THAI execs, staff have to cut back on travel

[webfact]

THAI execs, staff have to cut back on travel

By THE NATION

 

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) is trying to reduce expenditures on staff travel, another measure aimed at easing the national airline’s debt and sustaining financial liquidity in accordance with a fiscal rehabilitation plan.

 

“The company will suspend or postpone sending staff for training, attending meetings or working elsewhere domestically and overseas unless it’s important or it could have a negative impact on the company if they’re not sent,” said executive vice president Suvimol Bualerd.

 

He said the airline will be prepared well in advance for staff trips overseas to avoid having to get them visas urgently, which costs more, especially on trips to Europe.

 

Staffs per-diem travel allowances will be halved and the number of staff permitted to travel and their allocated days will be limited.

 

Suvimol said managing directors and other top executives will be asked to limit their requests for travel expenses domestically and abroad to what is already specified in current regulations.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30378139

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-11-07

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[madmen]

How about the generals and high ranking Govt officials, will they be kicked out of 1st class? those seats are expensive

[thequietman]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Suvimol said managing directors and other top executives will be asked to limit their requests for travel expenses domestically and abroad to what is already specified in current regulations.

 

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

he company will suspend or postpone sending staff for training, attending meetings or working elsewhere domestically and overseas unless it’s important

So, one can only assume that overseas trips before were predominantly Not Important?  and ..................

 

staff were routinely spending more on expenses than was allowed?   LOL ????

[colinneil]

Notice it is the staff having to cut back on the freebies, what about all the hi-so hangers on?

Cut back their perks, encourage staff by giving a small freebie now and again, then maybe the airline has a chance of survival.

[Creasy]

Do you know who I am ?

[Just1Voice]

17 minutes ago, madmen said:

How about the generals and high ranking Govt officials, will they be kicked out of 1st class? those seats are expensive

Yeah, when Hell freezes over. lol 

 

[z42]

If they can halve these costs like they're proposing I dread to think just how inflated they were originally.

Just let this ghastly outfit die. 

[BobbyL]

Well, if that is fully implemented then at least they are beginning to release the issues. 

[Somtamnication]

So THAI staff should book on Vietjet, AirAsia and Nok Air. Good idea that is!

[GinBoy2]

So all airlines carry 'non rev' passengers.

 

I work for Delta, and yes I can travel for free. But my ability to get on any plane depends on the availability of empty non paying passenger seats.

 

TG seems to have flipped that on it's head, where certain categories of non rev passengers seem to take precedent over revenue paying passengers.

 

Of course if the fare structure is such that you actually can't fill revenue seats, then it's almost a moot point how many freeloaders you carry

[holy cow cm]

I agree to a point, but how about the free tickets for family members and such that get abused? The wealthy hi so's should not be privileged just because of titles either. I would suspect they will start hitting with more blocks on the frequent flyer miles that passengers pay hard money for and earn. Hit the peons up in their books is how it will be. 

[Misterwhisper]

A Thai air hostess once told me (although that was many years ago) her entire family was entitled to free tickets just because she was working for the airline. And believe me when I'm saying that she had about 200 aunts and uncles, some 478 cousins as well as 600 or so of assorted nephews and nieces. Yes, I'm exaggerating but I guess you'll get my point. If a mere hostess received such perks, one only can wonder what was in for high-flying executive staff at the time.  

[seajae]

 "top executives will be asked to limit their requests for travel expenses domestically and abroad to what is already specified in current regulations", now this would really help seeing they currently let them do as they please, stop the freebie flights for all these people and of course the hi-so's and they might start seeing more money coming in 

[mok199]

More room service...These slippery entitled cival servants will find a way ....

[ChipButty]

I knew a guy who was shagging one of them trolly dollies used to fly everywhere for free and stay in her hotel room for free 

[nursebob]

3 hours ago, madmen said:

How about the generals and high ranking Govt officials, will they be kicked out of 1st class? those seats are expensive

what about the Thai executives setting by example. they are part of the team.

[new2here]

2 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

So all airlines carry 'non rev' passengers.

