Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Is It Unethical to Use Your Business Travel Airmiles for Personal and Family Use?


UK Speaker of the House of Commons is coming under sustained criticism for using airmiles, accumulated on official travel, for personal family travel.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3386821.ece

The use of business-accumulated airmiles for personal use was discussed by delegates during the Fraud Risk Management session of Security Management Stage 2, currently taking place in Kuala Lumpur. There was a general consensus that the use of airmiles for personal use was acceptable provided:

1. It was clearly stated in terms and conditions or company ethical standards to whom the airmiles were “transferable”, eg close family members?

2. There was a centralised system for booking air flights which could not be influenced by business travellers to gain an airmiles advantage.

The group was less receptive to the idea of employees accepting for personal use loyalty points from business suppliers.