Is this right???

[williemcgee51]

I was reading a major metro newspaper message board recently and saw that its columnist was talking about his trip home from covering a sporting event. The columnist said that he was looking forward to resting in first class with a cocktail.
OK, that's fine. However, this columnist works for a company I use to work for before my current gig. To say it nicely, this company is in dire straits. My former colleagues are all worried about their jobs (like everyone else, I guess) and work very hard (like everyone else) at a paper with a circulation of about 50K.
Anyways, is it right that this company can pay a first-class ticket for a columnist when the corporation is not doing well financially? Perhaps I'm thinking too much, but this struck me as kind of odd. I know this reporter was not flying with the team.

Have a good Thanksgiving week everyone!!!!

 

[JackReacher]

No.

 

[shockey]

maybe he used his mileage points to bump up to first??? if not, this truly sucks.

 

[Montezuma's Revenge]

Or he could have been writing tongue-in-cheek.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

maybe he used his mileage points to bump up to first??? if not, this truly sucks.

Or taken the cash-for-seat-upgrade option. Usually a lot cheaper than paying full fare for first class.

 

[hankschu]

Yeah, I fly first class all the time on my beat with upgrades accrued through all the miles I fly.

I don't brag about it on a blog, though.

I can't think of a beat writer or columnist I know who regularly flies first class.

 

[RustyHampton]

Back when I covered a beat and flew often, I upgraded to first class whenever possible using Frequent Flyer points. It was pretty easy to do back then and didn't cost the company anything extra. But I never wrote about it and wouldn't now.

 

[da man]

Some of the big-name columnists have it in their contracts that they fly first class when they travel. The big gun at one of my previous stops reportedly had it written into his contract that his rental car on the road must be a Lincoln Town Car.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Some of the big-name columnists have it in their contracts that they fly first class when they travel. The big gun at one of my previous stops reportedly had it written into his contract that his rental car on the road must be a Lincoln Town Car.

Hopefully, he's either retired or no longer has that clause ... given that the Town Car is officially dead as of this fall.

 

[playthrough]

First class every time, yeah, that'd be all right. But I like having different rental cars.

 

[strunk_you]

sometimes the corporate office will upgrade you without you even asking. big companies can rack up vouchers pretty quickly.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Damn him.

He also should be writing his stories out with pen and paper and faxing it in for someone to retype rather than using a fancy expensive laptop computer!

 

[forever_town]

Or calling the cub reporter and having him take dictation of a story over the phone. </me in my first full-time journo job>

 

[bob]

But how stupid can a columnist be in these difficult times to boast publicly about flying first class?
Sounds like the Big 3 chairmen flying to Washington on private jets.

 

[Stitch]

At least he didn't get a massage while trying to get the scoop on where Favre was going.

 

[Some Guy]

If you fly enough, you often get automatically upgraded from coach, free of charge, if there are unsold seats in first class.

I'd bet half my paycheck ($4 million) this is what happened here.

 

[Some Guy]

Some of the big-name columnists have it in their contracts that they fly first class when they travel. The big gun at one of my previous stops reportedly had it written into his contract that his rental car on the road must be a Lincoln Town Car.

Hopefully, he's either retired or no longer has that clause ... given that the Town Car is officially dead as of this fall.

While on assignment, I shall require the finest horse-and-buggy carriage the world has to offer.

 

[OceanLottery]

I was reading a major metro newspaper message board ...

--cut--

However, this columnist works for a company I use to work for before my current gig. To say it nicely, this company is in dire straits. My former colleagues are all worried about their jobs (like everyone else, I guess) and work very hard (like everyone else) at a paper with a circulation of about 50K.

Not to nitpick, but is 50K "major"?

 

[pressboxer]

Not to nitpick, but is 50K "major"?

Nowadays, it may be.