staff travel money

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Travel Stipends

An employee travel stipend , also called a vacation stipend or travel reimbursement, is an allotment of funds that workers can use during each calendar year at their discretion to pay for personal travel expenses.

Last updated by Sarah Bedrick

Employers are increasingly realizing that encouraging employees to take paid time off work to travel and relax is good for the bottom line .

A recent U.S. Travel Association study showed a 22 percentage point gap between mega-travelers and homebodies when it comes to happiness with physical health and well-being - a powerful finding considering the rise of employee burnout .

So, to make sure their employees aren't squandering valuable travel opportunities to enhance their life (and actually use their PTO to do it), more and more employers are offering personal travel reimbursement.

Here's what is covered in this guide:

What is an employee travel stipend.

• Benefits of offering an employee travel stipend
• What an employee travel stipend can cover
• Are travel stipends taxable?
• Example employee travel stipends

First, a definition:

Companies that offer such a stipend for employee personal travel, which is different than business-related travel, are typically at the forefront of employee benefits and employee experience because it's:

• not a commonly offered benefit and therefore feels like unchartered territory, and
• since "travel expenses" may sound expensive, many companies don't even think it's something they can reasonably afford. However, it's just as affordable and flexible as any other stipend you could offer, while offering major benefits (which we cover in the next section).

Another thing to note is that there are no federal or state laws that require employers to offer a travel stipend to their employees, so they can establish their own requirements for how their employees can use it. For example, employees may need to submit photos proving they spent time at a vacation destination before receiving reimbursement.

Benefits of offering personal travel stipends

Many employers already benefit by offering paid vacation time and encouraging employees to use it. Here are some of the specific ways that doing so can be good for business:

• Fewer sick days taken
• Fewer workers’ compensation claims filed
• More energy and motivation after their return
• Increased job satisfaction
• Increased productivity
• Reduced use of healthcare benefits

A travel stipend can help attract talent

Offering an employee a travel stipend to spend on their vacations is a hugely attractive benefit to offer for attracting talent. It's a benefit that isn't standard, would appeal strongly to individuals who already love to prioritize travel on their off-time, and most of all... who wouldn't be excited to say "my company pays for my vacations"?

A travel stipend can also help retain talent

For your employees who have benefited from and become accustomed to this unique offering, it's very likely that it'll be a reason they stay longer at your company. This is especially true if you also have a healthy company culture that supports and appreciates their experience and contributions as an individual.

If you're interested in exploring travel stipends or any other type of stipend for your company, talk to a Compt stipend expert who can help you set up and manage your ideal program.

Ready to offer your employees a travel stipend?

(Compt customers have 90% engagement rates!)

Things you can cover in a travel stipend

While each organization can determine what expenses qualify for an employee travel stipend, here are some common examples of vacation expenses to consider.

• Airplane tickets
• Bus tickets
• Dining allowance
• Fuel for road trips or a rental car
• International data plan
• Luggage and packing
• Passport fees
• Pre-paid phone card
• Travel applications
• Vacation activities

You can also offer a different stipend amount for employees with more seniority or based on excellent performance reviews, although we don't recommend that since the point of stipends is to promote equity and inclusivity.

You'll also have to think about how you'll offer the stipend and the verification requirements: will you just drop the cash into their paycheck (which has some tax pitfalls we cover in this post ) or have employees submit receipts for reimbursement when they return to work after vacation (a standard and business-friendly way to approach it).

However you do it, your people or HR team will need to get buy-in from your finance department to fund employee travel before announcing this benefit. Some companies start with a small vacation stipend to allow the opportunity to review the benefit before investing in it more heavily. Working up to a more robust benefit is generally the preferred approach rather than starting with a larger travel stipend amount and having to dial it back due to budget issues.

Learn everything you need to know about Employee Stipends

Check out our free eBook that shows exactly why employee stipends are the best way to offer inclusive benefits that fit every budget.

Are travel stipends taxable? 

Because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not consider travel stipends regular income, it does not require employers to withhold tax (federal tax, social security tax, or Medicare). This rule has long applied to travel stipends for business purposes. Although personal travel stipends for employees are a newer development, the current IRS policy also applies to this benefit.

If stipend taxability is of interest to you, check out this helpful resource: Which Fringe Benefits are Taxable and Nontaxable?

Examples of travel stipends by top companies

A CNN Money report about companies who pay for vacation days highlighted several top companies that offer personal travel stipends and software company FullContact offered the most generous employee travel stipend at $7,500 per year.

• About FullContact's employee travel stipend: The "vacation stipend benefit" as they call it, is on top of FullContact offering a minimum of three weeks of paid vacation each year. FullContact insists that employees use all of their PTO and also requires employees on vacation to be fully off the clock, meaning they cannot call work, check emails, etc. Although FullContact cannot enforce it, the company encourages employees to disconnect and not use technology at all while away from work.
• Both AFAR Media and Bamboo HR each offer employees a $2,000 travel stipend to pay for plane tickets, hotel rooms, and typical vacation activities. Each of these employers recognizes that employees do not always have the funds to go on vacation even when they receive paid time off from work. They see the travel stipend as a simple way to solve that problem.
• Evernote , a company that produces computer and smartphone applications. Evernote offers employees a $1,000 annual travel stipend, but they must take five or more consecutive days off work to cash in on it.

Other examples of employee travel stipend programs:

• In addition to a typical 21 days of annual paid time off, seven days of sick/safe leave and 10 paid holidays, employees at SEO & Marketing software company Moz receive a $3,000 per year vacation expense reimbursement.
• It's probably no surprise that Expedia encourages employees to go on vacation. Employees at the major travel site get a reimbursement of $250-$750, depending on tenure, and also receive discounts on retail and travel packages purchased through the site.
• Another travel site Travelzoo offers their employees a $1,500 travel stipend and three extra days of PTO to “book a hotel stay, vacation package, cruise, or flight offer that we negotiate on behalf of our 28 million members worldwide,” according to Michael Stitt, President of Travelzoo North America.
• Time tracking and scheduling software company TSheets provides employees with a $1,500 per year travel credit. There’s just one catch — “you have to completely disconnect while you’re on vacation: No calls, no emails, no Slack,”  NBC reports .

