Deviation Ticket question
 

Asking for a non-social media friend:

Is it possible to purchase a ticket via Global Travel months in advance? And if so, how?

This guy wants to travel to a destination months from now (this summer) which will have a block time greater than 5 hours and they want to ensure they are in first class when the time comes. Is there a way to buy a ticket now and hold on to it until that later date? The person has seniority to hold trips pretty much whenever he wants, so he can pretty much guarantee that they are operating within 3 days of departure. From what I am told, when he goes to the Deviation and Deadheads screen they can select an April trip and try to book a ticket. However, with the information added it states, No flight available for this request. (I actually tried this myself and I see the same thing.) Is it too early? Or is it not even possible? Not sure if he called GT, but by asking me, I am assuming not. :D (If I remember right, I think GT asks what trip to attach it to, but I rarely call them, so I really can't remember.)

I thought I would put this out there to see if any of you had seen this done.

SF

No idea, he could probably buy it on his own card form the airlines website and the Out of pocket expense it when the time comes.

Call GT. They can book it without attaching it to a trip. Obviously, when it comes to expensing it, he’ll have to attach it to a trip. He can also call GT after his/her schedule comes out and have them attach it to a trip to.


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Just book it through vips off one of his current trips.

However, that is an issue when it shows up on your expense report and you can’t attach it to anything. What I did for over 20 years was to buy tickets on my personal credit card, and then file for reimbursement if I was able to attach the ticket within three days of a trip. Never, ever had a problem getting reimbursed if it was within contract parameters.

It shouldn’t show up in the expense report until after the date of the ticket right?

Sounds like a pretty good option. I'll pass it on. He'll just be out of pocket the money from now until the expense report finally closes out. :rolleyes:

Sounds like a plan if it works out. I'll let the guy know.

That was the problem. VIPS wouldn't or couldn't get a ticket that far out. My guess after trying this myself was that the fares weren't loaded in the VIPS system yet.

I think it will probably sit at the bottom of the Airline Ticket screen in the "Tickets for Future Travel" (or whatever it's called) until after the travel date. Then I think you're forced to attach it to a trip to move it to the expense report.

you are correct, I forgot about that part of that page.

I've been doing this for 20+ years. I use my personal CC and then expense it when the time comes as an "out of pocket" expense including a copy of the receipt and boarding pass.

Do they accept screen shots of digital tickets? Or do you need to copy a paper ticket?

Screenshots work fine. Some people have commented that a screenshot of their boarding pass have also been accepted in lieu of a screenshot of the receipt. Not quite sure how that matches up to the OOPE reimbursement they've claimed happened.

Personally, I think using your Personal Card to purchase deviation tickets is a bit like playing with fire. CBA has long said the Company Card should be used for all expenses unless the vendor doesn't take it. Add in the painful truth that past practices haven't always protected us in issues decided by a "neutral" arbitrator along with just how Long it takes for an expense report to close out and actually reimburse you for expenses (like a mileage claim for driving to\from a DH trip) and I'll simply just keep using my Company Card for the occasional deviation ticket purchase.

Just tagging on to this thread to ask a semi-related question:

- Fastest/easiest way to get from the OAK ramp to SFO pax terminals? BART? Lyft/Uber? Other?
- How much time should I realistically budget to get from OAK to SFO?

Just trying to pregame some DH flight options. Thanks.

Hard to estimate Uber/Lyft. The other day I landed in SFO and was looking to Uber to an airport hotel a few miles away and it was $65. Can’t imagine what it would cost to go across the bay during the surge.

Try Blacklane. At least you’ll know the cost in advance and it’ll be door to door limo service with a professional driver.


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Hmm, if you get it through GT, and you attach it to a trip, seems like it would show up in the month of that trip, even if the travel date is later. If you put it on your corporate cc, it would show up when that charge clears. That’s why I just used my personal credit card and got reimbursed, too complicated otherwise, if you’re buying a ticket many months early.

Never, ever had a problem getting reimbursed using my personal credit card, in decades. If you’re buying a cheap ticket months out, I’ve never figured out any other way. And it’s great to get reimbursement for your vacations. However, there’s always a first time to get screwed, I guess.

you can call Friendly Cab at (510) 536-3000 and schedule it. It’s a $85 set fee from oak ramp to sfo (at least it was a year ago)

I’m in same situation and am experimenting. I bought a FC ticket for May and used Company credit card. It showed up on expense report website and I was able to ignore it until another charge showed up that I had to reconcile for Feb report. That forced me to address it. I put in the May travel date and flight number and tried to assign it to a April trip (not within 3 days). It accepted it but assigned it a tag of “unauthorized “. I figure when I get my May schedule I’ll “remove” the credit card charge form May report and when it shows back up on the credit card page I’ll redo the info and assign it to a qualifying May trip.
Anyone else try this route? Will update as month progresses…..

I was told by the security screeners in OAK that Uber does not come to the ramp. I've never ops checked that, but Lyft worked just fine.

My experience is that Uber treats the airport like one giant block on the map. While Lyft actually cuts out the non-terminal/fenced parts on the map for pick up. At least that is the case in DTW. Uber will always just place the pin at the terminal and there is no way to put it at the ramp. While Lyft will let me place it right at the ramp.