Work trip to Boston - struggling/anxious over arrangements
Discussion
Hi all,
This is embarrassing but I've got myself really worked up by a work trip to Boston. The location is slightly irrelevant as it often happens when I'm going to meet people I don't know and can't visualise the office, the people, the atmosphere etc.
One reason that I am struggling is there are so many variables:
This is embarrassing but I've got myself really worked up by a work trip to Boston. The location is slightly irrelevant as it often happens when I'm going to meet people I don't know and can't visualise the office, the people, the atmosphere etc.
One reason that I am struggling is there are so many variables:
- I would like to arrive several days before the presentation with my partner for a few days break how do I plan, pay, claim expenses for this.
- I need to probably leave the same day as the presentation, just after to get back home as I have meeting in London two days after.
- A US colleague I've never met said he has booked a hotel near the place the night before. Do I stay there, which means moving over on the day before? It makes sense as the presentation is at 7am the next day so it would be good to be nearby. I don't want to be anti-social by saying "no I will stay with my GF... etc..." but equally I don't want the hassle of checking out of one hotel we've been in for several days, to then go over to another.
- What do I wear/bring? The client already said "business casual no ties". But I am reluctant to take a suit jacket for a 3 hour presentation, although it would make me feel anxious to not bring this as I have a weird phobia about being under dressed or sticking out for the wrong reason. Although in my experience absolutely no one cares - but I still panic.
- What class do I book? I read on a policy something about 7+ hour flights can be premium economy. But then I don't want to book an expedia package or something as I'll struggle to separate the hotel costs out. My boss (who has not responded) is generally relaxed and I doubt he would care that much... once again just working myself up.
- Friday 3: Arrive in Boston around mid-afternoon and have the weekend there
- Monday 6: US colleague in Boston (I could offer to meet up for dinner or something?)
- Tuesday 7: Presentation to the client between 7am and 10am (It's a weird time as others are dialling in remotely from different areas). Flight home.
- Wednesday 8: Hopefully at home and chilling out
- Thursday 9: London for a two hour work meeting
Most of the stress seems to be coming from combining a work and a social trip.
Take your girlfriend away another time and turn this over to your corp travel team to make all the bookings/payments.
If you're doing a presentation, definitely take a jacket - or buy one there when you arrive if you really don't want to pack one
Take your girlfriend away another time and turn this over to your corp travel team to make all the bookings/payments.
If you're doing a presentation, definitely take a jacket - or buy one there when you arrive if you really don't want to pack one
Mr Pointy said:
How far apart is the hotel they have booked for you & where you want to stay for the weekend? Can you either stay at the booked hotel or find one mid-way?
Logon Airport (the main airport) to the client site is 34 miles away. Google Maps shows it can take 1 to 1.5 hours to travel there by car due to bad traffic. 
It is half way between Boston Airport and Providence just for your reference. If the meeting finishes at 10am local time maps say it can take about an hour.
Here are google directions to the approximate areas: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Boston+Logan+Inter...
Pincher said:
Boston is a great city and there is plenty to see and do, so hopefully you’ll be able to spend the weekend relaxing and not stressing out 
Thank you :-DClaphamGT3 said:
Most of the stress seems to be coming from combining a work and a social trip.
Take your girlfriend away another time and turn this over to your corp travel team to make all the bookings/payments.
If you're doing a presentation, definitely take a jacket - or buy one there when you arrive if you really don't want to pack one
That has crossed my mind, although I feel it's a bit of a wasted opportunity to travel all the way for a 3 hour presentation and not make it into a bit of an experience/holiday. Take your girlfriend away another time and turn this over to your corp travel team to make all the bookings/payments.
If you're doing a presentation, definitely take a jacket - or buy one there when you arrive if you really don't want to pack one
Agree on jacket. I'll take one with me.
Edited by redrabbit29 on Wednesday 17th April 10:07
Edited by redrabbit29 on Wednesday 17th April 10:08
Edited by redrabbit29 on Wednesday 17th April 10:08
redrabbit29 said:
Hi all,
This is embarrassing but I've got myself really worked up by a work trip to Boston. The location is slightly irrelevant as it often happens when I'm going to meet people I don't know and can't visualise the office, the people, the atmosphere etc.
One reason that I am struggling is there are so many variables:
OP I know exactly how you feel, there's nothing unusual about being anxious about the unknown. Ironically, the only way to feel less anxious about it is to do it more and it then becomes a more "known" quantity and thus you'll feel less anxious This is embarrassing but I've got myself really worked up by a work trip to Boston. The location is slightly irrelevant as it often happens when I'm going to meet people I don't know and can't visualise the office, the people, the atmosphere etc.