Just getting started with stipends? Check out this detailed guide on how to set up your perk stipend .

Or, if you're more familiar with a vendor-based approach and need more information, here is a helpful Perks Vendor Cost Calculator to see what a difference going vendorless makes.

Resources on Lifestyle Benefits and Perks:

• Everything You Need to Know About Lifestyle Benefits
• The Ultimate Guide to Remote Work Stipends
• Which Fringe Benefits are Taxable and Nontaxable
• Evaluate your existing perks program with our  Perks Performance Analysis  
• Comparing Perks Software: Everything You Need to Know

Sarah Bedrick

Chief Marketing Officer

Prior to Compt, Sarah worked at HubSpot for 6+ years, where she helped to build, scale, and grow the HubSpot Academy division. She is obsessed with understanding what makes a company culture great, being a career and life coach to people in tech, and creating cherished memories with her husband and two young kids. Her favorite Compt stipend category is Health & Wellness.

Ready to see how travel stipends can boost employee satisfaction and reduce churn?

Compt can help you create a stipend program that your employees will love.

The Ultimate Guide to Controlling Corporate Travel Expenses

Travel expenses are the second-highest business expense in most firms, and also one of the toughest to control (toughest, yes, but not impossible). With the amount spent on corporate travel set to soar up to $1.7 trillion globally by 2022, it’s time to work on strategizing your travel expenses.

Let’s say your firm has had many international client meetings, trade shows, and networking events recently. The ROI looks good, and your leads and customers appreciate the face-to-face interaction. While your financial metrics are soaring, something else is increasing too: your corporate travel expenses.

Most CFOs agree that where strategizing travel expenses is concerned, it’s more about cost-saving than cost-cutting. Firms that have been successful in cost-saving begin with planning and implementing well-planned strategies to curb expenses.

It’s important to remember that what works well for one firm might not do the same for yours. In this article, we will walk you through some best practices to control corporate travel expenses like air and ground transportation, accommodation, and meal expenses while maintaining employee satisfaction. You can go through these practices and adopt the ones you think will work well for your firm.

Your travel expenses take off way before the plane does. Plane tickets can be pretty expensive, which is why your travel team should be prudent while booking them. Avoiding business class is one best practice that goes without saying, but here are some other ways you can reduce your air travel expenses:

Book in advance

We’ll begin with the most obvious and the most well-known piece of advice to reduce air fare – book in advance. With airfare increasing by an average of 2.6% in the coming year, last-minute bookings are out of the question. The good news is that most airlines offer comparatively low prices and discounts for flights that are booked in advance.

To make this a practice, your travel team must set a timeline for airline reservations, and make it clear that your employees MUST abide by it. Most firms that have been successful in cutting down business travel expenses have implemented rules where their employees must book their tickets at least 2 weeks in advance.

Don’t stick to one favourite booking website

Encourage your travel team to use websites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Kayak to compare air fares and find the cheapest flights.

Most travellers skip the airline websites themselves, but that’s a rookie mistake! Heading over to the airline’s own website to see if they can cut you a good deal should be one of your standard practices.

Partnering with airlines

Many enterprise-level firms control air travel expenses by partnering with their favourite airline carriers. When you partner with an airline, your employees will get corporate discounts and fly at a negotiated rate. Your employees may also enjoy additional perks like extended deadlines for ticket cancellation, waived ticket cancellation fees, and so on.

Reduce costs by scheduling meetings well

Choosing when your employees travel can cut down a lot more than you’d think. Aside from urgent client meetings, talk to your travel team or in-house event organizers to schedule events and networking sessions during off-seasons. This way, your employees can give expensive peak holiday times a miss.

A not-so-conventional tip

If the number of clients attending the meeting is lesser than the number of employees flying to their place, fly your clients down to your office instead. However, remember to weigh the pros and cons before going ahead with this tip – in some cases, the clients will expect you to handle their accommodation costs as well.

Pay attention to the baggage

Your travel team should emphasize the importance of travelling light to your employees. Smart travellers pack light and avoid packing excess baggage that they might end up paying for (which your travel team could end up reimbursing). Enforce rules in your travel policy to make sure your employees check the size, quantity, and weight of bags allowed on their flight.

If your firm is planning to provide giveaways for a networking event, it can be wise to split them between your employees during travel, instead of piling them all into a single bag and then paying a huge fee for that one overweight bag.

Ground transportation

The travel expenses aren’t over yet. Even after your employees touch down in the destination city, there are ground travel and fuel expenses to manage. Here are some tips your employees can implement (and your travel team can supervise) during their trip:

Think twice before parking your car at the airport’s parking lot

Let’s begin with getting to the airport. Some of your employees may prefer to drive themselves to the airport and leave their vehicles there. They also end up paying a fortune in parking fees, which may or may not be reimbursable, depending upon your travel policy.

If airport parking is a reimbursable expense, here’s a way to reduce your spending on it: encourage your employees to reserve parking through websites that offer discounted parking sites. Premier Parking (in the UK and the US) is one of the best in the business. Other websites like On Air Parking provide the cheapest rates at a number of major airports.

Bundling airfare and cab rental services

To get your employees from the airport to the hotel and vice versa, your travel team can try bundling airfare with cab rental services. It might seem counterintuitive to add this service, like you’re paying extra. But it’s actually cheaper, since the overall price is likely to be much less than booking these services individually.

Your travel team can check travel websites and the respective airline’s website for these bundles. We tried comparing prices, and the fare for flight+car (inclusive of taxes and fees) for a round trip from Dubai to New York cost only $928!

