Job Discussion Forums

Old Surrender · Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:45 am Post subject:

The uni I work at (not for) has a redonk flight scheme for its FTs. They ask the date and location that the FT wants, and then proceeds to book it for them.

Needless to say, the flight is paid for but with crazy layovers and connections. Oh, and they only fly you to a "major" airport. What, Cedar Rapids, Iowa? How about.... Chicago? Hmm... that flight with the 33 hr layover in LA is $35 cheaper than the nonstop. Better book that one.

My first language school offered me 8000 RMB. That was 2010.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Few points:

I always found London HK cheaper than to Beijing, but it's longer, LON -> BJ -> Xi'an can be done in around 14 hours. I think the direct flight to HK is around that, then waiting, then on to Xi'an would entail maybe 18 or 19 hours.

You often get what you pay for.

I flew home from Shanghai to London one way with China Southern for only 300 pounds.

I got a plastic seat, no inflight entertainment and the meals were the same as the domestic flights. Horrendous. I was the only foreigner on the plane...full of Chinese farmers[more than normal.]

A second point, I always keep the forwarded e-ticket my father bought me 2 years ago, if the university demand a ticket, I just copy->paste into notepad, change the dates to whenever and the price.

Last year I didn't want to go home[prefer south east asia travel] so I was told the limit was 10000 for a European and 15000 for an American[?!!??!?!] so I 'booked' a ticket for 9980 and my American friend had one for 14980. No problems.

I did feel slightly bad until I saw the itinerary of a staff member flying to Malaysia to find students, staying 10 days at the Hilton in a sweet and flying business class. Racked up over 30,000 in expenses.

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

Harbin · Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Posts: 161

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

Is this common, not getting refunded because the e-ticket is a print-out?

It's pretty much standard now. I haven't had problems with it. It's easy enough to verify the ticket, so experienced FAO's and managers have become accustomed to seeing them.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

yes, but good lucky finding experienced fao's and managers!

you'd be better off switching to a flight allowance (after tax amount)
in your contract. use the average RT from your hometown to the
school's location.

stipulate after tax since allowances are taxed like regular salary,
reimbursements are not taxed.

this gives you more flexibility. you may not want to return to your
hometown. take the cash and travel in asia. (or sit at home in your
boxers and play video games all summer)

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

BlueBlood · Joined: 31 Aug 2013 Posts: 261

The flight "benefit" at one job to which I'm considering applying: 2,200.

Needless to say, that might cover the extra luggage fee, but it sure as Hades isn't covering much else.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

There are two travel allowances in some deals.
An allowance for travel in the Spring Break which for the public sector is almost as long as the summer break proper.
The other is, of course, the return airfare of 8-10K.
Unless you're living in the South, chances are you'll want to get out of it Jan-Feb time.