Per Diem or not?

[LNJPilot]

I have a question for every one out there. I'm with a company that currently pays per diem but they want to switch to a pay-per-meal system with the company cc and was just wondering if anyone else does this and what do you think of it? Is this predominate in the industry? I personally prefer the per diem system but they're trying to convince me the other system is better....what do you all think?

 

[DrProc]

The quality of your meals on the road will greatly increase if they pay for your meals....I prefer that...

 

[wildbill]

Let them pay for your meals. Per diem sux. I think if you do not abuse the privilage you will be better off. Like it has been said, " better food".

 

[Junkflyer]

Per Diem is better if they give you a good rate and you don't eat fancy meals. What is the choice you are getting? If they will pay more than $50 a day or so in the US I would take the pay. Its tax free why not.

 

[NCherches]

I have used both... I like per diem because I like hamburgers and panda express type places. I use to make about 500/month extra using per-diem.

I am currently using company CC's which i don't mind. I eat a little better and don't have to wait for a check from the company but I also don't have the supplimental pay...

Agreed with the $50+ mentioned above... i

 

[BushwickBill]

They let us pay for our meals with the company CC.

We try and keep our spending under control.

Per diem leads to pilots eating poorly trying to save money.

IMHO its better to just enjoy yourself during RON or long days.

I eat for free on the road and I eat well/healthy.

 

[StarHustler]

It really depends on your individual tastes. I personally prefer Per Diem. We make $2.50 per hour on the road domestic and $4.00 international, so I can usually 'pocket' half that per day considering my breakfast is usually free at whatever hotel I am staying at due to my membership status.

However, I have also worked for other companies that pay for your meals via company card. You tend to order deserts (at least I do) with lunch and dinner. It all adds up.

Now, if you can get them to pay for your meals AND give you a good per diem.......;-)

 

[t-bone]

QOL is better when your meals are covered by the company you work for. In my experience, per-diem encourages the "slam-clickers" that don't want to go out for dinner because they are saving their $1.70/hour. After a long day of work, I look forward to a good dinner at PF Changs or Cheesecake Factory, not a Subway sandwich. I see the fractional guys eating their crew meals in the FBO all the time while we're walking out to the crew car to go grab some Panera or Chilis for lunch...it's nice to get away from the airport/hotel once in awhile. IMHO

 

[scangadah]

QOL is better when your meals are covered by the company you work for. In my experience, per-diem encourages the "slam-clickers" that don't want to go out for dinner because they are saving their $1.70/hour. After a long day of work, I look forward to a good dinner at PF Changs or Cheesecake Factory, not a Subway sandwich. I see the fractional guys eating their crew meals in the FBO all the time while we're walking out to the crew car to go grab some Panera or Chilis for lunch...it's nice to get away from the airport/hotel once in awhile. IMHO

Amen to that Brotha!!
If anybody thinks that they are making money on Per-diem is just fooling themselves.

 

[freighthumper]

If you work for a company that is'nt cheap on the per diem, I think getting the cash is alot better. I get 50 domestic and 100 Intl and thats more than enough to eat well and still come out ahead at the end of the month. Then at the end of year when you get your taxes done you can write off the diff between what you get from your employer and what the IRS says you can claim. I probably pocketed 5k that I didnt use on the road for food and such, then on top of that claimed a little over 5k on the taxes too. If your company is buying meals you cant do that. Cash and a good write-off wins hands down in my book.

 

[timeless]

I like per diem because it offers much more flexibility. It is tax free and you are not missing out on any benefits if you prefer to bring food with you and stock up at the grocery store while you are on the road. It is pretty hard to eat healthy food at restaurants at any price. When I at restaurants my per diem easily covers 3 decent meals a day. I also hate collecting receipts.

 

[172Capt]

Make sure they are also paying for the littly things that per diem is also there for like if you have to get some dry cleaning done while your on the road or the rare phone calls from the hotel room. Even a movie every few days in the hotel room.

 

[staledog]

Amen to that Brotha!!
If anybody thinks that they are making money on Per-diem is just fooling themselves.

Whatever, dude. I make a ton of money on my per diem, and I ain't fooling myself. I would be seriously ticked off if they took away my per diem and forced me to pay for food on a company card.

 

[scangadah]

Enjoy Subway and Taco Bell.

 

[willNOTfly4free]

Per diem leads to pilots eating poorly trying to save money.

IMHO its better to just enjoy yourself during RON or long days.

I eat for free on the road and I eat well/healthy.

