Reply to: Hats off to Hector

[TheFaQQer]

I'd go for first class for a long journey for a contract but for 20min? every day?

I used to do London to Slough return each day first class.

But I was billing the agency for their cock up, so I didn't care how much it cost, and I always got a seat.

[TheFaQQer]

I do the NW-London weekly trains and travel first class - for free (every week except 8 a year) by being a member of Virgin Traveller Club.

Absolute bargain and means you get a seat every week (and lots of coffee delivered to your seat first thing on Monday morning)

Absolute bargain once you've paid your small fortune to Virgin, you mean.

And you have to get the free tickets at the right time - when I's paid my fortune to join the club, the trains I needed to catch never had any free seats on them, even booking a month in advance.

[Mich the Tester]

All this extra salary you are saving by travelling on a filthy bus and then 2nd class rail, what are you spending it on?

He'll be spending half of it on tax, which is then handed on to failed bankers and benefit scroungers.

[Mich the Tester]

I am of the "cheap" school. I see no point in paying first class unless it enables me to work or gain in some other way. Just because it is a valid expense does not stop it being a waste of money and at the end of the day it is money off your company profits.

I'd like to agree with you here but I can't; I pay 52% tax on anything I pay myself over 50k euros and if I can get a little enjoyment out of my turnover instead of my profits I will do that; eating a nice meal in the evenings when staying close to clientco is not a 'reward' either; I'd rather be at home eating meatballs and mashed potato with Lady Tester and the lobster and oyster suppers are a tiny compensation for staying away from home all week working my balls off.

[Doggy Styles]

What's the price difference for the train journey?

I'd go for first class for a long journey for a contract but for 20min? every day?

He comes in nearly every day. He's not in today though so I can't ask him.

He gets on at the last stop before Paddington, possibly Slough but I don't know that route too well, I come in to Marylebone.

[Doggy Styles]

All this extra salary you are saving by travelling on a filthy bus and then 2nd class rail, what are you spending it on?

Every week I buy myself something nice from Ann Summers.

I wouldn't, but as I said earlier I haven't got a choice, no first class service you see.

[DimPrawn]

All this extra salary you are saving by travelling on a filthy bus and then 2nd class rail, what are you spending it on?

[manclarky]

WHS.

When I was doing the north-west to London weekly trains, I'd be fine on the way down in standard, then blag a first class upgrade on the return train

I do the NW-London weekly trains and travel first class - for free (every week except 8 a year) by being a member of Virgin Traveller Club.

Absolute bargain and means you get a seat every week (and lots of coffee delivered to your seat first thing on Monday morning)

[jmo21]

I might have to if I want to maintain the proper standards of a contractor.

The contractor who sits next to me at clientco takes a taxi to his station then travels first class for a 20 minute train journey.

Do you think I'm slumming it?

What's the price difference for the train journey?

I'd go for first class for a long journey for a contract but for 20min? every day?

[Ignis Fatuus]

I am of the "cheap" school too. For me, travel on business is part of the business, not a perk. And I am the business. So less money on expenses like travel, means more money for salary.

But I do think that's a decision for my company's director, shareholder, employee etc, and I'm glad to see HMRC state so clearly that they intervene to decide whether a travel expense really is business or not, not to decide whether it is good business or bad business.

[TheFaQQer]

I am of the "cheap" school. I see no point in paying first class unless it enables me to work or gain in some other way. Just because it is a valid expense does not stop it being a waste of money and at the end of the day it is money off your company profits.

WHS.

When I was doing the north-west to London weekly trains, I'd be fine on the way down in standard, then blag a first class upgrade on the return train.

I'd consider a business class flight on the right route, but not first class unless it was on a fantastic deal.

[Arturo Bassick]

I might have to if I want to maintain the proper standards of a contractor.

The contractor who sits next to me at clientco takes a taxi to his station then travels first class for a 20 minute train journey.

Do you think I'm slumming it?

I am of the "cheap" school. I see no point in paying first class unless it enables me to work or gain in some other way. Just because it is a valid expense does not stop it being a waste of money and at the end of the day it is money off your company profits.

[Doggy Styles]

Limo and chauffeur?

I might have to if I want to maintain the proper standards of a contractor.

The contractor who sits next to me at clientco takes a taxi to his station then travels first class for a 20 minute train journey.

Do you think I'm slumming it?

[TheFaQQer]

A permie friend of mine was forced to travel on the Queen Mary 2 when she relocated to America. In a suite.

It was tough.

[Arturo Bassick]

I must say it does seem quite clear with no questions left unanswered.

Unfortunately there is no first-class service on my route.

Limo and chauffeur?