Conference 7.286::digital

re: .0

That's the impression I got also.  The first year was free, but watch out after
that.  Also, the terms and conditions regarding the Phyisical Damage Waiver
didn't sound like it was being waived for Digtial employees.  I don't know if
the Company's agreement would supercede the AVIS program or not, but it did
make be think twice.  I eventually filed the application in the circular file.

    I have used the preferred plan for 3 years, with the fee being
    waived since we have a corporate(national) agreement.So you might
    want to consider joining, no fee has ever been charged, and under this
    program, they drop you off the bus first, all the paperwork is
    in the car, you show the guard your drivers license and away you
    go.

    The announcement of our new agreement with AVIS has been all over
    the network for the past two weeks.  This special program is part of
    the package.  The announcement(s) said people would be contracted.
    Sounds like a good deal to me....although I doubt they can deliver.

    My experience with Avis since the announcement (ok, so it's only been
    twice so far) is that as a Digital employee, you're *automatically* in
    their Preferred Renters Program.  There is [apparently] no need to sign
    up separately.  (Where signing up separately would also mean giving
    them your credit card number, which I personally wouldn't do anyway).
    Amex books you as an "Avis Preferred Renter", and you're treated as
    such by the Avis people, simply by virtue of the fact that you're a
    Digital employee.
    
    By the way, the Avis Preferred Renter Program is apparently NOT like
    National's Emerald Isle program.  It appears that ANYBODY who works for
    a company that has a corporate agreement with Avis is automatically a
    "preferred renter".  In the last busload of people that Avis picked up
    at the Atlanta airport (about 14 people in ths bus) were ALL members of
    the Avis program.
    
    Kinda like the Ed McMahon letters; ie, "You personally, Dear Occupant,
    have been specially selected...."
    
    Jon

        <<< BUGSEY::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DEC_SECRETARY.NOTE;1 >>>
                -< The Professional Forum for DEC Secretaries >-
================================================================================
Note 282.7                        Travel Topic                            7 of 8
MYGUY::LANDINGHAM "Mrs. Kip"                         55 lines  27-MAR-1991 13:58
                -< New Corporate Car Rental Program - 03/01/91 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:     22-Mar-1991 08:49am EST
                                        From:     SANDRA ZIMMERMAN
                                                  ZIMMERMAN.SANDRA AT A1 AT USE
                                        Dept:     U.S. BUSINESS CONTROLS
                                        Tel No:   DTN 223-5011

TO: See Below

Subject: CAR RENTAL PROGRAM--CIRCULATE WIDELY

FROM:   CORPORATE TRAVEL
TEL :   223-7989
     
NEW CAR RENTAL PROGRAM

Effective March 1, 1991, AVIS Rent A Car will be the EXCLUSIVE car
rental supplier to Digital in the United States. No other car rental
company should be used.

National Car Rental rates and One Trip Travel Orders will become invalid
as of March 1, 1991.

The new cost savings features of the car rental program include:

* UNLIMITED MILEAGE RATE OF $31.00 p/day on rentals picked up and dropped
  off at same location

* LOSS DAMAGE WAIVER (previously Collision Damage Waiver) included on all
  AVIS rates (business or personal). DO NOT ACCEPT Loss Damage Waiver -
  this is not reimbursable.

 * PREFERRRED RENTER PROGRAM will be made available to Digital Corporate
  Card Holders (American Express or Diners Club). This is a SIGNIFICANT
  service enhancement for travelers, and the $50.00 annual Preferred
  Renter fee has been waived for Digital Corporate Card Travelers.

* UNLIMITED MILEAGE RATES DO APPLY on ONE WAY RENTALS between the
  following cities:

  o Boston and Southern New Hampshire/Suburbs within the Greater Maynard-
    Marlboro areas

  o San Francisco and San Jose

  o Denver and Colorado Springs

ALL CAR RESERVATIONS must be made by the American Express office ( or
other designated travel agency) servicing your facility to guarantee that
the lowest AVIS rate is applied to your rental. Your support of DIGITAL's
car rental program will reduce the company's business travel
expenditures.

Access VTX TRAVEL for further rate information and program details.
    

    RE: Last Several
    
    As a very heavy traveller, I love the Preferred Express program. In
    some airports (Houston for example) they'll run somebody out to start
    the car with the A.C. on, and the trunk open for your bags, before you 
    are dropped off. Likewise, I've had them start the heater in cold
    climates. There is an important difference between 'normal' express and
    Preferred; 'normal' express means you can hop on the bus, but you are
    dropped off at the 'Express' office. It has gotten to the point where
    so many people are Express members that the lines out there are
    annoying. The Preferred Express, as mentioned, drops you off at the car
    before the rest of the Express customers are dropped off at the
    'Express Office'. Your paperwork is done, and, as mentioned, you are
    outta there.
    