One reason that I am struggling is there are so many variables:
- I would like to arrive several days before the presentation with my partner for a few days break how do I plan, pay, claim expenses for this.
- I need to probably leave the same day as the presentation, just after to get back home as I have meeting in London two days after.
- A US colleague I've never met said he has booked a hotel near the place the night before. Do I stay there, which means moving over on the day before? It makes sense as the presentation is at 7am the next day so it would be good to be nearby. I don't want to be anti-social by saying "no I will stay with my GF... etc..." but equally I don't want the hassle of checking out of one hotel we've been in for several days, to then go over to another.
- What do I wear/bring? The client already said "business casual no ties". But I am reluctant to take a suit jacket for a 3 hour presentation, although it would make me feel anxious to not bring this as I have a weird phobia about being under dressed or sticking out for the wrong reason. Although in my experience absolutely no one cares - but I still panic.
- What class do I book? I read on a policy something about 7+ hour flights can be premium economy. But then I don't want to book an expedia package or something as I'll struggle to separate the hotel costs out. My boss (who has not responded) is generally relaxed and I doubt he would care that much... once again just working myself up.
- Friday 3: Arrive in Boston around mid-afternoon and have the weekend there
- Monday 6: US colleague in Boston (I could offer to meet up for dinner or something?)
- Tuesday 7: Presentation to the client between 7am and 10am (It's a weird time as others are dialling in remotely from different areas). Flight home.
- Wednesday 8: Hopefully at home and chilling out
- Thursday 9: London for a two hour work meeting
but until then here are a few things that might help from my own experience of this (with myself and others):Taking your GF to spend time with her in advance of the meeting is lovely but quite ambitious! As you've rightly highlighted there's a fair few bits to work out as you haven't done this before. So, not taking her would make the trip less stressful. However, if you do really want to spend the weekend together, I'd suggest booking that part however you want (expedia etc) and then travel to the hotel closer to the meeting the day before. In terms of expenses, have a read of your company policy and if it's not clear just call your boss and tell them what you plan to do. I'd imagine you can expense the hotels for the nights you're approved to be there (so the night before I guess?) and the flights. As long as you can evidence those separate costs and they aren't outside policy there shouldn't be an issue. If you can't separate them then unless you're boss has approved something (like just covering the equivalent airfare) then it'll be an issue I think. If it were me, I wouldn't be doing it just because it would complicate things but it's up to you.
Dress - Take the suit jacket. If you've been told no ties then stick to that but whatever else will make you feel the most comfortable, wear that. You won't be overdressed and even if you are you'll feel more comfortable than being underdressed as you've said.
Definitely meet your colleague the afternoon/evening before for lunch/dinner. Have a chat about the meeting, work out where it is and arrange to meet them before going in. You'll feel far less anxious with someone else heading in together. Shouldn't be hard if you're both staying in the same hotel and that way you can travel back to the airport together maybe.
I've travelled a fair bit for work and have occasionally managed to link this up with my partner joining me or me taking a weekend off in the middle of a trip.
Seems you have a fair few things going around in your head - but they're all pretty simple to resolve.
Expenses and what to claim:
Clearly need to check with whoever signs off your claim - but my approach is to work out what the trip would cost if I was doing it 'just for me' and claim that - in your case this sounds like flight out Monday, Hotel Monday/Tuesday, flight back Tuesday with any taxi fares meals etc. Get your manager to agree to that and put that through as the claim with supporting receipts, even if they are actually for a higher amount - anything you actually incur above that is your cost - simple to do.
Moving hotels:
Difficult to judge without knowing the distances - personally i'd shift myself and GF into the hotel the presentation is being held at on the Monday night given the early start, but you may have a different approach. You'll have plenty of time to do so on the Monday and will be able to leave luggage at the hotel you're checking out of if needed (or at hotel you're checking in to). This will also make the expense claim easier as you won't claim for the Friday to Monday hotel but clearly can for the Monday night hotel and it'll be a different bill.
Meeting colleague:
Personally I would meet up with them for a meal, with the GF in tow too (give the colleague a heads up) - in general our US cousins are uber relaxed and I'd be surprised if this was an issue
What to wear:
They've already given you a clear steer - either business casual (trousers and a sensible shirt) or suit trousers and a smart shirt (personally I'd go for the latter as I generally agree with you in wanting to avoid being under-dressed). But no one will care really.
