Who travels a lot? (two to three long hauls a month)
Discussion
Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:
What jobs do the frequent flyers in here do to that require them to spend so much time in the air?
I work in defence equipment sales to clients in emerging markets. Consequently, I end up visiting many countries through Asia, ME, S. America and Africa. schmalex said:
Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:
What jobs do the frequent flyers in here do to that require them to spend so much time in the air?
I work in defence equipment sales to clients in emerging markets. Consequently, I end up visiting many countries through Asia, ME, S. America and Africa. schmalex said:
Why jealous?!?!? I’m Platinum on Emirates and Silver in BA. I’ts not a badge I wear with pride. On top of the little hops, this year, I’ve done 53 sectors over 6 hours and been away from home for 87 nights.
Indeed, your lifestyle is absolutely dreadful for anyone with someone/thing to look forward to at home.Dromedary66 said:
schmalex said:
Why jealous?!?!? I’m Platinum on Emirates and Silver in BA. I’ts not a badge I wear with pride. On top of the little hops, this year, I’ve done 53 sectors over 6 hours and been away from home for 87 nights.
Indeed, your lifestyle is absolutely dreadful for anyone with someone/thing to look forward to at home.This year, I spent my birthday and Father’s Day in Melbourne and wedding anniversary in Delhi.
According to some of my office based colleagues, all’s fine as we travel business or first
I find the job fascinating and the travel is an integral part so I am now making a conscious effort to get the 10pm Sunday flight from LHR and be back by Friday night, rather than be away for 2 or 3 weeks. It does mean that I end up doing some crazy long trips for only 24 / 36 hours on the ground!
Relationship building and working together.
I find I can (just about) build relationships with people within my company without ever meeting them - but that's because we are all generally working to the same ends, have a common language, lots of the same background knowledge, ways of working, etc. And even then it's hard. With clients or externals it's impossible to build meaningful relationships without spending time together in person.
Having teams working on the same thing from two different places can be very inefficient. I had one earlier this year where a US and a UK team were both, in good faith, re-working each other's stuff overnight, because each didn't have the full picture of what was going on, no matter how many hours they spent on the phone to each other. It was extremely painful, and wouldn't have happened had they been sitting in the same room.
A lot of my travel was often just to 'be there' and 'walk the halls' - I was often going for non-specific reasons and theoretically could have done my work remotely and hooked up a video for meetings. The projects would have been abject failures had I done so.
I find I can (just about) build relationships with people within my company without ever meeting them - but that's because we are all generally working to the same ends, have a common language, lots of the same background knowledge, ways of working, etc. And even then it's hard. With clients or externals it's impossible to build meaningful relationships without spending time together in person.
Having teams working on the same thing from two different places can be very inefficient. I had one earlier this year where a US and a UK team were both, in good faith, re-working each other's stuff overnight, because each didn't have the full picture of what was going on, no matter how many hours they spent on the phone to each other. It was extremely painful, and wouldn't have happened had they been sitting in the same room.
A lot of my travel was often just to 'be there' and 'walk the halls' - I was often going for non-specific reasons and theoretically could have done my work remotely and hooked up a video for meetings. The projects would have been abject failures had I done so.
Another frequent traveller and away from home person here.
Most trips are European (+/- 2 hours from Schiphol) but many are to the US and Asia (Philippines).
This year currently on 96 sectors with Budapest tomorrow, and still at least one trip to the US and Manila left to do, along with a smattering of Sweden and the UK thrown in for added fun.
Am Platinum for Life with KLM, Silver with Luftwaffe and Gold with Cathay.
Yes it makes a difference as others have said - upgrades occasionally, priority check in ad boarding, don't have to wait in the queues for passport - but the biggest thing for me is using the lounge. I can sit quietly and work, eat a little before a flight or have a coffee or water (I don't drink) and not have to pay ridiculous airport prices.
None of this makes up for things we miss at home and for sure, the home life suffers - at least mine does - as eventually you simply become two separate people living under the same roof (when your home).
Most trips are European (+/- 2 hours from Schiphol) but many are to the US and Asia (Philippines).
This year currently on 96 sectors with Budapest tomorrow, and still at least one trip to the US and Manila left to do, along with a smattering of Sweden and the UK thrown in for added fun.
Am Platinum for Life with KLM, Silver with Luftwaffe and Gold with Cathay.
Yes it makes a difference as others have said - upgrades occasionally, priority check in ad boarding, don't have to wait in the queues for passport - but the biggest thing for me is using the lounge. I can sit quietly and work, eat a little before a flight or have a coffee or water (I don't drink) and not have to pay ridiculous airport prices.