 

I work for Delta, and yes I can travel for free. But my ability to get on any plane depends on the availability of empty non paying passenger seats.

 

TG seems to have flipped that on it's head, where certain categories of non rev passengers seem to take precedent over revenue paying passengers.

 

Of course if the fare structure is such that you actually can't fill revenue seats, then it's almost a moot point how many freeloaders you carry

Here I agree.  I think it’s one thing to allow a person to *confirm* themselves into F or C/J cabins (known as NRPS or Non Revenue Positive Space) at the original time of booking...  

 

I think it’s something else IF they are originally booked into Y and then late - at some point prior to travel [I’d say 24hrs or even as the flight moves to airport control (day of departure, or less)] the booking can be changed into F or CJ but only *IF* seats remain unconfirmed in those premium cabins at that late point in time.

 

in the end so long as no PAID passengers are displaced out of a premium cabin then I think there’s no real economic issue being created.

 

yes. adding a NRPS does add some cost... as example, catering in premium cabins is expensive compared to that of economy... while there is some added fuel burn due to carrying the NRPS passenger (and their baggage if any [but here I’d cut NRPS baggage allowances to economy class levels unless approved by a higher level authority due to business need] that added fuel cost tends to be nominal at best .... NRPS passengers aren’t usually allowed premium ground services like lounge access/services/products... 

 

so... carrying a NRPS passenger doesn’t add tons of costs - catering usually being one of the largest individually identifiable cost... but the *possible* DISPLACEMENT of a paying (revenue) passenger in one of these cabins is where I think the real revenue risk is at.

[ChipButty]

I must admit to taking advantage of BA's staff privileges a couple of times when working at Crainbank on the other side of Heathrow where all the training centers where and we were allowed to use the staff canteens and on the notice boards where all these holidays I see one 90 pounds 5 days in Rio return flights including hotel Id been chatting one of the staff up so I asked her fancy 5 days in Rio I'll pay no problem of we go, good time was had by all

[happy chappie]

Thailand,the country that only can see a problem after the ship hits the fan.i say buy a load of new planes and stick the fares up,oh no sorry they've thought of that already.

i just looked at thai v British airways to London which both are direct.thai £798 or BA at £642.its a no brainer really.

[joloit]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I knew a guy who was shagging one of them trolly dollies used to fly everywhere for free and stay in her hotel room for free 

 

The  “trolly dollies”, as you call them, are there to save your <deleted> should something happen. Not very funny, sir!!

[GinBoy2]

2 hours ago, new2here said:

Here I agree.  I think it’s one thing to allow a person to *confirm* themselves into F or C/J cabins (known as NRPS or Non Revenue Positive Space) at the original time of booking...  

 

I think it’s something else IF they are originally booked into Y and then late - at some point prior to travel [I’d say 24hrs or even as the flight moves to airport control (day of departure, or less)] the booking can be changed into F or CJ but only *IF* seats remain unconfirmed in those premium cabins at that late point in time.

 

in the end so long as no PAID passengers are displaced out of a premium cabin then I think there’s no real economic issue being created.

 

yes. adding a NRPS does add some cost... as example, catering in premium cabins is expensive compared to that of economy... while there is some added fuel burn due to carrying the NRPS passenger (and their baggage if any [but here I’d cut NRPS baggage allowances to economy class levels unless approved by a higher level authority due to business need] that added fuel cost tends to be nominal at best .... NRPS passengers aren’t usually allowed premium ground services like lounge access/services/products... 

 

so... carrying a NRPS passenger doesn’t add tons of costs - catering usually being one of the largest individually identifiable cost... but the *possible* DISPLACEMENT of a paying (revenue) passenger in one of these cabins is where I think the real revenue risk is at.

It's a complex issue.

 

On the purely operational side, when we load a plane, we send send numbers for passengers, cargo, fuel, which simply are designed for the crew to calculate flight parameters, nothing to do with the economics of the flight.

 

Catering a premium cabin is a cost, but the industry rule is that it's catered assuming a 100% load, so regardless of whether it's rev or non rev doesn't change the cost equation. Now the for revenue thats a different question.