Flight class:
Up to you - generally on East Coast US (I fly to NC a lot) I don't really care - it's a relatively short hop for me - you won't get any sleep really anyway given the flight attendants will be feeding you for the 1st 2 and last 1 hour anyway. PE will give you more space, obviously, and you'll avoid being squeezed if you get unlucky with a flying companion.
Jetlag:
Personally for that trip I'd avoid jetlag by sticking to UK time as far as possible anyway - will help you in being refreshed on Monday - US tends to eat early anyway - the only thing you'll miss out on is a late night bar etc. in Boston which may or may not be an issue for you. Last time my partner came across and we met in NY for a long weekend she simply couldn't get over the jetlag anyway and we'd be in a bar at 9pm with her falling off her stool as she fell asleep!
Enjoy Boston - never been, although did had a long chat with a Bostonite while waiting for a flight earlier this year - sounds a great city to spend a weekend in.
Seems you have a fair few things going around in your head - but they're all pretty simple to resolve.
Expenses and what to claim:
Clearly need to check with whoever signs off your claim - but my approach is to work out what the trip would cost if I was doing it 'just for me' and claim that - in your case this sounds like flight out Monday, Hotel Monday/Tuesday, flight back Tuesday with any taxi fares meals etc. Get your manager to agree to that and put that through as the claim with supporting receipts, even if they are actually for a higher amount - anything you actually incur above that is your cost - simple to do.
Moving hotels:
Difficult to judge without knowing the distances - personally i'd shift myself and GF into the hotel the presentation is being held at on the Monday night given the early start, but you may have a different approach. You'll have plenty of time to do so on the Monday and will be able to leave luggage at the hotel you're checking out of if needed (or at hotel you're checking in to). This will also make the expense claim easier as you won't claim for the Friday to Monday hotel but clearly can for the Monday night hotel and it'll be a different bill.
Meeting colleague:
Personally I would meet up with them for a meal, with the GF in tow too (give the colleague a heads up) - in general our US cousins are uber relaxed and I'd be surprised if this was an issue
What to wear:
They've already given you a clear steer - either business casual (trousers and a sensible shirt) or suit trousers and a smart shirt (personally I'd go for the latter as I generally agree with you in wanting to avoid being under-dressed). But no one will care really.
Flight class:
Up to you - generally on East Coast US (I fly to NC a lot) I don't really care - it's a relatively short hop for me - you won't get any sleep really anyway given the flight attendants will be feeding you for the 1st 2 and last 1 hour anyway. PE will give you more space, obviously, and you'll avoid being squeezed if you get unlucky with a flying companion.
Jetlag:
Personally for that trip I'd avoid jetlag by sticking to UK time as far as possible anyway - will help you in being refreshed on Monday - US tends to eat early anyway - the only thing you'll miss out on is a late night bar etc. in Boston which may or may not be an issue for you. Last time my partner came across and we met in NY for a long weekend she simply couldn't get over the jetlag anyway and we'd be in a bar at 9pm with her falling off her stool as she fell asleep!
Enjoy Boston - never been, although did had a long chat with a Bostonite while waiting for a flight earlier this year - sounds a great city to spend a weekend in.
My fingers clearly don't type quickly enough
Given the distance from Boston (where I presume you want to spend the weekend) and the presentation hotel I'd definitely travel there on the Monday later afternoon - not on Tuesday morning. I'd get stressed about the journey on Tuesday morning if I didn't.
Given the distance from Boston (where I presume you want to spend the weekend) and the presentation hotel I'd definitely travel there on the Monday later afternoon - not on Tuesday morning. I'd get stressed about the journey on Tuesday morning if I didn't.
C5_Steve said:
OP I know exactly how you feel
Dress - Take the suit jacket.
Definitely meet your colleague
Sorry to cut so much text but thank you for the great advice. Definitely agree with the suit jacket and meeting colleague. Also thanks for the advice about travelling/anxiety etc. It's the same when this happens and each time it's absolutely fine. Dress - Take the suit jacket.