    Even if you don't travel much, it is one hell of a lot faster, no
    doubt! The one small problem is if you need directions...then you'll
    have to stop by the office in the airport or out at the Express office.
    
    Right now, not a lot of people have Preferred Express...when that gets
    saturated, maybe they'll have 'Extra Slick-o Express' whereby they whip
    your ride up to the terminal building :)
    
    Randy

re .6

Re the increasing number of people availing themselves of the increasing
levels of service.   I can remember when I first joined Digital, I travelled a
lot, and Avis and others gave me big cars, good service etc etc  because I was
a good regular customer.

I recall a few years ago, When I was doubled billed for a hotel room. I
pointed the Amex Gold card people at the Hyatt platinum card people and it
still took them 4 months to work it out.

q

If Avis is the "exclusive" supplier of rental cars for Digital and "no
other" vendor is to be used then what happens when they have no cars
available?  Back when we had both National and Avis on those occasions
when Avis was out of cars I could to hold my nose and go to National. 
Our policy does not seem to address this not so infrequent occurence.

John

    RE: last few on normal, prefered, and "slick-o-prefered"
    
    Those of us who have toiled in manufacturing can relate quite well with
    this phenomenon.
    
    In an effort to provide extra service to "special" customers and/or
    orders, some manufacturing operations created the "hot" sticker for a
    job moving through the shop.  The sticker "said" expedite over non-hot
    jobs.  Well guess what, pretty soon EVERY job had a "hot" sticker.  So,
    then the "hot-hot" sticker was introduced.  After the 3rd or 4th level
    of "hot" was attained, sanity prevailed and EVERY thing went back to
    normal.
    
    Ken

    RE .8
    
    >>  What happens when AVIS is out of cars?
    
    If I remember correctly, the back-up is BUDGET.   But they are only to
    be used when the local AVIS cannot satisfy your requirements.
    
    	Don G.

Re:         <<< Note 1436.10 by JAWJA::GRESH "Subtle as a Brick" >>>

>    RE .8
>    
>    If I remember correctly, the back-up is BUDGET.   But they are only to
>    be used when the local AVIS cannot satisfy your requirements.

This is correct.  Check out VTX TRAVEL for recent changes and details.

-  David

    Sorry; I got sidetracked.  Meant to put that information in, too.
    
        <<< BUGSEY::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DEC_SECRETARY.NOTE;1 >>>
                -< The Professional Forum for DEC Secretaries >-
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Note 282.8                        Travel Topic                            8 of 8
MYGUY::LANDINGHAM "Mrs. Kip"                         17 lines  10-APR-1991 09:15
              -< Budget Becomes Supplemental Car Supplier 5/1/91 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I just read a note from Corporate Travel about rental cars that says
    that Budget will become the "supplementary supplier effective May 1,
    1991..." "to further enhance the Digital car rental program in place
    today." >> "BUDGET SHOULD BE USED ONLY WHEN AVIS CARS ARE NOT AVAILABLE
    OR WHERE AVIS DOES NOT HAVE A LOCATION."  <<
    
    The daily rate for a compact car with unlimited mileage is $31.00,
    including loss damage waiver and million dollar liability covreages.  
    
    Budget express service, called Rapid Action, will be available to
    Digital travelers at major U.S. airport locations.  
    
    This new program with Budget Rent A Car is being implemented to further
    support travel needs.
    
    Rgds,
    

I looked in the VTX TRAVEL infobase under Car Rentals/DEC Contacts and found a
pointer to Sharlet Trilling, Travel Operations Manager for U.S Field. I sent her
a mail message asking for clarification about this AVIS plan, she called me and
here is what she told me.

The AVIS Preferred Express program is available at no cost to Digital employees.
This is a permanent part of our corporate agreement; there is no hidden "gotcha"
after the first year. However, you do have to sign up for it by sending in the 
material AVIS sent directly to all corporate credit card holders (Diners Club 
or American Express). [I didn't ask about corporate employees who don't have a
credit card and have their travel paid directly by their cost center.]

The travel folks who make our reservations maintain a profile for me. They know
I have an AVIS Wizard number so all my reservations have always been made as
a [normal] Express customer. Once I send in my Preferred Express form, I'll
tell them.

	/Marvin

I have a Corporate Diner's Club Card and don't recall gettting anything from 
AVIS... I have to rent a car soon, so what happens? Am I treated like your
average AVIS customer since I didn't sign up?

