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Air miles (along with many loyalty type programs that primarily benefit corporate travelers) exists as a form of kickback, encouraging employees to spend their
by personZ 12y ago
Air miles (along with many loyalty type programs that primarily benefit corporate travelers) exists as a form of kickback, encouraging employees to spend their employer's money prolifically, and to short circuit normal best-value evaluations, in order to earn personal miles. Some employers prohibit this, or demand that the miles go towards the company or whatever, but many more do not encouraging people to take countless unjustified or unnecessary flights and hotel stays purely to rack up personal benefits that they can use to their own benefit.
- prostoalex 12y agoMost companies would require the use of a corporate travel planner to combat this. My most recent employers happened to both use Concur, and the UI there typically requires a written note any time you're booking something that's not the cheapest fare.
- checker 12y agoAt least there's the option of booking something "more expensive". Some places require that employees book the cheapest fare no matter what. Then you get situations like an employee making 150K/yr sacrificing an entire work day traveling in order to save the $50 more it costs to fly direct or out of a closer airport. The hidden costs aren't taken into account at all, but I guess it might be easier to enforce a blanket policy.
- potatolicious 12y agoIn my experience it's rare to see a ruleset as hard as "absolute cheapest, no exceptions" - generally what I see is "must be within percentage of absolute lowest price". Even within these restrictions loyalty programs still make sense - these are people who purchase a large amount of travel per year, if you can guarantee yourself as an exclusive supplier you still come out ahead - even with price ceilings.