Definitely meet your colleague
sleepezy said:
Expenses and what to claim: my approach is to work out what the trip would cost if I was doing it 'just for me' and claim that
Difficult to judge without knowing the distances - personally i'd shift myself and GF into the hotel the presentation is being held at on the Monday night
Meeting colleague: Personally I would meet up with them for a meal, with the GF in tow too
Thank you, that's a really really helpful post. The claiming is slightly different to what you described as I'd be flying out several days before. However, your point still stands and is very useful.Difficult to judge without knowing the distances - personally i'd shift myself and GF into the hotel the presentation is being held at on the Monday night
Meeting colleague: Personally I would meet up with them for a meal, with the GF in tow too
I just found out that the meeting is 35 miles outside of Boston. So definitely will move there on the Monday and will meet my colleague there. I will then travel back into Boston after to get a flight back.
My colleague is US based, only spoke for the first time yesterday. Once I've made decisions I'll let him know my full plans including on whether GF will be with me or not.
sleepezy said:
My fingers clearly don't type quickly enough
Given the distance from Boston (where I presume you want to spend the weekend) and the presentation hotel I'd definitely travel there on the Monday later afternoon - not on Tuesday morning. I'd get stressed about the journey on Tuesday morning if I didn't.
Yep definitely doing that. That's helped me decide one thing at least. Given the distance from Boston (where I presume you want to spend the weekend) and the presentation hotel I'd definitely travel there on the Monday later afternoon - not on Tuesday morning. I'd get stressed about the journey on Tuesday morning if I didn't.
...............
All this for a 3 hour meeting!!!
[quote=redrabbit29
This is embarrassing but I've got myself really worked up by a work trip to Boston. The location is slightly irrelevant as it often happens when I'm going to meet people I don't know and can't visualise the office, the people, the atmosphere etc.
I would like to arrive several days before the presentation with my partner for a few days break how do I plan, pay, claim expenses for this.
A US colleague I've never met said he has booked a hotel near the place the night before. Do I stay there, which means moving over on the day before? It makes sense as the presentation is at 7am the next day so it would be good to be nearby. I don't want to be anti-social by saying "no I will stay with my GF... etc..." but equally I don't want the hassle of checking out of one hotel we've been in for several days, to then go over to another.
I assume you ar+paying for her airfare personally but would get your company travel booker to book both at the same time so you can guarantee you sit together.
Possible Agenda - all in May
[/quote]
I’ve annotated above with thoughts. I’ve been to the USA on business over the years around 100 times including 3 week trips and down to just one day visits.
Boston is a great city and plenty to do.
Hope it all works out well.
This is embarrassing but I've got myself really worked up by a work trip to Boston. The location is slightly irrelevant as it often happens when I'm going to meet people I don't know and can't visualise the office, the people, the atmosphere etc.
I would like to arrive several days before the presentation with my partner for a few days break how do I plan, pay, claim expenses for this.
- Depends on how generous your manager / company is about this both in money and time but arriving Saturday wouldn’t normally be out of the question for a Monday am mtg.
A US colleague I've never met said he has booked a hotel near the place the night before. Do I stay there, which means moving over on the day before? It makes sense as the presentation is at 7am the next day so it would be good to be nearby. I don't want to be anti-social by saying "no I will stay with my GF... etc..." but equally I don't want the hassle of checking out of one hotel we've been in for several days, to then go over to another.
- 35 miles really isn’t any distance by US standards but If you are staying in Boston then personally I would stay there say Sat , Sun and then go to the hotel Monday pm stay over and present on Tuesday and leave from there.
- Just take a jacket on the plane.
- Business class will no doubt be more pleasant and relaxing but if your companies policy is 7 hours pe then no decision to make.
I assume you ar+paying for her airfare personally but would get your company travel booker to book both at the same time so you can guarantee you sit together.
Possible Agenda - all in May
- Friday 3: Arrive in Boston around mid-afternoon and have the weekend there
- Monday 6: US colleague in Boston (I could offer to meet up for dinner or something?)
- Tuesday 7: Presentation to the client between 7am and 10am (It's a weird time as others are dialling in remotely from different areas). Flight home.
- Wednesday 8: Hopefully at home and chilling out
- Thursday 9: London for a two hour work meeting
[/quote]
I’ve annotated above with thoughts. I’ve been to the USA on business over the years around 100 times including 3 week trips and down to just one day visits.
Boston is a great city and plenty to do.
Hope it all works out well.
I'd probably leave the GF at home. Do a trip another time. Saves any question of whether you're taking the piss, and is less stress.
Flying in Sat isn't a bad idea to have a chance to do some sightseeing and flights can be cheaper if they include a Saturday night stay.
Looks like book time for LHR to Boston is around 7 hours, so if you can get PE then great. Virgin and BA offer premium economy to Boston direct. Of these 2, I personally prefer Virgin's PE product, although BA Avios are easier to redeem if you're planning on starting collecting air miles.
