Research scientist and field scientists rack up miles galore to exciting places like kwajelein, dutch harbor, homer, san diego and the panama canal. I reckon some of the scientists I work with go on at least two international meetings a year and three trips to conferences around the US. Put in at least one mid-atlantic ridge or pacific cruise and you have gotten lots of field samples, a nice tan and some miles.

You can't keep your govt accrued miles for personal use, but you can use those miles for travel to conferences etc.

I haven't had to fly anywhere more exciting than DC, San Diego or Dutch Harbor in a long time....for work that is.

However, my crankiness due to lack of overhead space when I boarded Alaska Airlines flights got me my first MVP status (lots of trips to Alaska that year) and started me on my way...

Research scientist and field scientists rack up miles galore to exciting places like kwajelein, dutch harbor, homer, san diego and the panama canal. I reckon some of the scientists I work with go on at least two international meetings a year and three trips to conferences around the US. Put in at least one mid-atlantic ridge or pacific cruise and you have gotten lots of field samples, a nice tan and some miles.

You can't keep your govt accrued miles for personal use, but you can use those miles for travel to conferences etc.

I haven't had to fly anywhere more exciting than DC, San Diego or Dutch Harbor in a long time....for work that is.

However, my crankiness due to lack of overhead space when I boarded Alaska Airlines flights got me my first MVP status (lots of trips to Alaska that year) and started me on my way...

SRQ Guy,

I, too, question the validity of your statement concerning govt miles. In addition, I have about 1/4M (govt) miles per year to the contrary.

Government agencies can permit their employees to retain ff miles. However, these miles can only be used to upgrade on government related business, and only for a one-class upgrade.

The specific agency can enforce more stringent rules if they desire. E.g., they can forbid their employees to accumulate miles. This is very rare. The only agency which I have heard of which does this is the State Department. Reason being that they are also the only agency where persons openly used miles for their own (personal) benefit on personal travel. The case was prosecuted, and the offending parties had to reimburse the govt for the miles which they used for personal reasons.

-They got what they deserved. 'Tis a fine use of the miles for upgrades on government travel, and those persons who abuse the rules run the risks.

I have been completely misinformed, and I apologize for my broad generalization. Anyway, I thought that gov't employees couldn't use miles... (trust me, I think that policy would be abhorently wrong!)

The question is...

When will they pay us to fly? LOL!!!

Thank-you all very much for responding, and complimenting the post. I really appreciate it.

Any one else have any ideas? FEEL FREE TO POST !!!

ZACH

Those that I know that used to be in uniform could not keep their miles. (Of course some of the time, the flights were in a cargo plane with a porta-john for a lav.)

The person I know who got to use his miles waited until retirement.

I guess I can only really speak for myself - and others that I sit next to on planes. I would have to say national/international sales, typically management level.

i.e.: National Sales Mgr, Director of Int'l Development, etc..

I think the gov't would have a hard time finding out if an amployee put the ticket on their FF program... They give you the ticket, and you present your FF card to the ticket agent, upoon check-in..

I hope you get to use them for upgrades.. Gov't travel is free, but is not as nice as corporate travel, as the Gov't per diem is crap.. I can't believe they expect people to live on the per diem...

Check it out..
http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/pdrform.html

For example the per diem rate for San Francisco:

Max Per Diem (per day): US$205.00

This amount encompasses your lodging, and meals, for one day.. Don't get me wrong working for the gov't has is percs, but I gave it up for the corporate world...

DelRay Chris,

Say it like it is, brother! Yes, the Govt. per diem is not all that great. Still, we do get very good rates in most cases and this helps a bit. Still, yes there are times when we wind up in Motel 6's, etc.

Surprisingly, on the food you can pretty much get by on per diem. However, there are clearly no splurges or lobster dinners, etc. Your San Fran example was a good one, and there I get about $200 for the week for food, and spend about $400. -However, that is splurging and it makes sense that I should have to pay out of pocket if I get carried away and eat out at nice places. Point being that we do not have as much leeway as the open market, and I think that that is appropriate, actually.

As for the miles, yes, most agencies let you use them for upgrades and do not monitor. Using them for upgrades is a dang fine option, and I for one (and many others) do just that. Yes, many use them for personal reasons and it is one of those "don't ask, don't tell" type situations. Still, it is not worth risking getting your rear chewed for doing so; and first class is sweet anyway!

My company doesn't do Per Diem and I like it. They will pay for the lodging, and we get up to $45 a day in SF,Boston,NYC,Chicago and Miami, and $35 for the rest of the States.
I like it this way, since they will put you in a $200/day hotel

let's see......
1. i make bank
2. they travel all over in first class, stay in 5 star hotels
3. i make bank

i must admit i have only done domestic travel and only for about 2 years solid. prior to that it was not very often over a 5 year period. i am expecting to do ONT-MCO for a few years at 50 weeks a year. that is about 250,000 base miles a year.

i am expecting some int'l. travel this year or next, but nothing is certain in consulting. least of all your current assignment.

i spent last year in 8 separate locations plus a short stint working from home.

f

I have been an corporate auditor with various companies for the past three years, and it involves simply moving from country to country for project work. The current role is 4 days away, one back in London - so lots of miles heading my way. Some of my old colleagues are still 100% travel. As for family time ? What family ?

try, show biz...

we're always going somewhere...

especially if the tour manager doesn't understand the meaning of the word, "routing" -- or in other words, "itinerary created by guy wearing a blindfold throwing darts at a map."

cpd

Ideally, working in a sales or consulting role for a company just breaking into a regional market... selling high-tech products for the European market for an American based Tech company that doesn't want to committ to opening an office in Europe.

You would get the flight home to the U.S. (or wherever you live), once or twice a month, all the hotel stays you could ask for, and finally, the internal European flights (almost all in C/J class because the fares are almost no different). Finally, you could even skip one of the flights home every once in a while, keep the ticket and exchange it for some very nice trips to other locations with the girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/dog/cat, you get the idea

As mentioned, Investment Banking is good. Also, project finance (similar to IBanking)is good, where you go out an evaluate specific projects. It doesn't need to be finance either, as mentioned architecture is good.

Ideally choose a company that wants to do / is doing International business, is small (i.e. doesn't have a lot of dedicated travelling headcount) and is not yet committed to opening foreign offices!