 

TG's basic problem, which until they finally address this is the achilles heel, is that the cost per revenue seat per plane is too high.

 

You can argue constantly about whether they give away too many seats to HoSo's or whatever, but fuel burn per seat is the biggest drag.

 

In general all airlines work on an assumption that you need 80% plus, depending on the aircraft, load factor to at least break even.

 

The aircraft mix, which is the current argument is nonsense. You can operate a fleet 20 years old so long as you manage it correctly.

 

Delta operates the majority of the now aging B717's or as they were MD95's. But they found a way to put them on medium haul routes that makes them a ton of money on an aircraft long since paid for.

 

So all I'm trying to say is, that the airline biz is complex, it's tough but with good management it can be done, something TG or at least it's Government Masters seem incapable of!

 

TG struggles with that basic assumption  

Edited November 7, 2019 by GinBoy2

[G950]

How about they upgrade business class and add a decent premium economy because their current offerings are worst in class - prehistoric in design and the seats are worn out complete with bits hanging off them.

 

Those 2 classes account for 2/3 of the planes revenue and pretty much all of the profit but no one paying for those seats on Thai.

[neeray]

10 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

A Thai air hostess once told me (although that was many years ago) her entire family was entitled to free tickets just because she was working for the airline. And believe me when I'm saying that she had about 200 aunts and uncles, some 478 cousins as well as 600 or so of assorted nephews and nieces. Yes, I'm exaggerating but I guess you'll get my point. If a mere hostess received such perks, one only can wonder what was in for high-flying executive staff at the time.  

I was so relieved when I read your words "I'm exaggerating". Until I read those two words, my head was spinning about the numbers in the clan. I kept thinking, "gawd, these people must breed like rabbits".

[mikebell]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Suvimol said managing directors and other top executives will be asked to limit their requests for travel expenses

What if, when asked, they say 'No.'?

[ChipButty]

13 minutes ago, mikebell said:

What if, when asked, they say 'No.'?

Big Ploblem

[RJRS1301]

How do they legally cut the per diem for staff, surely that is protected under employment contracts?

The executives are not under the same travel constraints, and I guess will still be with the other uniforms in pointy end of the aircraft.

Staff taking the brunt and no heads lost at the top for poor governance.

 

[petercouz]

I stopped using Thai Airways long ago as my preferred airline - the loyalty scheme is terrible, with points upgrades very hard to get even if you try to book months in advance - in my view because the upgrade go to the elite Thais - people like me hardly get a chance. Also the quality of the food and wine has really gone down over the years - the last time i was was in Business (a few years ago now!) the cheese platter was two bits of cheddar a Baby Bell, four grapes and and crackers in a packet that was almost impossible to open - there is no trolley with choices etc - this is why you pay to go business , to get a lovely experience - it is pretty woeful these last ten years or more.

My experience in economy is not great either - i like a couple of glasses of wine with my food - they always serve the food first and the wine comes around last so that your food is finished, and trying to get a second glass is hard work - they go round so quickly that you hardly have time to grab them - it is really grudgingly given out - it is very poor service.

My last gripe is that they nearly always use the runway in Suwanrnibumi to park their planes, even if gates are available - long haul planes, too, not just the small short haul - very annoying! I can only think that is cost saving, but bloody annoying for the passengers, especially the passengers who have genuinely paid good money for the premium class.

 

[legend49]

None of this BS will make me change my preferred airline. We all know any Thai strategy can barely last 2 weeks.

[Dukeleto]

Simply remove all free flight priviledges for everyone until they are back in the black and then return them at a sensible level that is actially sustainable. Common sense so naturally that wont be used.

[Hayduke]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

THAI execs, staff have to cut back on travel

 

Which means Thai execs, military generals and other assorted hi-sos...will now have to put their personal servants, cooks, drivers, gardeners, fortune tellers, masseuses, manicurists, luggage carriers, jewelry polishers, food tasters, laundry girls, fruit peelers, shoe shiners and other essential 'staff' in Economy-class seats.

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2019 by Hayduke