Korean Job Discussion Forums

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

I'm not resigning with SMOE and would like to get my own ticket set up to go home, and then get reimbursed later. SMOE however is claiming that they will only reimburse the government discount rate that they get from Korean Air, even though this is nowhere stated on the contract.

Do I have any recourse with this to get them to reimburse me for the ticket I actually bought instead of some arbitrary value that I can't even verify?

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

I know what you are talking about exactly.

What you gotta do is inform SMOE of your decision to buy a ticket through a different carrier than Korea Airlines. So you should make your case clear and to the point as to why. For instance KAL does not go to some cities, or that you have almost enough points with Air Canada or whatever to get a free ticket.

You need them to ok the ticket before you buy it, otherwise you might be up shit creek.

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Not sure about betting a flight home, but my flight here was on Air Canada and reimbursed...
(Not to hijack - but never ever pre-pay a flight for SMOE...)

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

I've heard they can drag ass about reimbursing, but as long as I get it approved it's ok. It'll be a nice little surprise when I get it. What burns me is they come up with these policies that aren't in the contract when it comes down to actually delivering on the benefits that get us out here in the first place.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

jkelly, did the rules change this year? My advice is to follow the official documents on the ETIS website or that went to your school.

SMOE has a fun way of interpreting the contract. It may say one thing, but their "official policy" may be different and may require a labor board and time to work out.

As of last summer, SMOE was reimbursing NSETs who paid for their own ticket. They paid the price in KRW charged to the NSET, not some discounted rate. I wouldn't be surprised if they are trying to change this. A few people I know bought their own ticket and had the SMOE office say a couple of different things. One was "You should have used a GTR and used Korean Air." The NSET's response: "It is MY CHOICE what to use. I understand my reimbursement may take a while, but it is MY CHOICE to use a GTR or to buy my own ticket." They got reimbursed. Another thing SMOE said was "Korean Air flies to your home town, you must use a GTR and Korean Air." Once again, the NSET said, "MY CHOICE and got the reimbursement." Another thing SMOE said was: "You can only use another carrier if Korean Air doesn't go to your home town." (similar to the last example). Once again, NSET said: "Not in the contract, not in the official paperwork, not on your website. But it is MY CHOICE."

So check the official documents being sent out this season. Last season, official documents contradicted what came from the SMOE office. Most people had a disagreement with Jon Park, it seemed he wasn't well versed in the official documents and instructions being sent out or on the ETIS site.

Finally, about reimbursement, some people waited months to get their reimbursement money. SMOE stated this in advance. It's a rotten system and time frame, but at least they were honest about it. Other people got the money through their districts. These people were reimbursed with their last paychecks.

This all falls into SMOE being a roll of the dice. Get a good school or good district, it's fast and easy. Get a bad deal and you get no answers and wait months for your money. No consistency in SMOE.