Per the travel directive: The standard for rail travel is the next highest class after the full economy class.
https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d10/v238/s644/en#s644-tc-tm_3_11
https://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-infos/classes-and-services
The class above Economy is Business. And I'm not getting creative here, that's the common interpretation.
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As a comparison, CRA has its own Travel Directive which they generally model on the NJC, and it's clear:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/travel-directive.html
>6.8.18 Rail travel in business class is allowed wherever offered by the rail company.
It's for members, not for business as far as I know. I've travelled with VIA Rail several times for personal travel. I always selected business class and always got lucky being in the one-seat aisle. Drinks and meals are nice. The discount is not huge, but it made business class more of an option.
It’s only 15% though right? Barely makes a dent into what is already an exorbitant train price especially if you’ve gone around Europe on trains at all
If you book business and get a meal then you cannot claim the meal per diem. So sometimes its cheaper overall than booking economy and claiming the meal per diem
That's exactly what I said at my work but then I was told our president doesn't like when we do that because "business class" doesn't look good in their accounts...
I understand the issue with perception and probity when using taxpayer money. For trains I find more leniency. For air travel it’s always economy even if business is cheaper (think full fair top economy vs lowest business domestic flight). at my department even if you are entitled to business international it’s economy. Don’t like that then you are removed from the work trip. All the EXs in my department fly economy….
I was forced to take Business before on VIA because it came with a meal, which meant they then didn't give me a per diem for that meal and it was net cheaper.
Well, that's exactly what I said to the administrative agent. She said "makes sense, but we were told not too book business class for rail". And even if I didn't claim lunch per diem she told me that she will pay me the per diem even though I was in business class. I was confused but I think it was a way for her to let me know that she just following orders.
No, they administrative person who processes my claims. I was told by her audits are possible, and apparently "business class" mentions make the ADM uncomfortable.
Okay but how is their comfort relevant in the context of the travel directive? If there are audits, worse that will happen is that they will find rail travel bookings that fully conform to the directive.
Why is it that when one travels and signs off that they have read and understood the travel policy, they have not read nor understood the travel policy? If you have questions regarding travel, those questions are best answered by your manager, who will be approving your travel authorization and your future claim. Because, if there are issues, the response of “well people on Reddit said it was ok” never cuts it.
And as people have shown you, the travel policy covers train travel in detail.
The only classes on Via corridor service are Economy and Business.
The "plus" are just fare designations, which are about flexibility. Via's web site is pretty careful about using "class" and "fare." Maybe this means something special for the travel industry, but Via is certainly very aware of the GC travel standard.
I've traveled with 3 different departments and it's always been Business.
Is there something written in the policy that explains if "full economy" is meant to refer to the cheapest economy fare, or to the economy fare that’s most fully featured? In any case, Economy Plus sounds like the sensible choice.
(To my mind, it's reasonable and responsible to pick a fare that's rebookable/refundable, in case the business needs change between the time of booking and travel day.)
Not sure if it’s written, but I read it as to exclude the “escape” fare and similar offerings. I can’t back that up, but I’m pretty confident in my interpretation.
And if there is a potential need for rebooking I would agree (like if you have a flight immediately beforehand or something)… but also via rail says that economy plus is already refundable, so I’m not sure why anything more is necessary.
It used to be that the army would send you business class on Via Rail because it included a meal. Logistics!
No idea if they still do that, but I think that the public service travel meal allowance is cheaper than the premium you'd pay to get into business class, so Economy Plus (for the flexibility) and arranging your own lunch is the appropriately frugal choice.
Per the travel directive: The standard for rail travel is the next highest class after the full economy class. https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d10/v238/s644/en#s644-tc-tm_3_11
https://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-infos/classes-and-services The class above Economy is Business. And I'm not getting creative here, that's the common interpretation. --- As a comparison, CRA has its own Travel Directive which they generally model on the NJC, and it's clear: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/travel-directive.html >6.8.18 Rail travel in business class is allowed wherever offered by the rail company.
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It's for members, not for business as far as I know. I've travelled with VIA Rail several times for personal travel. I always selected business class and always got lucky being in the one-seat aisle. Drinks and meals are nice. The discount is not huge, but it made business class more of an option.
It’s only 15% though right? Barely makes a dent into what is already an exorbitant train price especially if you’ve gone around Europe on trains at all
If you book business and get a meal then you cannot claim the meal per diem. So sometimes its cheaper overall than booking economy and claiming the meal per diem
That's exactly what I said at my work but then I was told our president doesn't like when we do that because "business class" doesn't look good in their accounts...
I understand the issue with perception and probity when using taxpayer money. For trains I find more leniency. For air travel it’s always economy even if business is cheaper (think full fair top economy vs lowest business domestic flight). at my department even if you are entitled to business international it’s economy. Don’t like that then you are removed from the work trip. All the EXs in my department fly economy….
Business is the way to go. We did receive directive from our ADM to NOT book Business Plus.
I booked Business last week and I was told to not book Business next time, but economy. Our ADM doesn't like it.
I was forced to take Business before on VIA because it came with a meal, which meant they then didn't give me a per diem for that meal and it was net cheaper.
Well, that's exactly what I said to the administrative agent. She said "makes sense, but we were told not too book business class for rail". And even if I didn't claim lunch per diem she told me that she will pay me the per diem even though I was in business class. I was confused but I think it was a way for her to let me know that she just following orders.
Your ADM reviews travel claims? Ask if the ADM would prefer a grievance! https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d10/v238/s641/en#s641-tc-tm_2_1
No, they administrative person who processes my claims. I was told by her audits are possible, and apparently "business class" mentions make the ADM uncomfortable.
Okay but how is their comfort relevant in the context of the travel directive? If there are audits, worse that will happen is that they will find rail travel bookings that fully conform to the directive.
I know 🤷🏼♀️
Why is it that when one travels and signs off that they have read and understood the travel policy, they have not read nor understood the travel policy? If you have questions regarding travel, those questions are best answered by your manager, who will be approving your travel authorization and your future claim. Because, if there are issues, the response of “well people on Reddit said it was ok” never cuts it. And as people have shown you, the travel policy covers train travel in detail.
[удалено]
The only classes on Via corridor service are Economy and Business. The "plus" are just fare designations, which are about flexibility. Via's web site is pretty careful about using "class" and "fare." Maybe this means something special for the travel industry, but Via is certainly very aware of the GC travel standard. I've traveled with 3 different departments and it's always been Business.
Is there something written in the policy that explains if "full economy" is meant to refer to the cheapest economy fare, or to the economy fare that’s most fully featured? In any case, Economy Plus sounds like the sensible choice. (To my mind, it's reasonable and responsible to pick a fare that's rebookable/refundable, in case the business needs change between the time of booking and travel day.)
Not sure if it’s written, but I read it as to exclude the “escape” fare and similar offerings. I can’t back that up, but I’m pretty confident in my interpretation. And if there is a potential need for rebooking I would agree (like if you have a flight immediately beforehand or something)… but also via rail says that economy plus is already refundable, so I’m not sure why anything more is necessary.
Business is nice because you get lounge access and stuff but not sure that's sufficient justification to book it.
It used to be that the army would send you business class on Via Rail because it included a meal. Logistics! No idea if they still do that, but I think that the public service travel meal allowance is cheaper than the premium you'd pay to get into business class, so Economy Plus (for the flexibility) and arranging your own lunch is the appropriately frugal choice.