Flight Expenses

Connoisseurus_Rex

Need to fly for a work event so my airfare would be reimbursed. I have quite a lot of air miles so could I purchase a refundable ticket for the receipt, cancel, rebook using points and get reimbursed for the original airfare which was budgeted for anyway. Moral grey area or big no no? 

Mark_d

I wouldn't do it.  Just imagine if your employer audited the expense claim and then found that you cancelled the flight which they reimbursed you for.

tacpot12

It's more than grey. I'd say it was a no-no. You are claiming an expense you haven't incurred.

It would be better to ask your employer if they can compensate you for the use of your Airmiles; if they won't, make them buy the ticket.   

Voyager2002

There are ways to sell air-miles...

FWIW I am planning a long-haul trip... if some kind person used their points to get me an award ticket, I would feel like showing my appreciation in cash.

LinLui

tacpot12 said:

It's more than grey. I'd say it was a no-no. You are claiming an expense you haven't incurred.

It would be better to ask your employer if they can compensate you for the use of your Airmiles; if they won't, make them buy the ticket.   

This - anything else looks like fraud!

DullGreyGuy

Connoisseurus_Rex said:

Need to fly for a work event so my airfare would be reimbursed. I have quite a lot of air miles so could I purchase a refundable ticket for the receipt, cancel, rebook using points and get reimbursed for the original airfare which was budgeted for anyway. Moral grey area or big no no? 

It'd be fraud

Worth losing your job over the value of a flight?

I'd stick to the booking it on my airmile earning card, getting my airmiles for the flight and use all the airmiles for a future personal flight.

silvercar

Voyager2002 said:

There are ways to sell air-miles...

FWIW I am planning a long-haul trip... if some kind person used their points to get me an award ticket, I would feel like showing my appreciation in cash.

There are also easy ways to get your air miles accounts shut down and all miles lost!

In your example, if the kind person used their points for unconnected people too often it would soon be spotted. Has been spotted in the past. Your appreciation could cost them their whole account.

DullGreyGuy said:

Connoisseurus_Rex said:

Need to fly for a work event so my airfare would be reimbursed. I have quite a lot of air miles so could I purchase a refundable ticket for the receipt, cancel, rebook using points and get reimbursed for the original airfare which was budgeted for anyway. Moral grey area or big no no? 

It'd be fraud

Worth losing your job over the value of a flight?

I'd stick to the booking it on my airmile earning card, getting my airmiles for the flight and use all the airmiles for a future personal flight.

Definitely the way to do it. If you don't plan any personal trips and if we are talking about Avios, transfer them to Nectar and use for food shopping in Sainsbury's.