Comments on: Government Employees Spent $146M on Flight Upgrades

By: Mike Green

Mike Green — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:31:24 +0000

As I said, every company I've worked for in the last 20 years (Dell, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, and a two start ups) allows business-class travel on long flights. Draw your own conclusions.

I fly coach on personal trips, but that's by choice 2-3 times / year ... not 25-30 times / year because I have to.

By: Grewgills

Grewgills — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:10:16 +0000

Treating them like second-class citizens doesn't help.

Do only second class citizens fly coach?

By: Mike Green

Mike Green — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:48:59 +0000

"DC Loser," I think your tag probably says it all about your attitude and abilities. I doubt you could hack it in the private sector. Every company I've worked with, or for, in the last 20 years allowed employees to fly business class on long trips (typical >8 hours). For some people the public sector may be a "calling," but in the real world you have to find and retain high quality people. Treating them like second-class citizens doesn't help.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:57:23 +0000

If that's the case, having to fly coach on TDY is the least of our problems. I would much prefer a more pleasant work atmosphere, IT that works, and the availability of parking and telecommuting.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:06:15 +0000

DC, but once a bright one gets in the door you have to keep him in...demanding work w/o resources weeds out the talent.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:42:37 +0000

Frank, believe me, if your idea of "perks and privileges" are to work in a cubicle and have no parking for your car, then government work is right up your alley. But we still have many very bright people knocking down our doors to get in. I agree the pay's not bad, but moreover it's the kind of work and the impact you can have that simply isn't available in the private industry.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:19:51 +0000

"Government service should be a calling (I'm a govvie) and service to country and society should be the primary motivation, not the rewards of perks or privileges". Very idealistic DC. In reality, government jobs are often thankless and very demanding. "Perks and privileges" are ways to make the employees more efficient. They also work to attract quality people who want to be appreciated for their efforts...remember the saying - you get what you pay for.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:13:04 +0000

It's pretty hard to get worked up about a bit of government employee waste, fraud, and abuse after we lost track of $9 billion in cash in Iraq and no one seemed to care.

By: M1EK

M1EK — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:11:14 +0000

At about half the companies I've worked for, even the CEOs flew coach (unless on their own dime).

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:49:31 +0000

Government employees who think they are entitle to "perks" at taxpayer expense should seek employment in private industry. Government service should be a calling (I'm a govvie) and service to country and society should be the primary motivation, not the rewards of perks or privileges.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:38:17 +0000

The government does indeed have contract fares negotiated with airlines. GSA has negotiated fares for "city pairs" . But these are not competitive with the lowest fares, as they are fully refundable and you can book at the last minute. In most cases, they are quite expensive (for example, Washington National to Dayton Ohio is about $500 one way).

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:07:41 +0000

You think a GS-13 or a Major/Lt Colonel is "high-ranking" folk? Penny a dozen.

That's only true in the NCR. Get outside the DC area, GS-13s are likely the highest ranking civil servant around. And Lt. Cols and Commanders are gods on most installations, commanding large numbers of troops and tens of millions in equipment. Around here, of course, that's not the case. As they say, colonels assigned to the Pentagon fetch coffee. GS-13s and GS-14s do jobs that GS-9s and GS-11s do in Missouri. Even so, they're certainly as senior, if not more so, than the types of people who fly business class for corporations and law firms.

By: just me

just me — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:25:56 +0000

Another help would be a contract for a set price, or discount, for all government travel, since the govt is undoubtedly their largest customer.

I don't know if the government would be their largest customer, but I think taking bids for a set price would probably be a huge money saver for the government and a boon for the airline that won the contract.

I think the only problem is that a specific airline may not always be able to guarantee a seat, but they could probably write emergency contingencies into the contract.

Upgrading with frequent flier miles is one thing, but upgrading and billing the taxpayer is another, and IMO is out of line.

By: Kater

Kater — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:43:42 +0000

James Joyner, I don't know who you are or what your familiarity is with the federal government, but you seem pretty off base to me. You think a GS-13 or a Major/Lt Colonel is "high-ranking" folk? Penny a dozen. We don't need to recruit these people, in fact we can't get rid of them. Give them business class and they'd never leave. As a taxpayer (and GS-14) I would never authorize upgraded travel for anyone. Four-stars and federal judges have an exception for 1st class because they're "always working" but then, four stars usually have their own luxurious planes that rival anything Bill Gates uses.

By: davod

davod — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:39:27 +0000

Remember the CIA agents the Italians want for taking the terrorist suspect out of Italy.

They used their real names when getting airline tickest so they could claim the frequent flier miles.

That's one of the ways the Italians figured out who the wanted. What a perk.