Thinking about quitting
 

I'm always on the road, and the air/hotel bill comes out of my own pocket. Naturally, I like to minimize the costs whenever possible.

Naturally, also, I try to maximize the benefit I get from flying a given airline and staying in particular hotel chains.

The prices are getting out of hand.

Fuel, of course, is driving the airlines to distraction and they have little choice but to raise prices if they can. The hotel chains, too, are bumping the rates up.

My current hotel just informed me they are raising my rate about 25%. I'm thinking of moving on to another job anyhow, and when I check the other possible locations, their rates have gone up anywhere from $10/night to $25/night and so on. I can't just arbitarily raise my billing rate to cover this; I'm under contract.

So, I'm seriously looking for something that either has a tremendous rate, or else it's a lot closer to home so I can reasonably drive it at least once or twice a week.

I've got a lot of miles in the bank (I know, I know) and a lot of hotel points. It's the status I'll miss. Without that, I'm just another schlub with no lounge access, no arrival gifts, no first class upgrades, etc. Call it the Henry Hill syndrome.

Bummer.

Welcome to Club Schlub! :D

I'm a little confused. You are an independent consultant with one client to whom you're contracted on a long-term basis? This contract has you absorbing all travel expenses? Is that right?

If so, then:

a) are you free to leave? Does your contract not have a term?
b) If you are free to leave, then why aren't you free to renegotiate? "I am facing huge increases in my travel expenses that weren't forseen in our original agreement. I'd really like to continue working on the project and think there's a lot more for us to accomplish together, but I'm not going to be able to for much longer unless we can make a modification to our agreement."

If, instead, you're a 1099 employee who commutes for your own convenience, then I guess I'd still go in and ask for a raise under the same logic.

If I recall correctly, you're an engineer of some sort, right? Are these government contracts that have other issues than this?

(I should remember more about what you do, but as you once noted, you'll now forever simply be remembered as the guy who started the OMNI thread about how to pee at the urinal--that much I remember! :D ).

Status, schmatus. It all has to end at some point. If it's just not worth it to you anymore, then don't be scared to call it quits. It wouldn't be the end of the world.

I called it off about 4 months ago. I'm working my a$$ off, but getting better pay and sleeping in my own bed. Ironically, Mrs BamaVol took a night job as soon as I changed jobs so I see less of her than ever. :(

It hasn't sunk home yet. I'm still top-statused with DL for another 6 weeks and Hilton for a year, but I haven't been in an airport for 4 months and only one hotel room.

It will hit me when I fly in March. Lowly silver, no Crown Room membership, unlikely u/g, regular security, etc. But, I'll get over it. Turns out there's more to life. Who knew?

Do it and don't look back.

Good for you!

I thought quitting smoking was tough. These miles and points can really be addicting.

I've got a couple of options right now:

1. Re-negotiate my rate at the current place. I did the math and the upcoming Marriott Megabonus can be worked with a cost of 0.35-0.42 cents/point (my delta). At that rate, it's marginally worth it. (Meanwhile, I still have a reasonable deal with the local Hampton Inn, so I might as well make sure my Hilton Diamond stays current).

2. I'm looking at another gig back at one of my old places. The hotels have gone up, of course, but with the plane fare out of the equation (it's about a 3 hour drive), I make out better all around.

3. Follow through with a conversation I had up in First Class last week. This guy is the manager of Core Technology at a pretty good-sized company, and I think I impressed him. At any rate, he gave me his card and told me to give him a call. The location is about an hour or so away from my house, which means -- no planes, no hotels, and home every night.

Maybe if everyone lit a candle for me, something good might happen. :)

robb -- does the phrase "...and grab your socks" ring a bell? :)

You're kind of right. No, officially I am not an "independent consultant" according to the IRS definition. And the rate is set up front, and I absorb my travel expenses, although there are good tax benefits doing so.

Rate renegotiation is only possible (maybe) on an annual basis.

Think of, say, an electrical contractor. He bids on a job, and bases his bid on what he's paying for stuff like gas ($2.19 when he bids, expected to go to $2.49), and copper wire. A few months into the contract, he's paying $ 3.29 a gallon for gas, and copper wire has gone up 2X to 3X (which is true). So, he's not going broke, but he's sure as hell not doing as well as he'd like.

He learns from this, but the demand is not completely inelastic. There's only so high he can bid without losing out.

In my case, for example, the plane fare has increased about double since I started, and hotels have gone up 20-25%> I'm wondering if the whole thing is worth it.

