work travel question

[squarehead94]

Hi all. someone I know works for a company that does trade shows. They are going to a show in Vegas later this year and are booking flights. They usually go business class. the person I know has been to one before but it was only a european trip so the flight wasn't long and didn't warrant business class.

Anyway, the company are now telling said person I know that they will need to pay the difference in air fair between economy and business (around £1300) Is it just me or does this sound completely unreasonable? It is a work trip and not a holiday, there is no free time for the employee to spend in the country and medically speaking they require a seat with additional leg room anyway.

Just wanting to hear an official perspective of whether a company is right to ask the employee to contribute significantly towards costs of a business trip.

thanks

 

[squarehead94]

Your friend (lol) is insisting on business class and the company you they work for are suggesting you they pay the difference?

I'd say I'd agree with them.

100% isn't me. I work for the Coroner Service, Only work trips I get is for training courses.

Your friend needs to check their employer’s travel policy very carefully.

My old employer only allowed business class for flights (or combination of flights) over 10 hours unless you were red-eyeing it and where expected to do a day’s work straight from the destination airport.

she will be expected to land, arrive at hotel and go straight to work, 14 hour days x2 and fly home.

 

[squarehead94]

All depends on expectations once you arrive, standard policy for me is that if you're straight into the office / straight to work and its a long haul flight then you fly business class. If you've got time to go to the hotel, get a nap and start work the next day then economy is fine.

No time for that. expected to sleep on the flight, change in room then go right to work.

 

[squarehead94]

Refuse to go. Business class won't make that any more fun.

This is what I have told them. only expected business due to the fact that its a small team going, they have paid for business through their business account and she earns just above minimum wage. Plus, who wants to go to vegas for 2 days without seeing anything or having any free time? pointless IMO but she is desperate to go for some reason.

 

[squarehead94]

While I said I agreed with the company policy, I would also put this case forward as the employee too. For someone earning so little to do that trip in such a short space of time, I'd either want overtime or being able to go there a day earlier to sleep first. I don't think that's unreasonable to ask at least. I've done flights there in economy, done the meetings/ shows and flown again right after and it's a killer when you get back.

she doesnt even get the overtime for the additional hours. she has a 40hr a week contract, and on her previous business trip she left home at 1am for a flight from LGW at 9am on the thursday, returned home at 5am on the monday morning and they expected her in work at dinner time that day. Probably why I think they owe her a comfy seat at least.

 

[squarehead94]

To be fair if she is young and in an entry level position, going to Vegas - business trip or not - is a pretty decent bit of work/life experience. I guess her contribution will be "minimal" compared to the other people and they are banking on her being excited about the trip versus paying her for all of the before and after time associated with it. I guess she'll get a decent per diem and all of her board and food paid for.

not really. health conditions and having to work 14 hour days on your feet trying to attract business isn't a particularly good work/life experience. Like I say it wouldnt be so bad if they booked an extra day for some time for herself, but its literally land, change, full days work, sleep, full days work, back to airport, fly home.