Get a copy of your company travel policy. Read it and stick to it. Don't take the piss on expenses. As others have said, your company should be booking things for you rather than you booking them and claiming them. I'd ask first before doing anything. If any of your colleagues travel frequently for work, it's worth asking them what the 'real' experience is also (e.g. if they say $50 for dinner, are you allowed to include drinks?).
Definitely meet the colleague for dinner and definitely go in the nearer hotel.
Flying in Sat isn't a bad idea to have a chance to do some sightseeing and flights can be cheaper if they include a Saturday night stay.
Looks like book time for LHR to Boston is around 7 hours, so if you can get PE then great. Virgin and BA offer premium economy to Boston direct. Of these 2, I personally prefer Virgin's PE product, although BA Avios are easier to redeem if you're planning on starting collecting air miles.
Get a copy of your company travel policy. Read it and stick to it. Don't take the piss on expenses. As others have said, your company should be booking things for you rather than you booking them and claiming them. I'd ask first before doing anything. If any of your colleagues travel frequently for work, it's worth asking them what the 'real' experience is also (e.g. if they say $50 for dinner, are you allowed to include drinks?).
Definitely meet the colleague for dinner and definitely go in the nearer hotel.
I was 'paid' (basically all T&S covered) to do a keynote talk at a conference a few years back, so I asked for the cash instead, stayed somewhere cheaper, booked a cheaper flight, and took my wife and son.
It was great... well worth doing... But... I would only do it again if the family bit was tacked on the end and not before. It was too much of a weight hanging over me so detracted from the experience a lot.
Some of my wife's family are from the Boston area (Wayland). The traffic is staggeringly bad getting into the city. DO NOT CUT IT FINE on your timing!
It was great... well worth doing... But... I would only do it again if the family bit was tacked on the end and not before. It was too much of a weight hanging over me so detracted from the experience a lot.
Some of my wife's family are from the Boston area (Wayland). The traffic is staggeringly bad getting into the city. DO NOT CUT IT FINE on your timing!
UPDATE
have managed to get all this booked (Hotel + Flight I mean... going to do parking/ETSA and other bits soon).
I am taking partner and going for a mini-holiday before my presentation. Also, this is a 3 hour presentation on the final day and is more of an interactive training exercise to an existing client.
I mention that as some seemed to think it would be very distracting and someone mentioned meetings, etc. There's one single commitment and that is the 3 hour training input.
Plan is:
Friday: Fly out
Saturday: fun
Sunday: fun
Monday: half fun then get Uber for 45-60 minutes to other hotel
Tuesday morning: Presentation and then leave
The presentation finishes at 10am and flight isn't until 7pm. But I have found some luggage lockers we can use in Boston and maybe just go for lunch/casual walk around.
I also can't believe how much accommodation costs in Boston. Around £300 a night for anything even remotely decent.
I also managed to get Premium Economy. I could have potentially got it cheaper but it would have been less comfortable and also the option to have economy on the way back wasn't there due to sold out tickets. This is billable work so will go to client who wanted me to travel from the UK to the site for a 3 hour input.
Expect a post on the "Travel" forum asking for ideas!
Thank you everyone, particularly in reference to me feeling a bit overwhelmed by it. This was partly made worse due to sleep issues and other things.
Edited by redrabbit29 on Thursday 18th April 15:11
Sounds like both a plan and you’re in a happier frame of mind so win win.
On the day flying home you’ll be back in Boston circa 11.00 so that’s still a fair few hours to kill.
You may want to consider asking your weekend hotel whether you can store your luggage there or indeed whether you could get a room for the day use.
Trolley bus tour deffo worth a few hours time spent.
If time and weather ok , whale watching trip quite fun.
Generally speaking it’s a nice City to walk around and feels pretty safe.
On the day flying home you’ll be back in Boston circa 11.00 so that’s still a fair few hours to kill.
You may want to consider asking your weekend hotel whether you can store your luggage there or indeed whether you could get a room for the day use.
Trolley bus tour deffo worth a few hours time spent.
If time and weather ok , whale watching trip quite fun.
Generally speaking it’s a nice City to walk around and feels pretty safe.
alscar said:
Sounds like both a plan and you’re in a happier frame of mind so win win.
On the day flying home you’ll be back in Boston circa 11.00 so that’s still a fair few hours to kill.
You may want to consider asking your weekend hotel whether you can store your luggage there or indeed whether you could get a room for the day use.