<sigh>

But all them miles and points ....

Excuse me; I gotta go to the john ...

I don't think you're following my question.

If you bid and have a contract, then how can you quit? Aren't you bound to complete the job like the electrician in your example?

If you do have some kind of clause that does allow you to quit mid-project, then why can't you use that to renegotiate your rate? "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to quit per this clause in our contract. I won't have to if we can negotiate a contract with a little more elasticity to cover travel expenses."

Obviously, it's not quite that blunt, but the idea is: I can quit and you're SOL or we can change our agreement and I won't have to quit.

<---Former user of the "BigLar Procedure"

Truer words I have seldom read before. One day it will end - and it is not as though you are being stripped of your Doctorate, your professional qualifactions, or your home. We all love the perks but sometimes I think that they are perks for perks sake. Basically they are a path to receiving something that you would get if you paid for it.

If you had never had it you would never miss it.

of course it's harder to have something and see it be a loss than to never really have it... :D

I wouldnt stay in the job just for the miles and status but that would be a pretty funny story if ya did! :D:D:D

Status is the key these days... it is what is getting you the things you SHOULD get anyway, in many cases.

It's kind of like how at one time years ago, intermitent windsheild wipers on cars were considered a luxury item. Now, for practical reasons having a bit to do with ease of technology, standardization, and safety, they are on pretty much every vehicle (of course, I think my Volvo XC has them on the headlights too! hehehe)

Status is good but then you find yourself fighting two battles... One is to keep the account alive, the other is to keep the status alive. that's fine but heck, by now you must know enough about miledum to earn many many here and then just use those to sit in FC. You could do mileage runs too, or at least live on the dwindling status into next year, right? Consider it the same thing as fallilng out of love with a hottie. Oh well. NEXT!

:D
MM

Because that's not exactly how it works.

Yes, I can quit in the middle. I've walked after a week because I didn't like place/deal/location/etc. My fault, but there ya go. I can be released on 20 minutes notice, too.

There are more people involved than just me/client, and indentured servitude went away a long time ago.

Don't think of it as a project contract, think more like personal services.
Good luck with that. :D

I actually have kept my job mainly to keep all of my programs at mid to top tier. Well, that and the fact that I'm home office based. If it weren't for that, I would have quit years ago as my job is miserable and I work with back-stabbing corporate ladder climbers.

As it is, all of my vacas are free and generally involve first class and four stars or more. I don't think the wife would accept anything less these days...

I'd take top-tier status in multiple programs and a crappy job any day. I've had job offers for significantly higher pay, but which involved minimal travel and commuting to an office every day. No thanks, I'll take the points.

Honestly, could you imagine flying with no status??? The very thought makes me nauseous...

Some threads attract certain posters, and I knew you would be along sooner or later. :D

Actually, sober reflection is leading me to your suggestion. I've got a relative ton'o'miles and points and my current status is top-tier all over. So, yep: I can live on accumulated stocks and dwindling status for some time. And, yes -- I have learned how to get miles/points from other sources.

It turns out that status with an airline is pretty irrelevant as long as you're flying in premium class -- you still get access to the lounges and so on. Hotels is where it makes a difference.

Marriott drops you one level at a time, and their Gold is good enough, so I'm set for a couple of years anyhow. I guess I can concentrate on Hilton (easier to get/maintain status) and still wind up with a solid set of credentials.

Heck, with the money I'd be saving, I could actually buy (gasp!) tickets!

AMEN sister. Seeing as most travel is on my own dime, I become more and more convinced that hotel status is not worth it to a person who pays their own way (some isolated cases I'm sure but for the avg Joe it isn't worth it) and I will probably go back to my old signature of "priceline rules".

I will come clean about my "need" for airline status though, I'll cross million miler status sometime this year so I can't say that I'm cutting ties completely with status.

I'm becoming less and less enamored with the travel itself, I love being at the destination but no longer get the thrill of while traveling to the destination.

So to the OP, I think you'll enjoy spending time with your sig other, I know I am but YMMV ;)
--

It's getting worse ...

I had booked an award trip to Europe this Fall with three people ... on NW. I think you folks know how difficult that can be. Anyhow, I got J over the pond, but could only find Y on the way back.

Like any FlyerTalker worth his salt, I kept checking the website and, sure enough, I spotted availability within a day of when I had scheduled. So, I jumped on the phone ... because I'm a platinum, we found everything smoothly and booked it. All with no change fees or hassle.

Because I'm a Platinum, dammit!

Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in. :)

That guy should have bought all the copper for the job after he won the bid, if he could have fronted the money. Harder to do that with petrol, I admit.
You couldn't have locked in the plane tickets and hotel reservations in advance? Ahhhh, you needed flexibility. That's not free.

Even with personal services, there are times when you just say "Listen, I can't make this work. We can change this or each look elsewhere." But if there's something special and you can't, you can't.

It's gotta be rough. We will all face it one day. I assume you just adjust. I don't know how people do it, and I'm guessing none of them are here to answer. :)

I do think it's funny that I couldn't care less about hotel status. I'm all about hotwire (I'm done with priceline. Too much star-level inflation.). In the end, it's just a bed and a TV. But, I'm a whore for airline status--couldn't live without it. :) As you noted, there are lots of situations where an air travel issue needs status to get resolved, but few situations where status makes a difference at the hotel.

Good luck!

The status is only of value because you fly a lot. You won't miss it if you don't fly a lot. Get a job close to home or one where you can work from home at least part of the time. Your life stops while you're sitting on a plane or in a car. You don't get that back...ever. Enjoy yourself, those around you and your family. You aren't going to be lying on your death bed wishing you had flown more.

I'm of two minds on this.

If worst comes to worse, there are cheap tickets available, and sitting in the back with your SO for a few hours to have a couple nice weeks in the sun or whatever can be tolerable.

But you might be days at your destination. And after award stays at the Cavalieri, the Budapest Hilton, and the Paris Hilton as a Diamond, the status makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable.

My next trip will include award stays with Marriott, Hilton, and maybe even Choice, as well as premium award seats on NW. I'm burning a lot of points and miles (but I still have a lot left) and I want to get it all in while I'm still a top-tier.

I'm afraid the crash will not be pretty. :(

I thought it was the BigLar Maneuver?

Damn, I have to go hunting and see if it's still around now. I think I may have been the one to tag it with a name, too. ;)

I'm a little surprised that no one has chimed in who is a travel arranger or otherwise responsible for travel. I guess I'd like to know whether I'm just being sensitve or are others feeling the pinch,too.

And if so, what are you doing about it?

I heartily agree, I have status and enjoy it but if it were costing me anything I would drop it in a heartbeat. As I've stated before I am not that crazy about flying to start with but I really enjoy my work so I do it.

Do what makes you happy!!!

Oh yes, I'm feeling the pinch too. I've got what I think is a similar arrangement. I'm a "contractor" (quotes deliberate) at a firm where I worked for 10 years before quitting to make a getaway to the Colorado mountains. Quotes are because I'm actually a W-2 employee of their in-house consulting firm, contracted out to the parent company, rather than my former status as a FTE of the parent company.

About the same time I was realizing that the early retirement/aging wannabe ski-bum thing was going to require more income for several years, that company came after me to work a part-time 3-month contract on a project where I was a subject matter expert (both business and technology) including some very that-firm-specific knowledge.

"You do know I live in Colorado now, right"? was my first comment to my former colleague. He agreed we could work something out and let me work mostly remotely (something they normally never do for contractors) as long as I could make my way back to the east coast for a few days/month. That would be on my dime. The numbers made sense compared to what I could earn up in the mountains, or what I could earn chasing down contracts at firms that don't know me in the Denver area (which would mean 150 miles/day commute and/or renting a place in Denver). So I went for it.

That's how I moved up in status from 2P on UA and nothing on anybody else to 1 year at 1P UA/Gold NW, now 1K UA/Silver NW. Maybe 1 or 3 trips a year get picked up by the firm (usually only if they need me onsite for a special meeting that doesn't sync up with dates I've already booked for my regular trips.)

Well they're now near RDU, and for the first few months, RDU fares were in the 200-350 range - do-able. With fuel increases and all the airlines for a while not releasing cheaper buckets, I got hit late fall and early this year with nothing lower than $450 for a while - same thing you saw, fares nearly double.

I've got enough flexibility on dates, that as long as I'm onsite somewhere between 3-10 days/month, I'm ok. I've been trying to decide whether I'm doing better by buying tickets at least 1-2 quarters out (last 2 year's strategy which mostly worked), or nowadays waiting until just a few weeks out. I got skunked by buying some $420 UA fares when that was the cheapest that UA, US, NW, CO had into RDU at 3 months out, only to find NW releasing some $169 and $199 fares 3 weeks out before my trips, and even a $250-something UA here and there.

