What is your daily recommended meal allowance?

[31aSK]

Ok, what is yor daily recommended meal allowance for:

1. A day trip (less than 16 hours duty).

2. An overnight trip.


The company I fly for, a small southeast Pt. 91 flight department is reccommending that we spend "around" 15 per day for a day trip, 20 for duty day 14 to 16 hours and 35 for an overnight trip. They are not real hard on these numbers, but rather it is a recommended amount to stick by. I know charter pilots are usually allowed more because the customer is paying for it, so i am really interested in PT.91 pilots.

 

[Rick James]

About as much as I can shovel down my throat. I've gained 10 pounds since moving from the airlines. No set number as management feels a well fed pilot is a safe one.

 

[gear_guy]

Quality pt91 depts don't have a maximum meal allowance. This is typically b/c they hire responsible pilots who spend money like it's their own. If you have to get one, I would say 10/10/30 or 50/day. The reason this stinks is b/c you travel to many areas with differing costs-of-living. 50/day is great in podunkville, but you won't eat great in NY or CA. But I don't agree with per diem either b/c people will usually forsake health for money and that's not safe.

 

[HMR]

We eat whatever and as much as we want. No questions asked.

 

[31aSK]

yes, we used to eat whatever we wanted, but our new chief pilot felt that we had to have a recommended amount. go figure.

 

[h25b]

yes, we used to eat whatever we wanted, but our new chief pilot felt that we had to have a recommended amount. go figure.

Nice... So he's trying to gain credibility with management by screwing you. Why don't you tell him to be the one to field test his policy for a few weeks and report back to the rest of you how it has worked out.

 

[AA717driver]

Ours should average $75/day for the trip domestically. On international, we use our best judgement. A couple of people in the past ruined it for everyone. TC

 

[Best Seat]

When we are hungry we eat. Some times it is a five course meal to literally die for other times it is a quick meal. Depends on the crews, some of us enjoy wearing a jacket to dinner, others don't. And, if it is a long trip, we are allowed to take our "loved" ones or significant other to dinner on the company when we get home which is usually the last thing we want to do when on the road all over the world for a week or two. We are never questioned about expenses of any sort. But, as previously posted, we spend with regard like it is our own $$$$. We don't behave any differently on the road as we do at home. We do live in a large city and know what a good meal is in the best seat in the industry.

 

[400A]

Quality pt91 depts don't have a maximum meal allowance. This is typically b/c they hire responsible pilots who spend money like it's their own. If you have to get one, I would say 10/10/30 or 50/day. The reason this stinks is b/c you travel to many areas with differing costs-of-living. 50/day is great in podunkville, but you won't eat great in NY or CA. But I don't agree with per diem either b/c people will usually forsake health for money and that's not safe.

This is the same as our policy. We treat the money like it is our own. We only do fast food if it is our choosing. The boss wants us to eat well, and even wants us to tip well. (Unlike Raytheon where once cent over 15% was not paid back to you) We have company credit cards with no expense reporting. It is very nice. We are very careful not to abuse this.

 

[rice]

A major (three letter) management company has a $75 domestic and $100 Int'l rate per day in their FOM. Sometimes more is spent and often much less is spent. All depends on where you are in the world and what your appetite is like.
On another note, I HATE anyone who questions my MEAL expenses but doesn't have a clue that I just saved .20 or .25 cents a gallon off of the fuel purchase. When that happens I stop going the "extra mile".

 

[h25b]

When that happens I stop going the "extra mile".

This logic runs rampant. Lets pi$$ the pilots off over 10 bucks, great idea, then it's stay down in the low 30's @ max continuous cruise to get home early. Now I ask you... Which plan was cheaper ??? You get the picture.

I figure I can easily save 1000 lbs. of fuel on alot of days. Around $600, I say let the pilots eat what they want.

 

[willNOTfly4free]

My southern management company has 'suggested' that we use 10/15/35 or 60/day. They are very understanding when we spend more than the daily rate at expensive cities. However we are careful not to abuse our daily limits. A customer has no problem spending $XX,000 on an aircraft charter, but will feel ripped off when they get a $200 bill for the pilots' dinner. The best policy is to keep it reasonable and honest.

I pride myself having never been questioned on a trip expense.

 

[Headwind]

Some hotels give free breakfast, but our last one was $21.00. It's hard to place a dollar max on meals unless you only go to the same place and know their cost. If you're smart enough to operate the companies aircraft you should be responsible enough to properly use the companies credit card. If not they should replace you with someone they can trust - not tell you how much you can spend for meals. On a three stop day, the amount of fuel you purchase at each stop can amount to many more extra dollars.

HEADWIND

 

[kilroy]

Meals

The company I am at now is great company card no question on what we spend only required to turn in reciepts with meals over 25$. And if we get home after 6pm the company pays for our meal.

The last company I worked for refused to give the pilots credit cards because they said pilots cannot be trusted with them. Also 41$ per day was max not matter were you were. Any trip that is less then 6 hour duty day is 1/2 $20.50 and its taxed.

Company prior to this tried to go to a flight hour pay rate. You get $3 dollars for every flight hour you flew. Not sure how long they lasted with this program as I jumped ship ASAFP after this announcment.

 

[AA717driver]

One way around our maximum is to put down for a line tip but actually spend it on a six-pack. You just have to make the system work for you... TC

 

[sleepy]

$50 per day domestic, no set limit international.

 

[h25b]

One way around our maximum is to put down for a line tip but actually spend it on a six-pack. You just have to make the system work for you... TC

Exactly... With those "line tips" you can have a helluva good time...:beer:

 

[G100driver]

This logic runs rampant. Lets pi$$ the pilots off over 10 bucks, great idea, then it's stay down in the low 30's @ max continuous cruise to get home early. Now I ask you... Which plan was cheaper ??? You get the picture..

Classic,

Back in the day when I flew charter we were on a trip to SAN. We were supposed to go home after an overnight duty rest. Instead, the charter company booked to deadhead home, but only after 3 days of hanging out in SAN. When we left JimsAir said that they were only going to bill us for one day ramp fee because we purchased fuel. Heck no we said, bill us for every day at $400/day we told them. The bill came right out of the charter companies profit. Perhaps next time they will think before the double back a trip and keep the crew out for 20 days straight.

 

[G100driver]

Company prior to this tried to go to a flight hour pay rate. You get $3 dollars for every flight hour you flew. Not sure how long they lasted with this program as I jumped ship ASAFP after this announcment.

How does that work? Fly 1 hour, sit all day, eat a happy meal?

 

[h25b]

The bill came right out of the charter companies profit. Perhaps next time they will think before the double back a trip and keep the crew out for 20 days straight.

Yep, I've done this one as well. You wanna keep us on the road, cool, put the plane in the hangar for 4 days. My boss expects the plane to be in a hangar, that's where it'll be. On your dime dear mgt. company... Just try to guarantee they don't actually make any money off of the RON fees, solves the problem every time...