Not a big issue here but since OMNI is a place to discuss everything other than miles, points and, in general, travel, we're going to switch this over to MilesBuzz.

Please follow in it's new home.

Thanks.

_____________________

Cholula
OMNI Co-Moderator

Do you need this job? yes or no
Yes > then I'd be careful in negotiations but I'd still try to negotiate that point
No > I'd play hardball with them; no deal under these terms

a few basic questions though no matter your answer above

Did they come to you? did you go to them?
Do you know any other consultants working for this company?

How will this work as far as booking, paying (by who, what CC), who determines when, where, who (airline), routing etc?
Do you use their travel service?
what is the class of service?
do you have to go by their travel policy?
How will ODC reimbursement work?

One way I might negotiate this, is really focus on your consulting rate; then at the end when you give your concessions, use the back door to bring up "if you toss in the FF miles" I'll go down to $NZ rate per hour or are there other t&c's that you could capitulate on that you really do not care about that you could exchange for FF mileage; i'd also negotiate in the bonuses that you will earn; other than base miles I'd give them nothing (if you do go this route) and make them prove you owe them any additional miles. If you toss in EQM or base miles in the contract it may throw them off (I have no idea how FF savvy they are)

another less ethical approach would be to (assuming you use your personal mileage number) is to ask for retroactive credits. i'd be aware as well that they may ask for copies of your statements (FF) later on.

In the end, If I didn't need the gig.. I'd start with the consultant fee/rate; and then say before we get too far, this FF thing has to be resolved as well; if you need it; then its a whole new ball game.. how bad do you need/want the job?



Are you a true consultant? or are you being treated as an employee?

As others have stated, they may have some corp agreement that would cover this including FF miles and corp discount?

I'd offer to use the miles accumulated during this project for awards and upgrades n this project.
How many miles are we talking about here ?

BTW: German employers have won court cases which basically award the miles for company use, as they paid for the tickets. I am not sure about the legislation in NZ.

Depending on the size of the contract it would not be a deal breaker for me (but I have tons of miles anyway)

Does the client expect the elite bonus miles to be "his" as well? I would draw the line there. He may be entitled to the base miles and COS bonus (if applicable), but if you were a non elite, there would be no bonus miles. So, I say those are clearly yours.

I have a clear opinion that if an employer/client already starts to count beans on my miles then there might be worse things coming up and I doubt it will be a pleasant experience.

Therefore if my business partner is not flexible in this matter there would be no deal for me, especially if they only pay coach in the first place.

Very wise position. As many will tell you, throwing some potential clients out of your office is the most profitable decision you can make.

By the way, I believe the US Gov has a rule (perhaps not so often followed) that all miles earned on US Gov biz must be used for Gov related flights. Although, most Gov travel is apparently at low negotiated rates which are not supposed to earn miles.

If the client is a government agency and they are paying for your travel directly then you may be SOL. NZ govt rules that no personal mileage accrual for official travel.

I was thinking that first paragraph all the way through. If they are going to try and Bogart your miles, what is the next ahole move that they're going to pull?

O/H

I can attest to this. I know of a company located in a city which shall remain nameless but that rhymes with "Cockford" somewhere in the mid-west, where the miles are theirs and the logic associated with meal expenses is put forth like this with prospective consultants...

CFO: SO, if you were at home, you would be eating anyway, right?
Consultant: Yes, i suppose so.
CFO: So, if you are traveling for me on business, it would seem reasonable to assume that you would still need to eat, and the traveling would not by itself necessarily result in a need to eat food, right?
Consultant: [starting to inch toward the door] OK
CFO: Good. So, you'll understand that we are not going to be reimbursing meal expenses during travel.
Consultant: [already gone]

I wouldn't take the gig if I could possibly avoid it. I agree that the miles-are-ours policy could be a canary in a coal mine -- warning of a more difficult, tedious or micromanaging culture. I wouldn't work for an outfit that required me to share a hotel room, either. It bespeaks basic lack of respect for the employee / consultant.

Cateris paribus I'd just charge the value of the travel points in a higher hourly fee base (on post-tax basis).

My SWAG for the day:

TS with the "corpulent billfold"?

No, not SOP at all for NZ. I'm actually mildly curious about who the client is after your post! (speaking as a Kiwi...)

There was an uproar 8+ years ago over public servants not being permitted to earn/collect FF miles while politicians could (but were supposed to "voluntarily release" them when they stopped being an MP). I don't think this was ever enforced and certainly the SOE and defence staff that I know earn their FF miles/points.

If I can charge them for the time I spend on the plane, then they can have my miles.

...and an up charge if I travel on Sunday to be onsite on Monday!!