Timeoff2fish

If you buy a nonrefundable ticket booked directly on delta.com and then drop the trip associated with it, can you take that ticket price with the change fee ($200) on DL and buy a ticket for another trip?

Is the change fee an allowable expense? Seems like if there is ever a gray area in either crew travel expenses or extra pay provisions I wind up losing every time. If not I may just eat the value of the first ticket.

MaydayMark

That might be a good reason NOT to buy non-refundable tickets. Corporate Travel won't buy them for exactly that reason.

FDXLAG

Without looking at the contract I would say; you eat the $200 change fee but you can expense the ticket as long as it used for travel within 3 days of a FDX activity.

As an aside, if the ticket gets changed because scheduling changed your trip you should be able to expense the change fee.

KnightFlyer

Travel will get you a non-refundable if you ask.

DLax85

True.

It doesn't seem to work as well lately with the reduced capacity at the pax carriers, but about 5 yrs ago, if I was short on bank, I'd initially book a refundable ticket with Global Travel and then call them back the day of the flight (and even right from the checkin counter on a backend DH) and ask if they had a lower non-refundable fare

If it existed, they'd change the booking right there --- and it only took about 10 mins for all the electrons to process

They are happy to do it as they think you are saving the company $$

gderek

I did this once and it was a non-issue. I actually think the change fee showed up as part of the new ticket. So if you had a lot of bank, the change fee would likely be covered. Of course, buying a non-refundable ticket usually means you don't have the bank.

And yes, they will book you a non-refundable ticket.

I'd call and ask them for clarification

Overnitefr8

I haven't done that in awhile, but the change fee used to be covered by your deviation bank if you have any extra.

hyperone

ONLY if the company changes the trip - not if you make the change on your own. The relevant section of the contract is: CBA Chap. 8.C.
3. Deviation Options and Qualifying Expenses
Subject to the limitations and reporting provisions in Section 8.C.4. and C.5. (below), a pilot’s air travel, train travel, surface transportation, hotel use, parking and non-taxable per diem are allowable/reimbursable expenses as provided in this paragraph.
a. AirTravel
i. In the following circumstances, air travel expenses are allowable/reimbursable:
(a) to or from a pilot’s base to position to/from a scheduled assignment.
(b) deviation from scheduled deadhead travel.
(c) deviation from scheduled deadhead travel between a pilot’s base and training conducted away from his base.
ii. Air travel expenses shall be limited to the accepted fare for coach class unless the deviation flight would qualify for a higher class of service under Section 8.A.4.b.
iii. Airport departure fees.
iv. Ticket issuing, refund or transfer costs, if any, of an unused deviation ticket shall not be allowable unless a Company schedule change was the reason why the ticket could not be used, or had to be changed.

Overnitefr8

True, my times doing it were always from a company schedule change.

dckozak

I wouldn't argue with this, as (I assume) its verbatim from the contract. I would suggest that (from my experience) the cost of changing the non refundable ticket does not require the use of deviation monies. That was my experience, about 2 years ago, when i had this issue come up. I would suggest, rather than take my word for it, call and speak to a auditor before buying a non refundable.

If you think about it, its a reasonable man way of dealing with discounted travel. You buy a discounted round trip that the company (can't) match with its travel contracts. You travel under bank (or less out of pocket), the company saves even more than they might otherwise. The risk, of course, is a change in plans on the companies part. They eat the change fees, but how often does that happen? My guess not so much as to make this a bad deal for Fedex.

One downside from the crew's point of view. You have to carefully manage the un used monies and play by the airlines rules for using these funds in a timely manner (usually one year from the date of original travel) Keep track of the booking reference!! Very important, put it somewhere on your computer, along with the amount of money and the drop dead date of that money. My suggestion, use as soon as you can on some other non corptrav purchased company travel.
And one last thing. FedEx is going to want their money back on the expense report that relates to the month of your travel. Expect to pony up the cost of the ticket. You will recover it when you use the money for company travel, yet another thing to keep track of and manage. Save a copy of the pairing that was changed, you will need it explain in your expense report (when you finally use these funds) and keep any emails related to discussion with management, schedules, expense auditors or corptrav.

Its a good play for the pilot with an underweight bank, but a real PITA if the plan changes. Still you shouldn't have to budget for the airline change fees.