Jim

    I also am "still waiting" to see anything in the mail.  However, on a
    recent trip, I asked about it, was given the upgrade without a problem
    and took the paperwork to the hotel.  It had an 800 number, so I
    registered that way (w/e 4/13) and have heard nothing back (the 800
    folks didn't know anything about waiving yearly fees, so we will see). 
    
    On a more recent trip (different city) I had to be a little more
    persistent for the upgrade since I still didn't have an AVIS #, but
    they did it.  I get to see the same city in a few days, so I will be
    curious...
    
    I did inquire at the local airport (since they had a big "welcome DEC"
    sign at SJC) on one of these trips and the counterperson said any time
    they sign a corporate agreement they give the employees automatic
    upgrades for a month, but he didn't know about the preferred renter
    program and a waiving of fees.
    
    much of this depends on how persistent you are willing to be. 
    
    /s/pushy_broad  

    I rent a LOT of Avis cars... lately about 50 or more per year.  I've
    recently been told that Digital has instructed Avis to no longer credit
    frequent flyer miles to folks who rent using the Corporate VISA card. 
    This apparently happened about the same time as the Collision Damage
    Waiver policy change.
    
    Is this something that Digital is doing or is this a VISA cost
    reduction policy.  
    
    I've about had it.  I lose a great many weekends for the sake of travel
    and I'm pissed off!  Just one more nail in the coffin, and one more
    reason to leave!  
    
    If US AIR or DELTA airlines is willing to give me miles to use a rental
    car or to check into a particular hotel, or even to use someone else's
    credit card, what the hell difference does it make to DEC?
    
    tony

|    Is this something that Digital is doing or is this a VISA cost
|    reduction policy.  

    I am speculating, but suspect that it helps Digital cut the rates. After
    all the flyer miles have to come from somewhere .. and I bet that AVIS
    buys the miles from the air-lines, somehow. Just like some hotel are
    able to offer you miles even though they are not even close to being
    an air-line.

    On the other hand, I doubt that the saving is all that significant, in
    particular in light of the anger and frustration it generates. Sounds like
    a case of penny wise and pound foolish to me. The saving is probably
    lost when you take cheese on that wopper for lunch ..

    >Per

    The way around this is to go through AVIS directly, and have your
    profile changed. I just did this, since it was screwing up 
    my Preferred reservations. Funny how stuff like this is not
    communicated by Corporate Travel, or VISA, or Thomas Crook(AMEX)
    
    
    

    The miles that USAir, Delta, and the other airlines give are free in
    the sense that the airline itself gives them to you.
    
    The miles that you get from AVIS, Hilton, your VISA card, etc. are
    purchased from the airlines, generally at $0.02 a mile.  Thus 500
    miles costs them $10.
    
    I'm only speculating here but the price of the miles must be either
    absorbed or pass on to you so its possible that AVIS is haggling with
    Digital (via First Bank) to not give a corporate rate AND the miles
    away.
    
    By the way, this is the first I've heard of this.  I rented an AVIS car
    last week (will do another one tomorrow), gave them my USAir number
    with my Digital VISA card and got no hassle.  However, I have not yet
    seen the miles appear on my statement.
    
    Do we have any other confirmation that this is really true?
    
    Larry
    

    Well, it is true.  I'm sorry to say.  
    
    In fact, I got very defensive when I was first told about it less than
    two weeks ago at the AVIS counter in Boston's Logan airport.  I assumed
    the AVIS clerk was wrong.
    
    THen just two days ago, I asked an AVIS clerk I deal with frequently
    (In Maynard, MA) about it, and he said it was true, but that to avoid
    the wrath of renters, he just never says anything and applies the
    credit whenever asked.  He said that way, he stays out of it and he has
    no idea if any of the miles actually get credited to accounts.  I don't
    blame him for ignoring the policy.
    
    By the way, a third clerk, in Manchester, NH also mentioned it to me
    this weekend when I was picking up a car.  He also just applied the
    Frequent flyer number and is letting someone else deal with the
    problem.
    
    My gut feeling is that this is the work of First Bank, with the
    Corporate VISA... Though I've no reason to not also suspect that
    Digital had a direct hand in it also.
    
    I've not yet received a voucher showing whether the miles actually get
    credited.
    
    tony

    Much as I too dislike First Bank/Visa, I suspect that they had nothing
    to do with it.  I suspect that this is a straight deal between AVIS and
    Digital regarding the negotiated corporate rental rate.  In order to
    keep the rate down/at its current level, Avis wants to forego the FF
    miles that does in fact cost it something.  FF miles are intended to be
    a draw; since they have 'ALL' of DEC's rental business, they have no
    incentive to kick in the FF miles.  I would blame AVIS primarily.
    