I'm still trying to figure out the pattern. I ended up renting an apartment in Raleigh and leaving a second car there that I didn't really need out here, rather than using hotels and car rentals. That also gives me more flexibility on air dates because I don't have to find a congruence of cheap airfare+cheap hotel dates, I can stay over weekends at no marginal increase if that's cheaper for me, and so on. But it's still going to be a stretch. Also having the apartment means fewer hotel stays, none at RDU, so after this year I'm probably going to drop down from top-tier at either Hilton or SPG, or both.

I'm enjoying it while it lasts, and booking some fun trips with MrsXS using the miles and points I have now. Even if this gig goes on a few years, I think my "natural" level of travel is going to drop me to mid-tier on one airline and mid-tier on one hotel chain. If the fares come back to decent levels, maybe a bit more.

FWIW, when I faced the decision as a W-2 employee to work remotely, the added costs were absolutely a topic of conversation. I elected to take the hit in my salary and not absorb travel expenses on my own.

Assuming the two options were dollar equivalent at the time the deal was struck, I still come out ahead because, as a W-2 employee, the travel costs would have been after-tax for me. This way, I "pay" them before taxes.

I also didn't face any risk of travel costs changing, nor a risk of underestimating travel frequency. (And there have been periods where that would have been a considerable underestimation).

robb, I like the approach you took. But given the policies on remote work, pushing to have travel paid might have put the kibosh on the whole deal. And the overall deal was still attractive.

However I'll keep that approach in mind when the time seems right to negotiate.

I did it at a time my role was changing and my salaray was changing anyway, so it wasn't like salary was something extra I brought into it. I can see where it would be a different story in many cases. It does sound like you had a lot of leverage at the time, though. :)

Sweetness - my husband is exactly the same in one sense. He is not going back to Economy any time soon. He has now become accustomed to Business Class and may unless I do something about it quickly thnk that there is nowhere other than First. I work hard enough to keep myself in tights, makeup and Golf GTi to afford that habit:mad:;)


However I am with him - and you in this sense. I think that going through airports and this "processing" to ensure that we are not about to blow ourselves to kingdom come with moisturiser and Chanel No 5 has now become truly degrading. We traipse around flithy floors in our stockinged feet and are then obliged to hop around trying to put on our shoes without the benefit of shoe horns or anywhere to even sit to do so. We tolerate our documents, card and anything else being sepreated from us and no one guarantees who is going to compensate us if they are picked up by someone else by accident or design who is already though. I find most of the lounges depressing, cold looking and with that uneasy feeling of transcience that hangs over airports at the best of times. I don't blame the airlines particularly it is just the nature of travel today. You can have all the status that you like and it will not and cannot change that. Buy a Business or a First Class ticket and you get all the perks anyway.

So BigLar - the best of everything for the year to come!



PG

BigLar writes:

As I contemplate retirement, losing hotel status is my big concern. I think we have enough miles to keep us in biz or first for the rest of our lives, and, you are so right, flying in first or biz without status is not much different than flying in first or biz with status. Even during a very serious strike at LHR, as non-status flyers we were well accomodated flying on an award flight in British first class. They even paid $350.00 for our hotel room at the LHR Hilton when we got stuck at LHR overnight.

Hotels are a whole different ball of wax. Our free food, drink and internet access in the Executive Lounge at the LHR Hilton came as the result of status, not the $350 that BA paid for our room. FWIW, in that particular instance, because of the strike, lounge access was restricted to Diamonds only. I am afraid that we are just too spoiled and too accustomed to buying the cheapest room and ending up in the best suite to easily adjust. Maybe retirement will be the time to try priceline.com.

The one and only time I ever tried priceline, I ended up in a lovely suite at the Le Meridian on Michigan in Chicago for $89 a night, during a time when there wasn't a room to be had at any Hilton or Starwood hotel in the city for under $289 a night. My daughter, who is a musician and travels a lot, has been able to snag some some pretty amazing deals at boutique hotels at times when every Hilton and Starwood property in the city has been totally sold out.

I guess I will look at my post-retirement priceline hotels stays as adventures. I think I can handle hotel or B&B adventures. I don't want to have to learn to handle adventures in coach. :eek:

Blasphemy!!!

I will most definitely be lying on my deathbed lamenting the fact that I didn't visit every country in the world. Hopefully, my deathbed will be in a lie-flat seat in F flying over the Pacific somewhere. Hopefully, I'll have accumulated enough status by then that my family will be with me.

I couldn't imagine not travelling constantly and seeing new places, much less in coach...