Taking the money for air tickets

nathan61
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 11:08 pm

Taking the money for air tickets

Post by nathan61 »

My contract says that we get yearly airfare back to our home of record. Does anybody know if it is common for schools to give the money to teachers who do not wish to go home for the summer?

Before I go to the administration I just want to see what other schools are doing. Any insight is appreciated.
IAMBOG
Posts: 388
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:20 pm

Post by IAMBOG »

At my school, generally not, however, they will look at it on a case by case basis and have come to arrangements in the past.
gengrant
Posts: 67
Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2007 11:54 pm

Post by gengrant »

I have heard different stories depending on the school - essentially it comes down to a "you won't know if you don't ask" situation. Best thing to do is approach your admin and ask the question. They should be able to give you a definitive answer.
CaliPro
Posts: 209
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2011 12:08 pm
Location: United States

Post by CaliPro »

seems to me the other teachers at the school will know the policy.

id ask them before asking admin.
scribe
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:18 am

Post by scribe »

We've taught at six international schools - at each one, our home leave allowance was based on the best price the school could find to get us to our home of record and back. We could take the money and try to find a better price on our own going home, thus pocketing the difference, or we could travel elsewhere if we wished. We could also just opt to have them get the tickets for us. We exercised each option at least a couple times.
sid
Posts: 1392
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:44 am

Post by sid »

Scribe has described what seems to me the most common approach. But everyplace is different.
Some schools will only buy a ticket - if you don't want a ticket, you get nothing. I think those are rare situations.
Most schools are more reasonable, recognizing that people's lives and travel needs are very individual.
Ask around your school. It should be easy to find out from colleagues. Hearing from us, strangers in other schools, won't help you if your school uses a policy that doesn't get you what you want.
nathan61
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 11:08 pm

Post by nathan61 »

Our administrator told me she would "work something out," which is encouraging. It seems to me it wouldn't make any difference to the school, because it is the same amount of money either way. It is a lot of money though because tickets to the USA are expensive from here.

We have a new director, and my wife and I have worked here longer than other foreign hires, so I cant really go off precedent since this situation hasn't come up before.
Briz
Posts: 150
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:36 am

Post by Briz »

My school gives 1/2 if you do not return to point of origin. Want to go to another country, fine half, want to stay in country and explore, fine half. That settles most disputes. Also half requires no receipts, full fare requires you prove you went to home of record.
OnlySolution
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:53 pm
Location: Moscow, Russia

Post by OnlySolution »

My school provides the same lump sum to each teacher, paid half in the fall and half in the spring. Travel or don't - either way you get the money.
Crgallen22
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 10:43 am

Post by Crgallen22 »

My school provides each teacher with a set flight allowance paid in two installments (October and April). It usually covers my roundtrip flight from Eastern Europe to the US at winter break and summer break.
buffalofan
Posts: 350
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:08 pm

Post by buffalofan »

One thing to keep in mind is that the cash equivalent may be fully taxable locally depending on which country you work in, whereas a school-provided ticket would usually not be.
cdn
Posts: 87
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:27 am

Post by cdn »

My school has a set amount they give to each teacher, and extra for dependents (very generous amounts - business class amounts). We submit our tickets and they refund us the money assuming it is under the set amount. My wife and I aren't going home this summer, but we are allowed to use the mid contract allowance for travel within that school year.
indogal
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 3:33 pm

Post by indogal »

I have heard legends about schools flying their employees business class (usually just for the first flight into the school & last flight out back home after completing their contract) but is it actually true?

Does anyone know of schools that actually do this? And if so, could you tell us which schools?
Nomads
Posts: 152
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2013 2:08 pm

Post by Nomads »

A business class ticket for teachers is pretty rare. Some schools will provide full fare economy, which allows the teachers to buy an economy class ticket and pocket the difference.
dover2013
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:30 am

Post by dover2013 »

[quote="indogal"]I have heard legends about schools flying their employees business class (usually just for the first flight into the school & last flight out back home after completing their contract) but is it actually true?

Does anyone know of schools that actually do this? And if so, could you tell us which schools?[/quote]

Some oil company schools do this on start up for the initial contracts, sometimes two flights a year. Teachers who "were there from the start" will be on these deals in some of these schools as they are in on a grandfather clause. Unlikely to apply to new staff.
Post Reply