on the DEN-FRA route, and it's a huge difference. The F seats are the old ones, but it's still a major upgrade.
Apr 27, 2013, 1:26 am
#55
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: LH HON
Posts: 3,420
Yes. I've flown both J and F on the DEN-FRA route, and it's a huge difference. The F seats are the old ones, but it's still a major upgrade.
