Per Diem question
 

Quick question for you guys. How do companies typically pay your per diem? I see examples such as "$1.50/hr domestic; $2.00/hr international," so does that mean they pay that based on your duty time, flight time, or total time away from home?

Thanks!

At Skywest it's total time away from base. A typical 4 day is about 84 hours away from base, so about 84 * $1.60 total per diem.

What if it's a 1 day trip? Do you still get per diem? What counts as "away from base"? Is it takeoff time or pushback time?

At my company it's duty in to duty out. Even if you're sitting around the airport on ready reserve, it counts as time away from base.

It is typically from the time you duty in until you duty out. If it is a one day trip you still get per diem, the only difference is the IRS wants a piece of it. On your paycheck you'll see "taxable per diem" for day trips and "non-taxable per diem" for overnights.

Great guys, thanks. I was just curious as I'm looking into the cargo/charter companies that do a lot of Int'l stuff, such as ATI, Omni, etc. At my company we earn per diem from the time we leave on a trip to the time we return. Sounds much like what everyone's saying. :)

Thanks guys.

I work for an IT company and we get paid only in days, not by hours. The rate is $40/day domestic and they also pay on travel days...