Domestic transportation at the destination

Your travel team can provide your employees with the option to rent a car for the duration of their stay. If your firm offers company insurance, state it clearly in the travel policy so your employees avoid paying for duplicate insurance coverage.

To reduce costs on ground transportation, have your travel team sign up for a corporate Uber account. It offers centralized transportation for your employees, and your travel team can manage multiple rides at a time using the corporate account. More and more firms are moving towards Uber for their travel during business trips because of the cost savings it offers.

Accommodation

Your travel team will tell you how challenging booking hotels for your employees can be. Most hotel rooms are overpriced, and the ones that fit the budget are often not where your employees would be comfortable staying.

Again, booking in advance comes in handy and saves big bucks. In addition to early booking, there are few more ways your travel team can simultaneously pinch pennies and ensure the comfort of your employees:

Stick to the tried-and-true hotel chains

If your travel team has preferred hotel chains that fit the budget and they regularly book rooms there for your employees, it’s advisable to stick to them! These hotel chains are more likely to cut better deals and offer discounts if you’re a loyal customer.

If your firm is organizing an event or meeting at a hotel, try to accommodate your employees in the same hotel to cut down on transportation back and forth.

Contact multiple hotels before finalizing bulk bookings

Before finalizing bulk bookings, have your travel manager call up a few hotels and give them a price to compete with. You’d be surprised by the deals some hotels are likely to offer. Once you’ve gotten prices for all of them, you can select the hotel that offers the best price from the lot.

Dos and don’ts during the stay

Educate your employees about your company’s dos and don’ts for their stay at the hotel. For instance, you can ensure that mini-bar services are not covered by the firm by including a clear and specific rule in the travel policy. Your travel team can also advise your employees to limit room service and avoid hotel restaurants since they tend to be pricier.

Since the cost of food varies geographically, it’s advisable for your travel team to do some research on the city your employees are visiting and set a budget for meals based on real prices.

Providing per diems to your employees

Per diems are usually split into meals, accommodation, transportation, and incidentals. Offering per diems can help set limits around meal spending as opposed to reimbursing your employees for their actual meal expenses. One thing a per diem does is make the spending limits more real to the employee, since they’re not expecting a magical future infusion of cash to fix any missteps they make.

Accepting complimentary meals and knowing where to dine

Have your travel team train your employees to check restaurant menus along with the prices before going out to eat, so they can see which ones will fit within their budget.

Also, if the travel team is booking hotels that provide complimentary breakfasts, you can eliminate the meal reimbursement for breakfast. One employee saving $10-$20 by accepting a complimentary breakfast will add up and save your firm thousands of dollars in the long run.

Here’s one more quick tip: If you or your employees are taking your clients out for a meal, it’s less expensive to schedule a lunch meeting instead of a dinner!

A little appreciation goes a long way!

To help you succeed in cutting down on travel expenses, you can offer incentives to employees who save funds on business trips. If you think about it from the employees’ point of view, they would rather travel in extra comfort instead of saving money, since they’re not really spending from their own pockets (and even if they are spending from their own pockets, they will eventually get reimbursed). So they don’t have much motivation to save money. This is why some firms are coming up with incentive plans that let employees keep a percentage of the cost savings from the trip.

For example, Google has come up with an effective incentive policy where the company splits the unspent allotment from each trip with the employee. So, if an employee was given a limit of $1000 for accommodation and they managed to do it for $800, then they would receive a credit of $100. They can use this credit to get upgrades on their air or hotel accommodation on the next business trip.

Also, some firms offer a percentage of their per diems to the employees for their personal spending. The employees can choose to spend the money during the business trip, or return it to their firm, where the amount will be credited to their account. Either way, the employee gets to pocket a little bit of money as a reward for helping the company save.

Here’s your takeaway!

Implementing these practices in your firm is a great way to start to control your corporate travel expenses. Even if you already have an effective travel policy in place, you still may feel like you can’t cut down certain travel expenses. That’s where these best practices will help. It may seem like they only make a marginal difference, but on the whole, you will end up saving a lot.

The key goal is to save funds by cutting down unnecessary costs without causing inconvenience to your employees. With proper planning and implementation of the right practices, you can offer the best travel experience to your employees at a lower cost to the company.

One of the best practices to controlling employee spend is investing in an expense management system. By automating most processes, you can eliminate paperwork and spreadsheets, reduce admin work, and accelerate expense reporting. This is where Zoho Expense can help your firm.

Zoho Expense is online expense reporting software, tailor-made for businesses worldwide to automate expense report creation, streamline approvals, and make swift reimbursements. Try Zoho Expense for free today to improve your firm’s compliance rates and remove fraudulent expenses from the picture.

Related Posts

• 6 reasons why you should automate your expense management processes
• How to Create an Effective Corporate Travel Policy to Increase Compliance

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The Ultimate Guide to Non-Rev Travel for Airline Employees

Welcome to the world of non-rev travel, one of the most exciting perks that come with being part of the airline industry. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just embarking on your journey, this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the insights you need to make the most of your non-rev travel experiences.

Unpacking Non-Rev Travel

Non-rev, short for non-revenue, travel is a fantastic privilege extended to airline employees. It enables you to occupy unsold seats on flights to your dream destinations during your downtime, either for free or at significantly reduced rates. Not only do you get to enjoy this perk, but it often extends to your family members and even a few friends, depending on your airline’s policy. However, keep in mind that non-rev travel isn’t guaranteed. You may need to wait on the standby list and hope for spare seats on the flight.

Who Can Benefit from Non-Rev Travel?

In most cases, non-rev benefits are available to airline employees and their immediate dependents, including partners, parents, and children. Some airlines also offer a limited number of “buddy passes” to their employees, which can be given to friends. The priority for non-rev travel often depends on the “pass levels” set by the airline, with the employee and their immediate family usually given top priority on the standby list. Parents and those flying on buddy passes typically follow in that order.

Can Non-Rev Travel Be Used on All Airlines?