    BTW, I think that IBM tried to cut a deal with the airlines a while ago
    to get lower airfares in return for no FF miles on those flights.  The
    airlines said NO.  In this case, since the choice of airlines is still
    open, there was an incentive to keep the FF miles.
    
    
    						Rich

I verified this with the AVIS "program manager" at DEC.  And 
from an AVIS employee I heard that Delta charges AVIS $6 for
this "offer".

 This whole thing really ticked me off.  The last trip I made
to Boston came to around $1200.  The fact that Digital doesn't
value my willingness to spend nights away, late night flights, 
etc enough to pitch in $12 stinks.  I've just about had it with
these petty measures - one less costly initiative (such as the
laughable phone manner brochure) would save more - and keep a
bunch of us happy with ff miles! 

 what's next?

- Lars

    >>What's next?
    
    Hitchhicking as the only approved form of business travel?

|    Hitchhicking as the only approved form of business travel?

Yes, and only with approved car models.

    
    I went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa Monday and was told the same news.  They
    also told me that a memo had come out and they would give me a copy of
    it to show the rest of the Digital travelers since it seems that we did
    not know about it.  Below is the memo without the mail header.  The
    date of the memo was 06SEP94 1601.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION HAS REQUESTED THAT
    AVIS NO LONGER APPLY FREQUENT TRAVELER NUMBERS, (AIRLINES,HOTELS,ETC),
    TO DIGITAL EMPLOYEES RENTAL AGREEMENTS.

    TO ASSIST RENTAL SALES AGENTS WITH THIS REQUEST, FREQUENT TRAVELER
    NUMBERS INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL CUSTOMER'S PREFERRED WIZARD NUMBER
    PROFILE WILL BE DELETED.

    IF A FREQUENT TRAVELER NUMBER IS PRESENTED BY A DIGITAL EMPLOYEE AT THE
    COUNTER, RENTAL SALES AGENTS SHOULD ENTER THE NUMBER ON THE CUSTOMER'S
    RENTAL AGREEMENT. DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION WILL RECEIVE
    INFORMATION ON THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVE FREQUENT TRAVEL POINTS.

    BY ALLOWING WIZARD TO ACCEPT THE FREQUENT TRAVELER NUMBER, CUSTOMER
    CONFRONTATION THAT COULD ARISE WILL BE AVOIDED. ALL QUESTIONS FROM
    DIGITAL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE REFERRED TO DIGITAL TRAVEL SERVICES.  

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    It is the next to the last paragraph that really botheres me.  What is
    next?  No airline points?  This chaps me bad.
    
    I have already made 14 trips for Digital this year.  I feel like I was
    slapped.  Why couldn't Digital tell us of this policy?
    
    
    John L. Anschutz

    I've just registered my complaint at this new Digital Policy with Ms.
    Claudia Blass, Program Manager (DTN 223-7993 or (508)493-7993).  She
    listened to me and said she would relay my concerns to the Travel
    Group.
    
    She also explained that this is in fact policy, since Jan. '95 and that
    the decision was the result of negotiations with Avis (and inferred
    others as well) who were looking for something like a 10% increase in
    rental rates.  Digital requested Avis break down their billing costs
    and elected to eliminate this cost to maintain the same rate (for now).
    
    I suggested to her that for the last 14 years (my time with DEC) I've
    rented cars from AVIS and have always viewed this perk as part of the
    incentive to agreeing to continue to travel as much as I do, because I
    am occasionally able to bring one of my kids up here (New England) from
    Texas to visit, or am able to visit them.
    
    I also complained to her that there had been no announcement of this
    change in policy, and that I'd only discovered it when an AVIS clerk
    told me!  I objected to this lack of communications.
    
    Tony
    

    Hmm - it is a bit rough if frequent business travellers have become
    accustomed to a "perk" to have it withdrawn without a word of
    explanation.  
    
    Similar plans are being considered by European companies - ostensibly
    for totally different reasons.  Some Taxation authorities see frequent
    flyer points and chargecard "bonus points" and the like as "benefit in
    kind" and are taking the stance that they are earned during the
    execution of your professional duties, thus subject to taxation at your
    marginal rate of taxation.  The authorities' position is that it is the
    employers' responsibility to track this and thus given the impossibility
    of the task, some employers are asking for corporate type schemes to be
    cancelled.
    
    What is the income tax position on these "perks" in the USA?
    
    /Chris.

For what it's worth, I often find that the Digital/AVIS rates are not as good
as the AAA/AVIS rates.  And I get FF mile credits with AAA.  And I charge the
rental on my Airline Credit Card and get FF mileage credit for the charge, as
well.  And I do my business travelling on Digital's time, not my time. 