Trolley bus tour deffo worth a few hours time spent.
If time and weather ok , whale watching trip quite fun.
Generally speaking it’s a nice City to walk around and feels pretty safe.
Thank you, definitely a lot more settled and relaxed. The idea of asking my first hotel (the one where I first arrive and stay for 3 days) crossed my mind too. I doubt they'd care at all, especially if they knew I was going off for a night for a work thing. On the day flying home you’ll be back in Boston circa 11.00 so that’s still a fair few hours to kill.
You may want to consider asking your weekend hotel whether you can store your luggage there or indeed whether you could get a room for the day use.
Trolley bus tour deffo worth a few hours time spent.
If time and weather ok , whale watching trip quite fun.
Generally speaking it’s a nice City to walk around and feels pretty safe.
Thanks for the extra advice about the trolley bus tour. I've heard it's very walkable too.
redrabbit29 said:
On a side note, I just checked the price of hotels and I'm shocked :-o
And NOT your problem. I'm.just on the way back from Eindhoven, waiting at Schpoool.
I was on a training course for 3 days, where in breaks people were trying to.get their day job done. The guy next to.me was in finance at my plant, and had to.log onto the company bank account to download a CSV document and email it to someone in the UK.
I glanced over at the € total. X million.
Suffice to say I had steak for dinner last night.
Didn’t read the bit about hotel costs - yes Boston is certainly one of the more expensive Cities to stay not helped by the fact that many conventions are held there.
I used to stay at the Langham for longer stays ( generous travel budget ) but the Marriott Long Wharf was cheaper and equally convenient for Logan airport - especially using their water taxis.
I used to stay at the Langham for longer stays ( generous travel budget ) but the Marriott Long Wharf was cheaper and equally convenient for Logan airport - especially using their water taxis.
I missed your original question before you'd got it all sorted.
I'm another who's constantly on flights all over the world, to places I've never been, to see clients I've never met before, often in countries I wouldn't visit by choice...
I think you've just got to break everything down into small chunks rather than getting overwhelmed by so many different aspects at once.
Regarding travelling with your wife, it's usually just a case of booking everything completely separately. Can be tricky if you're not booking 'room only' at hotels of course, but generally just keep everything completely separate.
Clients don't get to decide whether the flight out is too many days before the meeting - all that matters is they're paying for a return ticket, for you, in the appropriate class. Not the details of dates.
Clearly meals and hotel bills need to be separated out as far as which bits are a jolly and which 'business'.
Look like you've got it all sussed out anyway. Have fun!
I'm another who's constantly on flights all over the world, to places I've never been, to see clients I've never met before, often in countries I wouldn't visit by choice...
I think you've just got to break everything down into small chunks rather than getting overwhelmed by so many different aspects at once.
Regarding travelling with your wife, it's usually just a case of booking everything completely separately. Can be tricky if you're not booking 'room only' at hotels of course, but generally just keep everything completely separate.
Clients don't get to decide whether the flight out is too many days before the meeting - all that matters is they're paying for a return ticket, for you, in the appropriate class. Not the details of dates.
Clearly meals and hotel bills need to be separated out as far as which bits are a jolly and which 'business'.
Look like you've got it all sussed out anyway. Have fun!
Thank you - I think you're right to have this "not my issue" attitude. I spent way too long trying to adjust the prices, locations, worrying about this being too much. I messaged my Director who ignored me. So I booked it and then told him after, he eventually replied and said "that's OK, it is expensive to travel now".
I travelled a few times recently to places in Europe and each time got annoyed that I didn't pay for extras like Speedy boarding, or choosing my own set, etc. Especially as I was stood in the airport, tired and a bit stressed, in a big queue of holiday makers whilst I was was worrying about the cost of checking in a bag.
...
I couldn't separate the cost but I have submitted the receipts with a reduced claim,
E.g.
£1000 receipt but I claim £300 or something as the rest is on top of the business cost.
My company are flexible and easy going. We're a consultancy so doubt they'd care.
I travelled a few times recently to places in Europe and each time got annoyed that I didn't pay for extras like Speedy boarding, or choosing my own set, etc. Especially as I was stood in the airport, tired and a bit stressed, in a big queue of holiday makers whilst I was was worrying about the cost of checking in a bag.
...
I couldn't separate the cost but I have submitted the receipts with a reduced claim,
E.g.
£1000 receipt but I claim £300 or something as the rest is on top of the business cost.
My company are flexible and easy going. We're a consultancy so doubt they'd care.
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