Applied for Job The Other Side of Australia and The Employer Said "Book The Flights"

LKiminoth on 24/05/2018 - 13:18
Last edited 24/05/2018 - 13:19

As per the title,

I've recently applied for a role on the other side of the country, and I've been asked to book return flights to attend the interview, flying in the evening before and out the afternoon of.

It was specifically said, "economy return", and "best fare of the day".

Now, the issue I have is that there is only one airline that does direct flights from my location, for just under a 4-hour flight, for about $1090

Every other flight available to get there takes at least 6 hours with a stop-over, for about $100 less.

Is it unreasonable to book the first one, or should I call and discuss the options available with them?

Education & Work Airfare New Job Work

Comments

  • owli on 24/05/2018 - 13:29

    It's a business expense right?

    • Kiminoth on 24/05/2018 - 13:50
      +2

      They are paying for it, yes.

  • xeion on 24/05/2018 - 13:36

    Have you conducted a Skype interview with them yet?
    I'd request that before you spend 1k and a couple days travel.

    • Kiminoth on 24/05/2018 - 13:43

      It's for a graduate program application, which has consisted of prior stages, however, no direct interview as taken place yet.

  • p1 ama on 24/05/2018 - 13:38
    +6

    My understanding is that they are paying for your flights and they have said that you should book "economy return" and the "best fare of the day"?

    If that is the case, the best thing to do would be to run it by them first to make sure everything is okay. In any case, it would look good for your application - I always found that employers like applicants to stay in contact and are pro-active.

  • dapt on 24/05/2018 - 13:42
    +1

    If this is a large company, surely it should be automatically through their administration/accounts people. If it's a small company it sounds a little dodgy.

    Are they putting you up for the night too?

    • Kiminoth on 24/05/2018 - 13:44

      Yeah, Accommodation is already sorted by them

    • JimmyF on 24/05/2018 - 13:44
      +1

      I work for a large multinational company and we have to book our own flights and expense them. It really comes down to the company these days.

      • dapt on 24/05/2018 - 13:47

        I have seen that as an employee of a large company, but it is a stretch to ask a prospective employee to shell out in advance and get reimbursed later.

      • D C on 24/05/2018 - 13:47

        OP hasn't got the job yet.

  • JimmyF on 24/05/2018 - 13:43
    +5

    As its within $100 of the best fare on the day I think you'll be right. Take a screenshot of the flights showing this and send it along with the invoice etc.

    If they complain

    a) you don't really want to work for them
    b) just pay the difference of $100.

    I'm sure you'll think the $100 is money well spent to save the transit time etc

    • Kiminoth on 24/05/2018 - 13:48

      They specifically said to arrive evening/afternoon, so I would argue that limited the flight choices, best fare of the day was technically midnight horror the Saturday night to land Sunday morning.

      But yeah, that's a good point. Travel time is on a Sunday too so I think that's a reasonable enough argument.

  • trustnoone on 24/05/2018 - 13:46

    I'd just ask them, tell them its better on your schedule and would really help, I don't think its too bad for $100. Worse comes to worse I'd personally tell them I'd be happy to pay the difference, at the very least I get the cheap flight, but most likely they'll think you're being super nice, while at the same time they'll probably tell you its all good, they'll be happy to pay the extra.

  • bobbified on 24/05/2018 - 13:57
    +1

    Unless the cost flights are unreasonably higher than others, they are not going to care.

    Also, by the time you submit your flights for reimbursement, you're already there and they're not going to be able look up prices from the past.

  • oscargamer on 24/05/2018 - 14:00
    +6

    Just book it

    They don't want you to take the piss, hence the 'get the cheapest economy flight', but they won't bat an eyelid for $100…..really?

    If you start 'negotiating' with them, they will quickly find you to be a problem they don't want

    • chumlee on 24/05/2018 - 16:37
      +1

      Yes this.

      Most companies will not care and I'm sure they just want you to take most direct route.

      It was like when George Costanza didn't know which office to take

  • Pootie Tang on 24/05/2018 - 14:12

    Book the direct one. They are not going to squabble over $100. You need to look at the time wasted, no company would ever expect you to do a layover and waste 2 hours each way in doing so.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2018 - 14:37
    +2

    It would be sneaky if the booking part was a psychometric test itself. Can you accomplish a basic task without creating a scene. :p Be decisive.

  • CLoSeR on 24/05/2018 - 15:36

    Just book the direct one.

  • slow on 24/05/2018 - 15:39

    I would assume they mean direct flight - as the difference is only $100 I would just go ahead and book it.
    If they were really tight I suspect they would have wanted to book it themselves

    If you are worried I would just send them a simple but firm message requesting confirmation that it is OK to get the direct flight.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2018 - 15:53
    +1

    If my employee asked me for confirmation before every transaction, I'd go ape shit.

    • adante on 24/05/2018 - 16:28
      +2

      If a potential graduate whom I don't really know and presumably has little experience with work travel and expenses in general let alone specifically with my organisation asked me for confirmation or clarification, I would not look at this askew. If anything I'd consider it to their credit.

      The context would be a little different if it was a seasoned work traveller or a 10-year employee who travels regularly to ask again and again, but to be honest for the first time round I'd be okay with providing clarification.

      • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2018 - 16:51

        In the scenario provided above where the two options are of negligible difference, I'd rather not know and an independent decision made. If I'm not happy with the decision, the employee should be confident in defending their decision.

        It's not difficult to make decisions if you know there is no liability. No different to being brave when there isn't danger.

  • paulinspace on 25/05/2018 - 09:56
    -6

    I wouldn't be employing you. Anyone who uses a bargain shopping forum for employment advice is lacking common sense.

  • Shuey on 25/05/2018 - 15:37

    I've done it before albeit a day trip; booked the flights myself, attended the interview and back home. They were not fussed on the expense (fares were fairly similar across the board). The company reimbursed about 1-2 weeks later.

  • Love a bargain on 25/05/2018 - 15:42

    Just book the direct flight. You don't wanna miss your interview because your first flight is delayed and you miss your connection. It's only $100 at the end of the day.

  • datafellows on 25/05/2018 - 15:51

    This is part of the interview process.

    Book the cheapest flight you can get. If for your convenience you want the more expensive flight leave a note with the tickets for them to reimburse you only ~$900 as you chose more expensive flight for the reason you did and the $900 was the cheapest for the day.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join