Dave

    At the moment, frequent flyer awards, etc., are considerd non-taxable.
    However, there are occasional stirrings to change this.
    
    				Steve

    Sorry for jumping in, but why should Digital pay a fee for you to get
    frequent flyer points.  You travel because its part of your job.  It is
    Digital's responsibility to get you points so your family can come with
    you. I realize it is a strain being away from your family but Digital
    is paying the way they should get the bennies from the flight if any.
    
    You can commence firing.
    
    Dennis

    re: .30   "Who's paying?"
    
    >                       You travel because its part of your job.  It is
    
    While it's true that I travel as part of my job, I expect that Digital
    will not make travel an unacceptable burden, or inconvenience me unduly.
    If Digital starts making me travel by Greyhound bus, or puts me up in
    fleabag hotels, or reduces my meal allowance to five bucks a day, then
    I'll stop travelling for Digital. If Digital makes it a condition of my
    employment that I travel under such conditions, then I will go someplace
    else that treats me better. That's the way it works.
    
    Frequent flyer points are an inadequate but time-honored compensation
    for putting up with the hassles of travelling. Every business traveller
    has come to expect them, just like they expect clean sheets on the
    hotel beds at night. Companies have often tried to grab them away from
    the individual travellers, but have always been rebuffed one way or
    another. Now it looks like Digital has found a way, at least in the
    case of "peripheral" suppliers like Avis. But it's self-defeating,
    because it just reinforces how little the company cares about the
    effects of it's policies on it's employees.
    
    Geoff

re Note 1436.31 by ZPOVC::GEOFFREY:

>     Every business traveller
>     has come to expect them, just like they expect clean sheets on the
>     hotel beds at night. 

        Please don't give the bean counters more ideas!

RE: .30

	After being stuck in Chicago for 12 hours ON A WEEKEND, you
	can't tell me that taking away my few Avis points is a good thing.

	Do you travel for DEC at all? I do, and as much as I love to 
	travel, when they start taking things away like this, it makes it
	THAT much more of a hassle. The zipperheads that come up with
	these ideas obviously don't travel for business.

	Really, on a per-person basis, we aren't talking alot of money.
	Especially when my time is costing DEC ALOT more.

							mike

    >> Yes, and only with approved car models
                                   __________
    Do Claudia Schiffer & Elle McPherson make car ads?

    re:                 <<< Note 1436.30 by GLDOA::POMEROY >>>
                               -< Who's paying? >-

 <   Sorry for jumping in, but why should Digital pay a fee for you to get
 <   frequent flyer points.  You travel because its part of your job.  It is
 <   Digital's responsibility to get you points so your family can come with
 <   you. I realize it is a strain being away from your family but Digital
 <   is paying the way they should get the bennies from the flight if any.
 <   
 <   You can commence firing.
    
    ok... since you invited ;^)
    
    I'm an educational consultant.  The only reason I travel for Digital is
    to conduct "on site" training at customer locations, or (more
    frequently) to conduct regularly scheduled training at Digtial
    facilities.  Nearly all the courses I teach are 5 days long... and they
    start at 9AM on Monday.  That's cast in stone.
    
    I am, therefore, unable to travel on "Digital's Time"... and, more
    often than not, wind up spending nearly all day Sunday packing, going
    to the airport and then flying to destination, and checking into some
    lousy hotel.  On MY time.
    
    For this, I occasionally get to take a day off (compensatory time...
    which is, as far as I understand, totally against company policy in its
    own right) when I am not teaching a class in Parker Street (my "home
    base").  Problem is, my off-platform weeks are pretty few and far
    between and when I do have one, I am tube-locked preparing for new
    courses or filling out expenses, or performing other job-related tasks
    (even, luckily, being a student in someone else's class)... so Comp
    time is not a viable, or legal, alternative.
    
    If this scenario happened just once in a while, there'd be no problem,
    but with all the layoffs, it is far more frequent than I like.  I've
    been on the road four of the last five weeks, and last year travelled
    nearly 50 percent of my time.  (I know there are some who do it more.)
    
    I rent a car to get to the airport; I usually rent a car at my
    destination; and I rent a car to return home from the airport (cheaper
    and more convenient for me than using a limo).  If I travel  just 20
    weeks a year that's an average of 60 AVIS car rentals per year.  They
    LOVE me!  Especially for the shore trips to and from the airport. 
    
    Now, Digital wants to save a few bucks.  I totally understand that. 
    So, they've decided (privately, without any announcement.. and THAT
    angers me) to cut costs by deleting this expense.  
    
    My reaction is predictable.  I'll cut down on my travels.  
    