Although non-rev travel is not possible on all airlines, many airlines have partnerships that allow their employees to use their non-rev benefits with partner airlines through the ID90 program. However, the rules for who can non-rev with partner airlines can vary, and usually, those flying on ID90 benefits will be placed at the end of the standby priority list.

How to Navigate Non-Rev Travel?

The process of non-rev travel typically begins with using the airline’s online portal to select the desired flights. The portal provides information about the current load of each flight, helping you choose flights with lower loads to increase your chances of securing a seat. You then sign in 24 hours before your flight, giving you a standby list ranking. Arriving at the airport, you check in at the gate and wait for your name to be called. If there are no open seats, you have the option to roll over to the next flight.

Understanding Non-Rev Loads

The non-rev portal or the ID90 website provides information on flight loads, showing how many passengers are booked on each flight and how many seats are open. This is crucial for non-rev travelers to gauge their chances of getting a seat on the flight, but unfortunately, this information is not always reliable. And that’s where StaffTraveler is helpful.

How to use StaffTraveler to get Non-Rev loads?

With StaffTraveler , you can check the flight loads for the flights you wish to staff travel on. It enables you to get the accurate, reliable non-rev loads you need from your colleagues at the airline you need them from. With over 600,000 members from all airlines in the world answering more than 20,000 load requests each day, your request will be answered in no time.

How it works? Let’s say you want to staff travel from New York to Amsterdam. You post requests for the flights from JFK to AMS on the airlines you can staff travel on, on the dates you want to know the seat availability for. People at the airlines of your selected flights get a notification and answer your requests with the actual loads. You receive a notification with the updated loads, and you can decide if it’s smart to go to the airport to get that Non-Rev ticket or not.

Costs Associated with Non-Rev Travel

The cost of non-rev travel varies depending on the airline and the specific policies in place. Typically, non-revvers are not required to pay the full fare that regular passengers would pay for a ticket. However, associated fees or charges are usually involved, such as taxes, service fees, or airport fees. These costs can vary and may be different for each airline.

Advantages of Non-Rev Travel

The benefits of non-rev travel are crystal clear: it’s affordable and offers unmatched flexibility. This perk allows you to explore the world at a fraction of the usual cost.

Disadvantages of Non-Rev Travel

While non-rev travel offers a world of benefits, it also has its challenges. These might include the need to find alternate routes to your destination, the possibility of not securing a seat and having to delay or cancel your trip, or the potential of spending a considerable time waiting at the airport. Therefore, patience and flexibility are key to a successful non-rev travel experience. But to be more informed if you will get that standby ticket or not, you can use StaffTraveler to get Non-Rev loads.

Start planning

Non-rev travel is a unique perk that comes with being an airline employee. While navigating the system may seem complicated at first, with a good understanding of how it works, you’ll soon find yourself jetting off to those destinations you’ve always dreamed of visiting. So, why wait? Start planning your next adventure and take full advantage of the wonders that non-rev travel brings to your life as an airline employee.

Download the StaffTraveler app and join for free to make your non-rev trips easy and stress-free by acquiring reliable and up-to-date flight loads from the world’s largest airline community.

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How to plan your staff travel trip like a pro

Finally, it’s here! You’ve been waiting for this since I have started this series. While I am preparing the etiquette guide , and after I have bored you with the rules guide and the general guide , I realized the next logical step is writing this guide on how to plan your staff travel trip using your benefits.

I know, I like to create suspense. It’s what I call “you have to work for it!”. And, also, my tips about how to plan your trip are useless without the first part. You planned for nothing if you had no idea about the visa you need. And, as you’ll see in the next part, everything is useless if you’re a jerk that shouldn’t be left out in society.

So, without further useless words, let’s dig into the best advice to make your trips the best you have while paying almost nothing because you’re one of us. You can read the short version in the following infografic that you can also pin for later, and you can download it from the form at the bottom of the page.

General tips to plan your staff travel trip

1. if possible, travel light with carry-on only..

I cannot emphasize this enough. I would write it in gold letters if I wouldn’t hate the color with all of my strength.

We very rarely travel with a piece of checked baggage , and usually only when it’s a long trip and cannot make it work without like we did in Japan. The flexibility this provides you is unmatched.

Let me present you with some scenarios that may happen to you, and how it goes depending on your checked luggage:

• Look for your next available flight
• proceed to the gate.
• do passport control
• have your visa set up (which you need to know before boarding your first leg)
• get your luggage
• check customs
• find your next flight depending on the time you have now
• go to the check-in desk with your luggage again
• do the security check again
• do the passport control again
• Were you denied boarding right from the start? Both scenarios highlighted above apply. The only difference here is the less problematic situation of the visa since you were already in that country. Also, if you’re leaving from “home”, it’s easier to go home and take a flight on the next day, and the checked luggage doesn’t help or annoy you in this case, except for, you know, carrying it around.
• Tight connection and two separate airlines, so the luggage doesn’t automatically go through? Without luggage – run between the two gates like there’s no tomorrow. With luggage – you cannot book this flight. You will never be able to make it to your connection if you have to do the luggage transfer yourself. And even if you decide to do this, you have to be very aware of your needed time, and your estimations can be way off the chart. You cannot estimate how long the immigration queue might be, or have no idea on the security checks that might slow you down.
• Do you have to run to another airport? Without luggage – get out of the airport -> get on a taxi -> get to the new airport -> proceed to security -> proceed to passport control -> proceed to the gate With luggage – wait for and get your checked luggage -> get out of the airport -> get on a taxi -> get to the new airport -> get to the check-in desk -> proceed to security -> proceed to passport control -> proceed to the gate

Now, spot at least 3 differences between every 2 scenarios. If you have difficulties, close your eyes and imagine doing everything with a huge bag tied to your hand or back

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2. Every piece of luggage should have the things important for the person carrying it.

