Fly upstart Virgin, not not the fat cats of BA

Are the upper eschilons of our Government really spending their time on this?

From The Guardian

Didn't VS get the Gov't contract a couple of years ago? I can see Gove flying BA to non VS destination but if VS flies there then he should be on aVS flight.

Probably so he gets better use of his miles for family holidays.....

[Darren Wheeler]

and he still can't select a seat after November :w

Don't want to get all "Ben Elton" or anything but...
Is Michael Gove really someone that epitomises the Virgin brand???

I know a fare is a fare but imagine being stuck next to him for 8 hours!!

Votes for least favourite Minister to sit next to on a flight?

Danny Alexander sounds like a dullard...

[Darren Wheeler]

Yet another reason to buy Noise-cancelling headphones

Don't want to get all "Ben Elton" or anything but...
Is Michael Gove really someone that epitomises the Virgin brand???

I know a fare is a fare but imagine being stuck next to him for 8 hours!!

Votes for least favourite Minister to sit next to on a flight?

Danny Alexander sounds like a dullard...

Ed Milliband for me, I'm sure he's a nice chap, but I can't bear his voice.

This is a non story. Its been government policy for a while to fly Virgin. They have a deal with Virgin and often buy seats in bulk, mainly on NYC, IAD routes for civil servants and ministers. I sat next to Alistair Darling in UC once on his way to a climate summit in DC. He had a private curtain around his seat!

He had a private curtain around his seat!

Slightly worrying; probably he was working out how much money, (that he didn't have), that he was going to spend. Which turned out to be loads - as we now know!!!!

(And remember - he was Labour so I'm keeping it nicely apolitical).

Slightly worrying; probably he was working out how much money, (that he didn't have), that he was going to spend. Which turned out to be loads - as we now know!!!!

I don't wish to be difficult, but Campbell was Director of Communications and not a Minister with budgetary responsibility...

I was very surprised to find this as a page 3 story in today's Observer - unless its purpose was to attempt to drag the Virgin Money / Northern Rock issue out a bit.

Don't want to get all "Ben Elton" or anything but...
Is Michael Gove really someone that epitomises the Virgin brand???

I know a fare is a fare but imagine being stuck next to him for 8 hours!!

Votes for least favourite Minister to sit next to on a flight?

Danny Alexander sounds like a dullard...

David Cameron (I'd want to punch him, not seriously in case MI6 is listening) but it would have to be William Hague, listening to his voice for hours would kill me!

Mind you I bet Eric Pickles is a laugh, even if I'd find it difficult agreeing with him on anything other than cricket!

Ken Clarke perhaps, as long we stuck to jazz as a topic.

Have to agree with CM about Danny Alexander ][|)

[Darren Wheeler]

I don't wish to be difficult, but Campbell was Director of Communications and not a Minister with budgetary responsibility...

True, but the post referred to Alistair Darling. He had a slightly bigger 'Budget'

I don't wish to be difficult, but Campbell was Director of Communications and not a Minister with budgetary responsibility...

True, but the post referred to Alistair Darling. He had a slightly bigger 'Budget'

Oops. . Apologies. Except, of course, it turns out he didn't.

Just preparing to write "No one likes a smart aleck" 1000 times - in latin, of course.

[honey lamb]

Of course my benefit would be that I haven't a clue of who half of them are so I'd just generalise them as twits! Mind you, we have our own fair share of them which is why I don't fly EI transatlantically )

Of course my benefit would be that I haven't a clue of who half of them are so I'd just generalise them as twits! Mind you, we have our own fair share of them which is why I don't fly EI transatlantically )

Wash your mouth out HL - how rude!

Does beg the question...

Do government/ publically funded flights enable employees to gain FC miles which they'll use for their own gain...

Surely this should not be allowed to occur, Any gains should be pooled and put towards a charitable cause (Dreamflight etc).

If there was ever a case for a petition (needing 100'000 votes).. :w or even the media picking up on the issue :w

He had a private curtain around his seat!

Slightly worrying; probably he was working out how much money, (that he didn't have), that he was going to spend. Which turned out to be loads - as we now know!!!!

(And remember - he was Labour so I'm keeping it nicely apolitical).

The curtain was provided so he could practice for his next job as a Punch & Judy artiste

Do government/ publically funded flights enable employees to gain FC miles which they'll use for their own gain...

That's a good question. I believe this came up during the expenses scandal. My recollection is that they are not allowed to earn them for personal use, but maybe I am imagining that.

I actually don't really have a problem with it either way.

Of course my benefit would be that I haven't a clue of who half of them are so I'd just generalise them as twits!

I find it quite surprising that a mod would say that on as friendly a site as this!

New rules were brought in about 2 years ago preventing civil servants and ministers from gaining FC miles on work trips. I don't know how this is enforced but there are penalties for being caught. Prior to that there were no restrictions. Personally, its a little petty. It they are going to prevent personal use, at least collect them and use them for government use! Like a business account or something. That said the government does have a deal with Virgin and so gets discounted tickets anyway.

I'm a low level civil servant and can confirm that we are not allowed to benefit from any public funds.
This is fairly broad reaching; if we use a hire car for a meeting or to go training etc...it's a Matiz or something small - even for 3 people. If we have to refuel and claim back costs we CANNOT use our Tesco Clubcard to get points. Nor are we permitted to benefit from the method of payment - so no VA AMEX!
We can join hotel loyalty schemes but the guidance I read recently stated 'points' collected can only be used to reduce the costs of other official business - sensible really.
I certainly don't see civil servants benefiting beyond standard remuneration - which is how it should be, even if it sounds a bit stingy!

I certainly don't see civil servants benefiting beyond standard remuneration - which is how it should be, even if it sounds a bit stingy!

I don't see a great difference between public money and shareholder money in this circumstance, if one is allowed, the other should be.

I certainly don't see civil servants benefiting beyond standard remuneration - which is how it should be, even if it sounds a bit stingy!

Good point; the Civil Service is basically UK PLC. Although shareholders would probably be more generous than voters! Problem is; companies often perform but the civil service is perceived/portrayed as failing (and often is).
I bet if the Daily Mail asked its readers if civil servants should earn Clubcard points - we wouldn't need 3 guesses!
Interesting to learn how big PLCs view this issue.

I don't see a great difference between public money and shareholder money in this circumstance, if one is allowed, the other should be.

Personally, I don't see the harm in civil servants earning points and miles through reward schemes, its acceptable in the private sector.

Of course my benefit would be that I haven't a clue of who half of them are so I'd just generalise them as t**ts!

I find it quite surprising that a mod would say that on as friendly a site as this!

Censorship was added by me, didn't want to paste it again.

I agree, hopefully it was just the wrong choice of word rather than trying to offend.

HL used an "o" in the word not an "a"....it's a slightly older word that was never as pointed as the one with "a" in it....

Dare I say, my Mum used to use it?:D

[honey lamb]

HL used an "o" in the word not an "a"....it's a slightly older word that was never as pointed as the one with "a" in it....

Dare I say, my Mum used to use it?:D

honey lamb is apologising profusely and has edited the original post. She can't even blame the gin