    Digital will still conduct the training.  But, they'll hire an outside
    contractor to perform it.  That's proven to be far less cost effective
    than using me (and other Deccies)... and the net result is that DEC
    will spend MORE.  
    
    Of course, that additional expense will come out of someone ELSE's
    budget, and Corporate Travel's bottom line will look better, while DLS
    will look worse and DEC will look worse for it.  
    
    Until and unless we lose all these little corporate "empires", which
    each look out for their OWN bottom line, at the expense of the
    Corporation, we will NEVER be better off as a company.
    
    And this tirade does nothing to address my dissatisfaction with the
    process.  Or relieve the stress which I've accumulated putting up with
    this sort of crap for the last four years.
    
    tony

RE: .35

Weekend rates are almost always less than the Digital corporate
rate.  For example, in Boston, weekend rates for Compact is $29.19.
Digital rate is $31.00.

I do, as the author of .28 also, use the weekend rate and get
FF miles to boot and SAVE Digital money.

I would be very surprised if Digital insisted on my using the 
higher Corporate rate.

When checking into hotels, I also inquire about other rates. About
a third of the time, I am able to get better than the Digital rate.
I also get FF miles at the hotels too.

Gim

    Am I the only one whose tired of being jerked around?
    
    (and, Tom... I see the humor!)
    
    Tony

re .36 ( "... surprised if Digital forced me to pay the
higher rate ...") 
		WHY on earth would that surprise? 

re.40  I agree; it's getting close to "ain't gonna take
this c--p anymore"

    <-------  No. You're not alone, Tony.

	I actually thought Tony showed considerable restraint.  I no longer
travel, but when I did travel it was for Digital's benefit not mine.  I was
also in Ed Services and spent way too many Sunday's in airports.  In addition,
Tony failed to mention that flights home on Friday after a 5 day class are 
often late at night or have to be delayed until Saturday depending on where 
you are.  None of that ever shows up in an instructor's metrics; they get 
credit for 5 days in class whether it's taught at home or on the other side 
of the planet.

	When I first started teaching, this happened a couple times a quarter.
When I left, it was one or two weeks a month.  It sounds like it's much more
frequent now.  We are all more than willing to put in extra time when needed, 
but constant travel wears thin real fast.  When you consider that someone 
like Tony is traveling to bring in revenue, it's easy to see how angry the 
penny-pinching makes him.

I've been very lucky in Digital Consulting to find local, long-term assign-
ments.  Some of my colleagues in other parts of the country spend 90% of 
their time on the road.  Again, they only travel to bring in revenue.  Making 
life harder on people who bring in money is being extremely penny wise and
pound foolish IMHO.  But, I'm probably just spitting into the wind.

			SQ

  I believe all of this nickel-and-diming of the travelers is designed
  for one purpose:

    o Make travelling sufficiently onerous that you don't do it.

  For me, their effort has essentially worked. Nowadays, it's got to be
  *MIGHTY* important or I just say "No, I'm not travelling for DEC".


  Of course, there is a side-effect:

    o If you (Digital) make working here sufficiently onerous, 
      we'll just say "No" to that too.

                                   Atlant

    I travel *constantly* and 99% of it is directly billable to the client. 
    Digital continually nickels and dimes me (no dessert, set meal
    allowance, no FF miles on rental car, increasingly crummy hotels).
    What do I get in return?:
    
    I get free weekends in Piscataway, NJ, complete with 14 hour workdays,
    away from my family.  Piscataway is a garden spot compared to Newark,
    Budd Lake, etc.
    
    I get to wait on the sides of highways while AVIS sends a tow truck.
    
    I get to sleep on planes and in airports so I'm halfway human when I
    get back home.
    
    I get to miss my hobbies, clubs, associations, family emergencies,
    birthdays, and anniversaries.
    
    I get to spend evenings and weekends on planes, in rental cars that
    don't even have airbags, and hotels without radios or clocks.
    
    For this, I get enough frequent flier miles to assuage a small amount
    of the pain, but in no way make it worthwhile.  I love my job, the
    people I work with, and being able to serve the client base and
    Digital, but to be honest, if a recruiter called today with something
    involving no travel I'd probably jump.  This based *solely* on
    Digital's ever-more-obnoxious travel policy.
    
    								Tex
    
    (Open invitation to Corporate...select a representative to travel with
    me for two weeks and see what it looks like.  Have someone from
    Corporate *call* me and let me tell them.  Let them look at the resort
    towns I get to spend my time in.  C'mon.  I dare 'em.  The last two
    people that quit our department quit based solely on the travel.)