If you have to split the party, you should have everything necessary with you. Pay special attention to important documents, any medicine, cell phones and chargers, laptops (especially the one you use to make reservations) and your badge (that can also be requested at any time).

Also, if you have to get a later flight and you have to spend the night somewhere in Hong Kong, you would want to have YOUR underwear with you, not your aunt’s. Just sayin’…

3. Plan your time Fly on Tuesdays or Thursdays, or at impossible hours.

Who goes away on a Tuesday or Thursday, right? You, that’s who. Otherwise, you have this:

• Mondays – business people leave on business trips
• Wednesdays – Long weekend trips usually start on Wednesday, but it’s still a pretty good option.
• Fridays – those business people from point 1 come back home from work
• Saturdays – people usually leave on vacation on Saturdays
• Sundays – people usually come back from vacation on Sundays

On the same note, if you can, take the red-eye. No one likes the red-eye. You don’t like it either, but you tend to hate it less when it’s almost free. Plus, some people might miss the flight because they couldn’t wake up/get ready/beat the traffic in time. Their failure = your success.

4. Choose destinations with more flights per day

Especially in the beginning, when you want to try things out. Something I truly recommend. This is how we got to see Stockholm , and we ended up loving it.

Don’t go to the Maldives on your first trip. You probably have one or two flights per WEEK. If you miss it, you’re screwed. Half of your vacation is gone, and flying 12 hours to stay there for 3 days is useless.

Choose these destinations only if you have benefits on many airlines and you can leverage them out neatly, getting you to miss at most 10-12 hours.

5. Choose obscure destinations

Or maybe only the entry point. For your Japan trip for example, you can choose Nagoya over Tokyo or Osaka. Not so many people go there, and you will probably move around the country anyway.

And, who knows, you might discover some pretty cool places and enjoy them in a less crowded fashion.

6. Geography is your friend

Learn all the big hubs on every continent, especially the ones where the best airlines go. Also, keep in mind that some hubs provide better connections for some destinations, and you should also know these.

When you’ll be unexpectedly denied boarding on the non-stop flight, you’ll immediately know what are your options, instead of running around in circles, panicking and sweating. You’ll also look smarter like you know what you’re doing.

7. Geometry is your friend

I can just imagine your mind blown by this one.

If there’s no direct flight available with your airline, choose to take a star-shaped approach: go with your company in a hub as close as possible to your target destination, and from there take a short flight (probably there are more per day), either standby or a usual ticket.

You’ll get to leverage your priority, maybe even score a Business class for the long leg, which may not be an option in other cases.

If you want to go from New York to Paris, and your company takes you to Frankfurt, use this option. The long flight is probably once per day, but from Frankfurt, you can get to Paris using so many options, some of them are low cost, some other may be trains or other means of transportation.

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8. What if…?

Plan and have ready all of your options for all the “What if?”s that may happen. If decision charts are your thing, do one for every trip. Potential things to put on the list can be, but are not limited to:

• You need to split the party between classes
• You are faced with a downgrade on a long haul
• You need to split across multiple flights, and some of the fliers are kids, so they cannot fly alone.

You need to discuss this with your fellow travelers. ALL of them need to know what to do in every case.

You need to answer right away when asked by the staff about your decisions. And you need to act on this decision right away since there’s probably no time to give tasks to people at that point.

Your best bet? Probably you should remain the last to get on the flight, so you can handle everything. You can rarely do stuff while flying, so you have to take care of everyone before take-off. No pressure…

9. Research all possible routes

And order them by priority. And I mean ALL possible routes. Look at our plan when we were getting ready to go to Japan:

You may only have a few minutes to get to your next best option, and you don’t want to miss a potential lead while you’re busy looking for it.

Also don’t forget the time you would need if you have to get out and take your checked luggage, and maybe check it in again. That’s why I have decided to put rule 1 where it is.

10. Buy firm booked (confirmed)

If you have to be somewhere. Also, buy it for one day earlier than needed. In case of being offloaded, you’ll get to the destination in 24 hours anyway.

It’s pricier, but it’s still nowhere near the market price, and you get less risk and more peace of mind. You have to choose your battles at some point, and you need to know where that point is.

How to be prepared when traveling standby?

11. free cancellation.

Everything you reserve should have this mark on it. Accommodation, tours, on line bought entries to landmarks, visas with an expiration date – you name it.

All of these should have either a free cancellation policy in place or a loose interval in which you can use them. Sometimes even a day’s buffer may be of help. Or even a free cancellation until the day right before the trip.

12. Book like a pro

For your accommodation, make 2 reservations:

• one for the big vacation, let’s say a week.
• one for the first night, at the same hotel.

If you don’t get there, you lose the money for your first night, not for the whole reservation. The big one you can cancel if you’re not getting there at all because you have already applied tip #11.

Another option you have is to reserve the first night at the gate when you know you’re going to fly. The previous reservation should be made in advance though, because you may not find rooms available last minute.

13. Be organized

All the research that you do, keep it where it’s easy to access. A favorites file is always a good idea, but you can work with a notes file, a bookmarks folder, or even a printed version of everything.

My personal favorite for this is Trello, and I’ll explain why in a future post. Yeah, I must be fun at parties…

14. Prepare for the worse

Always be prepared if needed to spend your night in a hub, on your way to Indonesia (random choice, of course). You have to research hotels and things to do, you need to have all your basics with you and you need to know this may happen at any time.

Also, you need to have money to pay for any unexpected expenses that will appear. Deduct this amount from the bucket you’re saving by flying standby, and you’ll feel less stressed.

15. Always be prepared to pay your ticket in full

If you’re not getting on a flight for a few days, you might bite the bullet and pay in full. You cannot just lay around and wait for someone to miss their flight.

With the overbooking being more and more the norm across the aviation world, you might get old waiting for a seat for you.

16. Always have snacks, basic toiletries, and entertainment with you

If a layover is longer than needed, you will want to take a short “shower” in a toilet in the airport, so you don’t stink when you finally get on the flight. Or even worse, get bumped out because of it.