None of this makes up for things we miss at home and for sure, the home life suffers - at least mine does - as eventually you simply become two separate people living under the same roof (when your home).
Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:
What jobs do the frequent flyers in here do to that require them to spend so much time in the air?
Nobody's said pilot yet?I'm a consultant working in the field of waste management, sanitation and environmental protection in post-conflict, low income and emerging economic regions. In the main, the sort of places Dorling Kindersly have yet to send their travel guide writers to.
Specific field is behaviour change communications. So as my wife - with some degree of accuracy - states, I travel the world talking rubbish and s
t.smifffymoto said:
If you get Platinum or Gold status without buying it,home must be a hotel room or a plane cabin. All the tea in China wouldn’t be enough for that life.
You must have the support of a very understanding,patient wife.
This. Precisely and exactly this. You must have the support of a very understanding,patient wife.
If flying lots of long haul is a PH willy-waving activity then I'm quite happy to keep my todger in my undercrackers.
Ahhhmmm ooouutt.
2Btoo said:
smifffymoto said:
If you get Platinum or Gold status without buying it,home must be a hotel room or a plane cabin. All the tea in China wouldn’t be enough for that life.
You must have the support of a very understanding,patient wife.
This. Precisely and exactly this. You must have the support of a very understanding,patient wife.
If flying lots of long haul is a PH willy-waving activity then I'm quite happy to keep my todger in my undercrackers.
Ahhhmmm ooouutt.
Facetime is a godsend, i read their bedtime story frequently when i’m away.
it’s just what we’re used to.
I used to do it more (once a month). Hated it. Hate flying.
Our company has an economy only policy for everyone (inc VPs) and changes preferred carrier every year so you rarely get status.
3-6 a year now which is more manageable but still some daft journeys, like UK to San Francisco for one 4 hour meeting.
Our company has an economy only policy for everyone (inc VPs) and changes preferred carrier every year so you rarely get status.
3-6 a year now which is more manageable but still some daft journeys, like UK to San Francisco for one 4 hour meeting.
Vaud said:
I used to do it more (once a month). Hated it. Hate flying.
Our company has an economy only policy for everyone (inc VPs) and changes preferred carrier every year so you rarely get status.
3-6 a year now which is more manageable but still some daft journeys, like UK to San Francisco for one 4 hour meeting.
I feel your pain, thankfully my contracts have always stated business class minimum so I've not been stuck with economy flights at any point, I certainly wouldn't be working for an employer for long if they expected that length of frequent traveling at the back of the bus!Our company has an economy only policy for everyone (inc VPs) and changes preferred carrier every year so you rarely get status.
3-6 a year now which is more manageable but still some daft journeys, like UK to San Francisco for one 4 hour meeting.
K50 DEL said:
I feel your pain, thankfully my contracts have always stated business class minimum so I've not been stuck with economy flights at any point, I certainly wouldn't be working for an employer for long if they expected that length of frequent traveling at the back of the bus!
It is a very "egalitarian" company - it isn't about cost saving per se. In the same way, it is culturally fine to own a Ferrari, just don't bring it to work. Discretion, etc.Fortunately I work from home 90% of the time now and so get to do the school run and spend a lot of time with my daughters.
Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:
Interesting stuff. It’s surprising how much still has to be done face to face these days eg my BiL will go to NYC for a meeting. It’s daft but still expected.
Its not so unusual. I've done Houston for a 30min meeting. Singapore for a half day meeting, not even spending a full day there. I know of others who have done Oz for a 2hr meeting.jontysafe said:
There has to be balance though doesn’t there. If i’m not travelling then i’m at home.....for six months or so of the year bar the odd appointment in London or board meeting. I see a LOT more of my family then the guy that leaves for work just as the kids are waking and gets back at bed time. most of my trips take in two weekends and there are gluts at certain times of the year. I’m not saying it’s easy but there are definite benefits.
Facetime is a godsend, i read their bedtime story frequently when i’m away.
it’s just what we’re used to.
Simply put - no. Couple the hatefulness of being on a plane (First Class is indeed legions better than Cattle but still utterly hateful) with the huge amounts of time it wastes and it beggars belief why anyone would want to do it at all. Tie that in with the time away from family and kids and it looks less favourable still. Facetime is a godsend, i read their bedtime story frequently when i’m away.
it’s just what we’re used to.
I pity the poor sap who talked about having a Gold Card at 23 - he really really needs to get a different perspective on things. I cannot think of a more dismal way of spending my 20's.
Being present at a work meeting still trumps any form of videoconferencing - I can certainly vouch for the advantages of it. However that applies identically with family; there is no substitute for presence. Seeing family on Facetime and work colleagues in person feels like the priorities are the wrong way 'round.
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