    RE . Past few 

    I have a better idea . Have your profile
    changed to a Gold card visa ( one with collusion coverage etc etc ). So 
    when it is rented out it will be in your Visa card name and AVIS will
    give the FF mileage. At the time of returning do not take the receipt
    from the AVIS person standing outside. Instead go inside and change the 
    CC to the Digital card. There is no way AVIS can track this and revert
    back the FF miles already credited based on the earlier reservation.
    This is a loop hole in the system !;-).. 
    
    It is a shame that Digital choose not to inform its employees about the 
    changes !!!.. 

    By the way, Did any one hear about a VP who spent nearly $1000 for dinner
    and Vegas shows for himself and six of his DEC cronies at Las Vegas
    recently. ...Now you know where the savings went !!!  -
    

    re: last few...
    
    may I suggest that some of you who feel as I do, do as I did and call
    Corporate Travel and voice your concern?  
    
    We once had a corporate change which was to pay us all bi-weekly in the
    name of "cost cutting".  Such a furor was caused that the change was
    never implemented.
    
    We can get this back... and prevent further reductions.
    
    Thanks for the support.
    
    Tony

    You mean bi-weekly pay is not the norm?
    
    Curious in Canada....

re Note 1436.45 by ICS::BEAN:

>     We can get this back... and prevent further reductions.
  
        May I suggest that if there were to be any concerted effort
        to suggest a change in corporate policy, that it target not
        the loss of FF mileage on renting but some bigger,
        farther-reaching policy such as the so-called "corporate"
        Visa card which travelers are almost forced to carry and use
        -- at OUR risk.

        Bob

    re: .42
    
>  I believe all of this nickel-and-diming of the travelers is designed
>  for one purpose:
>
>    o Make travelling sufficiently onerous that you don't do it.
    
    Well, it worked for me.  I was scheduled to attend training in Dallas
    today (I'm in Detroit), but after looking at the hassles of travelling
    on Company business (I don't have the First Bank Visa), I chose to take
    the A+ certficiation test without benefit of training.
    
    	Stu

Anyone received their renewal Avis Preferred Renter Card lately ??  From the 
cover letter, I quote:

 "Remember, to help you earn air miles while you are travelling on the road, 
  Avis is offering double and triple frequent flyer bonus miles ! When renting 
  now through December 31, 1995, you have the opportunity to earn double and 
  triple bonus miles on weekend and weekly rentals in many of our airline 
  partner programs....."


Sounds like someone in Digital ought to get with Avis and have them generate 
a customized cover letter for us folks who can no longer take advantage of 
these bonus deals......

    i've been "taking advantage" for 3 years.  no lapses.  unless i'm
    lucky, someone is giving you guys a line.

    I got an airline FF statement yesterday.  It had some AVIS miles
    recorded on it.
    
    But, I've taken to devious methods to acquire them, so I don't think
    it's "bogus"... I just think the AVIS folks are tired of fighting with
    us.
    
    
    tony

    Digital called Avis and had them change my frequent flier program to
    benefit Digital!  I had them change it back and expressed supreme
    displeasure.
    
    It would behoove everyone to call Avis and find out if they've done the
    same thing to them.
    
    								Tex

    RE: .-1
    
    >> Digital called Avis and had them change my frequent flier program to
    >>    benefit Digital!  
    
    Can you tell us what it was that they changed??
    

    They changed the account from "BRENT EYSTER" to "DIGITAL EQUIPMENT". 
    Thus, use of my Avis Wizard number even for pleasure made Digital
    accrue miles.  Was I slightly pissed?  You bet!  Surprised they haven't
    changed my bank account to "DIGITAL" yet.  I called and got it changed
    back immediately.
    
    The new policy, by the way, is that you'll never receive frequent flier
    miles for business rental, as Digital "opts for a lower fare instead". 
    This is straight from Thomas Cook, folks.
    
    								Tex

re Note 1436.54 by DPDMAI::EYSTER:

>     They changed the account from "BRENT EYSTER" to "DIGITAL EQUIPMENT". 
  
        Let me get this straight:  they want the *bills* sent to you
        but any benefits sent directly to the company?

        Bob

    just called avis ... the only thing even remotely strange is that they
    did not have a frequent flier number listed for me.  i attribute this
    to a cockpit error on someone's part, as i changed my preference from
    american to united some time back and never followed up to make certain
    it was a done deal.
    
    everything else was just as it was 4 years ago.

    I tend to think this was *not* a cockpit error...

    I called avis on this subject. AVIS told me that Digital called to AVIS
    to remove the FF number from my Wizard account. I told AVIS that I
    applied for Wizard number several years before I joined Digital and hence 
    Digital has no right to modify my private profile or account without my 
    permission.After hearing this, AVIS has put back my FF number. Since I 
    rent a lot from AVIS for my personal use, I want the FF miles for personal 
    rental. They also removed any reference to Digital in my profile.
    