If there’s no more food on board, you will be grateful for the bag of chips you bought yesterday at 20% of their price from the airport.

If the entertainment system is broken on one of the seats on that flight, you bet that’s going to be your seat. You’ll be happy you took my advice and you have your reMarkable full of books, or your tablet or laptop full of movies. They are good on long layovers as well. And reading is generally good for you.

Final thoughts

Phew, that was a long one. And I am SO sure I’m going to add more to it over time, once I get new ideas or learn new tricks. In the end, as long as it helps people, I would be delighted to make this guide better and better.

For now, this is the second part of this series. I hope you enjoyed it. I loved writing it and I was thinking of doing so since I started enjoying my staff travel benefits. I loved planning trips anyway, I always love a bargain, so this is like a paradise to me.

Let me know in the comments if you find it useful. And don’t forget to read the other episodes of this series:

• Pilot – How to fly standby like a pro
• Part I – Know the rules like a priest
• Part III – Behave like a gentleman/lady

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StaffTraveler 17+

Non-rev flight loads & deals, stafftraveler solutions b.v., designed for ipad.

• 4.9 • 5.1K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Get reliable flight loads for the flights you wish to staff travel on. Staff travel, Non-rev, Interline, ID90, ZED travel, call it what you want... We, airline crew, love to travel! StaffTraveler gets you the seat availability for the flights you wish to staff travel on. Making staff travel easy and stress-free! - Get the loads for the flights you want to non-rev on - Stay in the loop with live flight status updates - Exclusive hotel deals, only for StaffTravelers - Rental cars anywhere. Easy & fast - Insider city tips from the worldwide airline community Here at StaffTraveler, our mission is to make it easier for you to find and keep track of your best flight options. Please note that you need to be eligible for staff travel to use StaffTraveler.

Version 2.29.1

Bugfix release The pop-up for the new eSIM was not showing correctly, that has now been fixed.

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5.1K Ratings

A non-rev passenger’s dream

I never leave app reviews but this app is so amazing I felt compelled to. We were recently scrambling to get out of Honolulu after our plane broke and caused a snowball effect of all the other flights filling up. This app helped us easily and effortlessly ID90 back to the mainland. Since then we’ve become addicted to helping others by submitting loads and gaining credits. This app is extremely helpful and well designed. I do have two minor criticisms though and they both entail working with the newest iOS on an iPhone XS Max. The bottom icons (tips, loads etc) are illegible and hidden with the “swipe up bar.” The same goes for the scroll wheel when adding loads - it’s too easy to scroll and accidentally swipe up switching apps or worse, closing the app. And lastly, at the very top left near the back arrow under the time, if you are using any other app (phone for example) it’s nearly impossibly to hit the back arrow and not the inactive app. This becomes frustrating when you are multi-tasking and trying do things quickly. These are just simple fixes of the UI and would make the app work even more seamlessly. Overall I am very impressed with the robustness is this app and am so thankful something like it exists.

Developer Response ,

Hi there! Wow, thank you for the incredible review and the positive feedback! Great to hear we were able to help you get back home safe and sound! We are looking at improving the app especially for iPhone X Max and XS max users. When we designed the app, these phones weren't out yet and we're going to make some changes in the near future to make it easy to use on all phones! Thanks again, feedback like this makes us more dedicated to making this app even better for all non-rev users!

Multiple flts

I think this is thee absolute best app for flt crew ever!!! It requires us to help each other, what a concept!!! This is the way we should operate! Just one suggestion, that there be a way to apply a multi-leg segment option when it’s time to find the flt info for crew. When someone Send a request and it’s time for u to load in the numbers, we can only submit the load for one flt but what if the requestee has a connecting flt there’s no space for us to enter info for their 2nd segment. We don’t always get to take nonstops. Also can u explain why when I’m answering a request, many times I will hit the request and it opens up as if I got it, but it will disappear seconds later saying someone else got it first. Then why would it open on my screen as if I got it? Otherwise I LOVE STAFFTRAVELER!!!!

Thank you for joining and for your awesome feedback! You can already search for multi-leg flights by unchecking the 'Direct flights only' on the search results screen when searching flights. I wish you many happy flights!

Lifesaver for Commuters

First of all: Don’t expect to get loads on DL. They never respond, or (if you’re lucky) they respond just hours before departure when you’ve already made alternate plans. AA is bigger, and I always get responses from them, so I don’t buy the “They’re just inundated with requests” excuse. With that said, this app is essential for commuters. It has saved my bacon many times. In todays climate of crew shortages and cancelled flights, you need to be able to check changing loads on the fly so you can quickly move to plan B, C, or D to get to where you need to go. Yes, answering requests is very competitive, but if you put the time in you’ll be fine.

Hi! Thank you so much for your elaborate feedback! We really appreciate it! Besides the fact that DL is known to respond slowly, DL members also only get access to the loads 72 hours before the flight's departure. So that is as well a reason why they tend to let your request wait. Glad you are enjoying the rest of the app though. Feel free to message us at [email protected] if you have anymore questions. have a wonderful day! ✈️

App Privacy

The developer, StaffTraveler Solutions B.V. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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Travelling for work: expenses, reimbursements, and allowances

27 May 2022

By Katrina Sullivan

Not everyone enjoys commuting to work in the mornings, but for some employees, travelling for work is an inescapable part of their job. We’re not just talking about people like airline attendants or taxi drivers, for whom travelling is the very essence of their role , but also employees such as salespeople who are required to attend face-to-face meetings, area managers who visit numerous stores or sites, and vets or doctors who make house calls.

If you have employees who are required to travel away from their primary place of employment for work-related purposes, you must be suitably compensating them for such work.

In this article, we explain what travelling for work entails and the importance of getting expenses, reimbursements, and allowances right every time. So, let’s get into it.

