LondonElite

Probably because if you start asking a whole bunch of questions around the travel policy (if indeed it is that, rather than travelling requirements) then you may give someone the wrong impression about your real reason for wanting the job. I'd focus on the job, and leave questions around travel for the next meeting.

rdurlabhji

I disagree. A lot of jobs discuss travel requirements, including policies re credit cards (personal vs corporate), and FF programs during the interview. If it is a major part of your job then its important to discuss as part of the requirements and expectations thereof. After all, if you are on the road 3 weeks out of the month, you should have that information before you accept the job.

Redhead

+1

Good point

Plus, if you have status with the airline it can also protect you better in the case of IRROPS and, if need be, get you on a new flight to ensure you make the interview. IMHO, it is simply smart to include your FF number

TWToKM

I would do it. As others have said, I do not think it is a big deal as it is you who will be travelling and agree with the poster who said you may save them a checked bag fee. I would also think that depending on your status, having your number attached may help you in the event of delays or cancellations on you way to/from the interview. While the employer may not care so much about you getting back on home on schedule, they may have people and/or events scheduled for your interview that may be harder to reschedule should you be delayed on your way to the interview.

Good luck with the interview.

Efrem

Because discussing it before then may create the impression that you are more concerned with administrative minutiae* than with what the job is, what the career opportunities are, and other big-picture items. Companies don't want people who microanalyze trivia.

If you do not get an offer, discussing it would have been a waste of your time.

If you do get an offer, the likelihood is that the offer will be either unacceptable for some other reason or so desirable that it won't matter. You can discuss it only in the unlikely situation that it is a deciding factor. Or, once you have an offer, you can bring it up in an offhand "I was curious about ..." fashion. In either case, what they think of your concern with this topic will no longer be an issue. Beyond that, things like this can be legitimate concerns in deciding to accept an offer even if they weren't important enough to bring up during the interview process.

______________________________
*You may not put this issue into that category. Flyertalkers as a group may not put it into that category. Flyertalkers are not typical. Repeat: Flyertalkers are not typical. What matters is that a hiring manager, or someone else with influence over the hiring decision, might put it into that category.

dchristiva

Generally, I agree with this advice. Unless it's really specific to the position for which you're interviewing, I would NOT inquire about travel policies during interview #1.

pilotalan

Exactly correct. You are on invitational travel, not employee travel.
If the company has some special rules about invitational travel, they have the obligation to inform you.
They haven't, so normal travel processes apply.

Don't sweat it, seriously. Apply your FF number and carry on. Once you're onboard, then you'll be instructed on and be expected to comply with their travel policy, whatever that is.

greggarious

It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Especially when there is no written policy

MSPeconomist

I totally agree with these posts, but I would add the qualification that we're primarily thinking about a USA employer. Other countries may have rules that FF miles are taxable on tickets not paid by the individual, so there could be complications in such situations.

pinniped

This, in a nutshell...

Once the offer has been made, you will have ample opportunity to discuss administrivia. You'll have an opportunity to ask questions about the health insurance, the bonus plan, the travel requirements/policies, the quality of the food in the cafeteria, and whatever else is on your mind. Nobody's suggesting accepting the offer without getting your questions answered...just save 'em for the right time and place...

We are indeed an atypical bunch: I still believe that most hiring managers would interpret a long string of detailed questions about travel to be either (a) an employee who *doesn't* want to travel or (b) an employee who is going to be difficult about all sorts of other administrative aspects of the job.

Unless the hiring manager is also a Flyertalker, in which case there's (c) an employee who is going to game the system to maximize his/her miles and points.

Allan38103

What if it's a slightly different scenario?

The company puts you up in a hotel at their expense. You happen to have status in the hotel's program program which includes a free breakfast (or name whatever free benefit you'd like). Wouldn't you take the breakfast?

Dadaluma83

I wouldn't ask nitpicky or small travel questions in an interview, but if the job requires travel as a major component, then it is a good idea to at least get the general overview of company policies right away. How much do they scrutinize travel expenses, are they completely unreasonable. Would they freak out at a 250 or above rack rate in Manhattan and instead prefer you keep the room rate to 100 or less a night, which in the NYC area if you follow that you will end up staying in some run down "America's Best value inn" in Newark or Orange where the front desk clerk is behind bullet proof glass and you speak through a microphone. LOL

Tchiowa

*IF*. You need to research your job ahead of time. Know something about the company so you can ask relevant questions. If the company has sites all over the country, or internationally, or is a service company then asking if your jobs would involve travel and how that works is an intelligent thing to do. If you're applying to be IT manager at a 20 store grocery store chain, not a good idea.

crabbing

earning FF miles:
i don't think anyone specifically mentioned this yet, but some companies have special discount fares that don't earn FF miles. my untested assumption is that adding your FF number would do nothing - i.e., you still earn no miles, but it should also not change the fare paid or information provided to the company. i suspect the traveler has no way of knowing if their attempt to add the FF number is communicated to the company, but i also suspect there would be no reason to do so. this is different from a company earning FF miles for the prospect's travel. delta had (has?) a separate program at the company level, skybonus, that offered benefits for organizational travel.

upgrades:
if the prospective employer books you on a carrier with which you have status, would you decline an upgrade if one were available/offered? i would not change my travel habits or use of status benefits. in fact, it would be good to know, in advance of accepting an offer, how the company thinks of my using my status to upgrade on flights paid by the company.

hotel benefits:
i think these should be treated the same as FF miles. special rates that don't earn hotel points are very common. i wouldn't think twice about using my status with a particular chain, to get breakfast or other benefits.

asking about travel policies:
whether travel is required/expected is an interview-level question. specific travel policies are usually best saved until the offer is in hand. definitely ask before accepting the offer, though.

if you're concerned about how the company handles travel, this is a good place to read up on bad policies and how to deal with them:
ridiculous things your company has done reduce travel expenses

Calchas

If the company's travel agent issued the PNR then in principle they would be aware of the PNR change when your FQTV/FQTS numbers are added. The fare they paid is already ticketed and won't be affected.

Corporate fares that don't earn frequent flier points for the passenger are relatively rare, these days, aren't they?

As noted up thread, if the company has peculiar wishes, it needs to communicate them in advance. It cannot reasonably expect interviewees to be aware that they cannot take an upgrade. Declining an op-up on some carriers takes a lot of paperwork!