    For business related rental, I will apply for another Wizard number !!!
    Sheesh! What a mess ? What next ! Airline FF mile profiles  or my bank
    account ( Who knows since they already have this number, they will even
    ask for a 2 way access!!!.
    
    Jay Srinivasan.
                                        

    I just called AVIS, too, about my _personal_ Wizard number, and got the
    same story. "Digital" asked for my FF information to be removed. Just
    who the hell do these "Digital" people think they are?
    
    According to the AVIS person, if either a Digital VISA number or a
    Digital discount number is on the card, they're supposed to remove any
    FF numbers.
    
    -Tom

    OK, I just talked to Avis.  Here's the scoop:
    
    My account was changed as follows:
    
    My home address (where the bill for my personal credit card to pay for
    the car comes to) was modified to Digital's home office.
    
    My AA frequent flier number was removed from the account.
    
    Carol Wright @ MKO was added as a note on my account, along with one
    that said "No Frequent Flier Miles".
    
    I'll be sending Carol a note on this and calling her personally.  All
    of this was done without my knowledge or permission, I don't have a
    Digital credit card (and never will), and *no* frequent flier miles
    have accrued for personal *or* business travel for some months.
    
    The AVIS number is (800)331-1212.  Carol's ELF entry is:
    
    Common Name:   CAROL WRIGHT
    Search Surname:  WRIGHT  Search Given Name:  CAROL,  CAROL RENEE
    DTN:  264-1310,  264-1310  Telephone:  603-884-1310
    Intrnl Mail Addr:  MKO1-1/L29  Location:  MKO  Node:  MKOTS4
    Username:  WRIGHT  Org Unit:  CONTROLLER,  CONTROLLER,
    NNEFMC EMPLOYEE DISBURSEMENTS  Position:  SENIOR ACCOUNTING CLERK
    
    Prepare the barbecue.  This, IMHO, amounts to outright theft.
    
    							Tex
    

If you had an "Airline" credit card, you could pay for the tickets on your own
card getting the FF mileage offered by the card issuer in conjunction with the
airline's FF mileage; since YOU buy the tickets, you get the FF mileage for the
flight. Same with rental cars, you book, you charge to your airline card and
you get the double hit of FF miles. 

 OR you can just let Digital take care of it and forgo the FF miles.

Dave

    I've got an AA card and that's what I use.  As a side note, this Wizard
    number was issued to *me* outside of Digital.
    							Tex

    re:61
    
    	I used to be of the opinion that since Digital was paying for the
    airfare, that they should be the one accruing the FF miles. Same with
    rental car perks. Of course, this was while I was under the delusion 
    that the corporate card had the company as the party responsible for 
    the bill, not the actual card holder.
    
    	Speaking for myself, if Digital wants to be the party responsible
    for paying for business expenses, and not have me float them a loan the
    way it currently works with the corporate card, I personally wouldn't
    mind letting them accrue the benifits.
    
    	If a person wants to assume the risks/hassles involved in using a
    personal credit card to pay for business expenses, I'd say it would seem 
    reasonable to let them accrue the benifits.
    
    	Since the bill is now going to the home office, does that mean that
    they are paying for it directly ?
    
    	Ray

    Digital negotiates the AWD terms with AVIS if you want to use Digital's
    AWD then you live by Digital's rules. Digital messing with anybody's
    PERSONAL wizard number is an entirely different matter. For personal
    rentals one can often do better than the AWD rate by using weekend
    specials but for weekday business travel it's pretty darn cheap. Got
    time to kill in an airport sometime just hang around the AVIS counter
    and gasp at the prices that people actually pay. 

Re .61
    
    
    
    >Carol Wright @ MKO was added as a note on my account, along with one
    >that said "No Frequent Flier Miles".
    
    >I'll be sending Carol a note on this and calling her personally.  All
    >of this was done without my knowledge or permission.
    
    Tex,
    
    I tried calling Carol on this. Her voice mail says that she is on short 
    term disability since Aug 11. So the change was requested from AVIS at
    least few months ago !!
    
    
    
   
    

Or else it wasn't Carol herself who said to note her name there.  She might
be surprised to discover it, so perhaps it's premature to send off the
letter bombs.

___Pete

Also, for what it's worth, I almost always get a LOWER RATE with AVIS if I use
my AAA membership discount than if I use DECITAL corporate rates. 

Dave

    I just called AVIS at the number in a previous note.  The YL there was
    extremely polite... and confirmed that in fact my profile did reflect
    no FF number (so, someone did in fact remove it).  She was happy to
    replace the number.
    
    Tony