If you have employees who are travelling for work as a required part of their duties, it’s important that you clearly outline how the travel expenses will be paid. Some examples include:

• the business provides the employee with the property they can use for work-related travel purposes such as a company car, a fuel card, or vouchers;
• the business bears the travel expenses by booking and paying for transport, accommodation, and meals in advance;
• the employee bears the travel expenses and is later reimbursed that amount by the business; or
• the employee is provided with a travel allowance or lump sum payment to cover the anticipated costs of travel.

Whichever method you choose for your business, it needs to be communicated to your employees. If an employee is allocated company property like a motor vehicle or fuel card, you should also think about whether the employee is permitted to utilise it for reasonable personal use or whether it should be strictly confined to authorised business use.

Reimbursements

If you’re required to reimburse your employees under their relevant award or enterprise agreement or work on a system of reimbursement of expenses incurred by an employee while undertaking work for the business, read on! You need to make sure you advise your employees to obtain and keep receipts for all expenses which should be produced to the business before the reimbursement will be made.

We also recommend that you implement a policy outlining what’ll be considered reasonable and unreasonable expenses or requiring that expenses be approved in advance by the business if you prefer.

Nearly every modern award , and some enterprise agreements, contain some form of vehicle or travelling allowance intended to compensate employees for the inconvenience of out-of-pocket expenses of travel. This is commonly expressed as a per-kilometre rate so you should require such employees to keep a detailed logbook of their work-related travel including recording the odometer at the start and end of each journey to ensure you’re paying them the correct allowance.

For salaried employees, you may wish to incorporate a vehicle allowance into the annualised salary amount. This’ll require an estimate of the kilometres the employee is expected to travel during the year, which may not always be easy to calculate. If in doubt, round up and round up again – the last thing you want is an underpayment claim when we’re only talking about a matter of cents per kilometre travelled.

Travelling time

Employees should usually be paid for time spent travelling for work-related purposes, as it’s part of their duties as much as answering phones, writing reports, or providing customer service.

Time spent getting to and from work doesn’t normally need to be compensated; the costs of this travel are borne by the employees themselves. There are exceptions to this under some awards or enterprise agreements, such as if the employee is being temporarily relocated from their primary place of work. Check the relevant award or agreement before deciding whether to pay for such travel.

Keeping track of travel expenses, reimbursements, and allowances can be tricky, but you can’t afford to get it wrong. For more information about how to manage travel for work, please reach out to our experts via our 24/7 Telephone Advisory Service .

Katrina Sullivan is a Workplace Relations Advisor at FCB and HR Assured. She provides specialised advice and support to multiple clients regarding a wide range of workplace and employment matters. She is particularly interested in the areas of industrial law policy development and employment dispute management.

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You can pick a collection date when you're ordering your money. Order before 2pm and you can pick up Euros and US Dollars from most Tesco Travel Money bureaux the next day. Other currencies can take up to five days. Alternatively, you can order any currency for next weekday delivery to most of the selected customer service desks.

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We can send your travel money directly to you via secure Royal Mail Special Delivery. You can even pick the delivery date that suits you best.

We also offer next-day home delivery on all currencies to most parts of the UK if ordered before 2pm Monday-Thursday.

Check the Royal Mail site to find out if your postcode is eligible for next day delivery

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No matter how you purchase your travel money, whether it be in store, online or over the phone, you will not be charged any card handling fee by us. However, regardless of your card type, your card provider may apply fees, e.g. cash advance fees or other fees, so please check with them before you purchase your travel money.

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You can cancel a Click & Collect order any time prior to collection. We'll refund you with the full Sterling amount that you paid for your order, unless you cancel less than 24 hours before your collection date, in which case we'll charge a £10 late cancellation fee.

We are unable to refund any fees charged by your card issuer, so please contact them if you have any further queries.

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Let us turn your unspent holiday money into Pounds. It couldn't be simpler.

Just pop into one of our in-store Travel Money Bureaux when you get home. We buy back all the currencies we sell in most banknote values and also the Multi-currency Cash Passport™. Buy back rates may vary during the day.

It doesn't matter where you bought your travel money, even if it wasn't from a Tesco Travel Money Bureau, we'll still buy it back.

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If you find a better exchange rate advertised by another provider within three miles of your chosen Tesco Travel Money Bureau, on the same day, we'll match it.

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Tips for How to Maximize Your Travel Nurse Pay

• In the United States, travel registered nurses (RNs) make on average $43,020 more per year than staff RNs.
• Travel RN pay is affected by many factors including location, specialty, living arrangements, and contract negotiations.
• Boosting your travel RN pay is a matter of knowing how to leverage your travel nursing career.

As a travel nurse, you can make a considerable amount of money, more than you would as a staff nurse. Explore tips from travel nurses on ways to bring home even more pay while on and off assignments.

Salary Comparison: Travel Nurses vs. Staff Nurses

When comparing the salaries of both travel and staff RNs in the U.S., travel nursing could be an option if you want to boost your nursing pay overall. According to ZipRecruiter, as of March 2023 the average travel RN salary is $118,400 in comparison to $75,380 for staff RNs. That’s a $43,020 pay differential.

Travel Registered Nurses $118,400*

Staff Registered Nurses $75,380*

*Average Salary in the United States (2023) Sources: ZipRecruiter.com ; ZipRecruiter.com

Alaina Ross, BSN, RN, a postanesthesia care unit travel RN, typically makes between 30-50% more as a travel nurse (includes housing stipend) than as a staff nurse. She says, “You have much more leverage in negotiating pay as a traveler, and as such, it generally pays better.”

Lack of benefits is also a factor. You get a higher salary as a travel nurse because you typically do not receive the hospital or facility benefits that a staff RN would (for instance,. health insurance, retirement matching, bonuses, raises, and union benefits).

While travel RNs are reportedly paid a higher salary than that of staff RNs, there are specific factors that can have a direct impact on pay.