After a long day of work, I look forward to a good dinner at PF Changs or Cheesecake Factory, not a Subway sandwich.

That pretty well sums up my opinion.

 

[BoilerUP]

They can pay me per-diem for meals when they pry my AMEX from my cold, dead hands...

 

[mavrck]

company CC.

 

[staledog]

Enjoy Subway and Taco Bell.

Um, OK. I couldn't spend 60 bucks a day on food if I tried. If I did I would be the biggest, fattest pilot you ever saw. And yes, I do enjoy subway and taco bell.

 

[FirstMate]

I do per diem most always, especially if going into places like Europe. Last time I was in Paris for a week, the per diem was $580 USD per day. Even after the company gave me a cash advance, I still ended up pocketing over a grand.

 

[Lear6T]

The company that I am working for right now is paying per diem however they want to switch over to the company CC and I don't think it's a good idea.
I personally look forward to that extra cash in the check. And I would really hate to have someone wathcing over my expenses and telling me that I am spending too much on food know what I mean?

 

[StarHustler]

And I would really hate to have someone wathcing over my expenses and telling me that I am spending too much on food know what I mean?

I could not agree more. Also, with Per Diem you have the option to eat well every day if you choose to do so (and sometimes I do).

 

[NCherches]

If my company allowed beer on my company CC'd id really be in favor of company cc's... i still prefer per-diem

 

[G100driver]

If my company allowed beer on my company CC'd id really be in favor of company cc's... i still prefer per-diem

Do you have to turn in an itemized meal receipt? Next thing you know you will have the CP telling you should eat more veggies!

 

[CopilotDoug]

In my experience, per-diem encourages the "slam-clickers" that don't want to go out for dinner because they are saving their $1.70/hour.

I second this. Nothing like going to a resturaunt by yourself

I think the people who are "saving their money" may not have had the benefits of a company CC before.

 

[icefr8dawg]

Company CC, no limit and they pay for our beer. Works for me but then again i'm a foodie...

 

[Flying Biker]

I would say its would all depend on your company. I worked for this one company where I had the cc. The cheap #@$#! that owned the company would question every charge on every trip. It got very old having to justify and defend every nickel. One 2 day trip I had a $150.00ish total food charges for 2 pilots, 3 meals each and he blew a gasket and threatened to start giving us per diem. I told him go ahead, If we had per diem, I would have extra cash sitting in my pocket from it. Once he calmed down, he realized that he was saving money with the CC and that we were being responsible with the CC. But this is the same guy we would fly across the county so he could go to some strip joint and he would spend almost 20K at the club (that is not including the cost of the trip) without blinking an eye.

 

[bubble]

Our company just switched from per diem to reimbursing us for our meals. I love the new change. I find myself eating a lot healthier and having better meals than before and the company is giving me free airline miles on my credit card.

 

[USC***]

I have used both systems. My current company does not use per diem. I wish they did, because I often don't eat much so I could pocket alot of extra money. It depends on your eating habits. If you like to eat alot of expensive meals then perdiem would be a bad option. If you live off free hotel breakfast and subway, then you'll make money on the perdiem system.

Plus the extra per diem can be used for entertainment on the road, ie... movies, golf, museums.....plenty of other things to do with it. Good luck trying to expense these things if you lose the perdiem system.

I know this sounds childish, but some of the pilots at my company who think they are making a point, purposely buy alot of extra food and desserts that they don't eat. They often give it to the bums out on the street. Good cause...... but for the wrong reasons. These pilots think by spending extra on the expense report, the company will switch to per diem and save money. I guess they think they are sticking it to the man. I don't think this tactic works because they've been doing this for years and no mention from management about changes has ever come about.

 

[PapaSiera]

Ok here is the deal on per diem. I have 2 friends that work for different companies. One gets $60 a day per diem, one gets a company credit card to spend for meals on the road. My friend with the per diem gets about $1000 a month tax free. Thats an extra $12,000 a yr. He gets this $60 no matter if he does just a quick turn day trip, or if he is overnight. My friend that uses the company credit card on a day trip turn would not get to use it at all. They would not have time to go eat. Even if they did, they aren't spending $60 on lunch!! Per diem wins hands down. Im airline so I get per diem, although its not as good as my friends in the Corp world. I get about $550 a month at my regional.

 

[flytheblue]

An alternative....

For those on a meal system, just try to eat at restaurant chains when you can (Outback, Red Lobster etc) that have gift cards.
Eat your meal then ask for a gift card for the difference and you can use your "money" later on. This is just a different kind of per-diem, but it doesn't have to be wasted.