Popular MSN Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Factors That Affect Travel Nurse Pay

Where you work can have a significant effect on your pay. Ross mentions that her California contracts have paid twice as much as her Texas contracts. Due to staffing shortages and higher cost of living, some states and cities simply pay more. It’s also important to take into account how you will be taxed for working in a state.

According to ZipRecruiter as of March 2023 , New York, New Hampshire, and Arizona are the highest-paying states for travel nursing.

These are the top five highest-paying U.S. cities for travel nurses as of March 2023.

Source: ZipRecruiter

Nursing Specialty

Travel nursing pay may be affected by your nursing specialty. ZipRecruiter reported that as of March 2023, travel RNs working in nursing speciality positions are paid between $50,630- $63,060 more than the average RN travel nurse salary of $118,400.

These are the top five highest-paying travel nursing specialties as of March 2023.

Living Arrangements

Your decision to take a housing stipend or the company-provided housing can affect your travel nurse pay. A housing stipend is the extra money that a travel nursing agency pays you to find a place to live while on assignment. Choosing the housing stipend option can significantly increase your overall pay, especially if you manage to find a very affordable living arrangement.

4 Tips to Boost Your Travel Nurse Pay/Find High-Paying Assignments

Boosting your travel nurse pay places extra cash in your pockets for exploring the new city on your days off, advancing your career, saving for retirement, or paying off debt. Here are four tips to help boost your pay.

1 | Find a good recruiter.

A good recruiter goes above and beyond to find assignments that fit your specific needs. Tell your recruiter exactly how much you want to be paid. Ross advises, “Tell them your desired locations, contract lengths, minimum pay thresholds, and see what they can round up.”

A great way to locate good recruiters is to join online travel nursing communities (e.g., The Gypsy Nurse ) and social networking groups (e.g., LinkedIn or Facebook) to connect with other travel nurses for recommendations.

2 | Choose assignments that are in high demand.

You can receive a higher salary if you choose assignments in states that have a high nursing shortage . You can also work in geographically remote or unpopular locations.

Ross says, “I cannot tell you how many texts I get from travel nurse recruiters who offer ungodly amounts of money to go work in undesirable locations.”

High-demand crisis assignments are another way to increase your travel nurse pay. According to March 2023 Ziprecruiter data, crisis travel RNs make an average of $150,560 per year.

3 | Be selective with the assignments you take.

You have a right to decline an assignment if it does not meet your pay expectations. Ross says, “Travel nurses today have a lot of power and you can afford to be choosy.”

Work with several recruiters and choose from a variety of assignments offered to you. Remember that recruiters are working for you. Ross notes, “I just sit back and review text messages when they find contracts that might fit.”

4 | Take the housing stipend and find cheaper housing.

Ross recommends taking the housing stipend if given the choice. She states, “Stipends can make a big difference in net pay as you can usually find housing for cheaper.” For half of her assignments, she lived in an RV with her husband to save on housing costs.

While you may not own an RV, you can rent a room in someone’s home or stay in extended-stay hotels. You can also work with a short-term housing rental company like Airbnb or Vrbo to save on housing costs.

How to Make Extra Money as a Travel Nurse

A great way to make extra money as a travel nurse is to work a part-time or freelance nursing job on the side or in between assignments. You can find these positions on job boards (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor). Here are five ways to make some extra cash.

Telenursing

As a telehealth nurse, you can work remotely as a telephonic triage nurse, virtual nurse coach, or telephonic case manager. Telehealth nurses make an average of $36 an hour, according to March 2023 ZipRecruiter data.

Private Duty Nursing

As a private duty nurse, you can work flexible shifts one-on-one with patients in their homes. According to ZipRecruiter , as of March 2023 private duty nurses make an average of $36 an hour.

Health Writing

Use your knowledge of the healthcare field to write health-related articles for blog sites, publications, and even pharmaceutical companies. You can get paid a flat rate per word or per article.

National Council Licensing Exam Prep Writing

Create practice test questions and other valuable learning materials for the nursing licensing exam that can be used by education companies like Test Prep Insight.

Nursing Tutoring

Give back by supporting student nurses on their road to success. Education companies like Kaplan and Smarthinking by Pearson hire nursing tutors.

Overall, maximizing your pay as a travel nurse can have excellent personal and professional benefits. Choose your path, weigh your options, and enjoy your assignment.

Meet Our Contributor

Alaina Ross, RN, BSN

Alaina Ross has 10 years of experience as a pre-op and PACU nurse. Ross is also an expert contributor for Test Prep Insight , a test prep company that helps nursing students prepare for exams like the TEAS and NCLEX.

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• Jamaica - Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
• Japan - Japanese Yen (JPY)
• Jordan - Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
• Kenya - Kenyan Shilling (KES)
• Kiribati - Australian Dollar (AUD)
• Korea, Republic of - South Korean Won (KRW)
• Kuwait - Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)
• Liechtenstein - Swiss Franc (CHF)
• Lithuania - Euro (EUR)
• Luxembourg - Euro (EUR)
• Malaysia - Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
• Malta - Euro (EUR)
• Marshall Islands - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Martinique - Euro (EUR)
• Mauritius - Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
• Mayotte - Euro (EUR)
• Mexico - Mexican Peso (MXN)
• Micronesia, Federated States of - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Monaco - Euro (EUR)
• Montenegro - Euro (EUR)
• Montserrat - East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
• Nauru - Australian Dollar (AUD)
• Netherlands - Euro (EUR)
• Niue - New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
• Norfolk Island - Australian Dollar (AUD)
• Northern Mariana Islands - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Norway - Norwegian Krone (NOK)
• Oman - Omani Rial (OMR)
• Palau - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Panama - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Peru - Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN)
• Philippines - Philippine Peso (PHP)
• Pitcairn - New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
• Poland - Polish Zloty (PLN)
• Portugal - Euro (EUR)
• Puerto Rico - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Qatar - Qatari Riyal (QAR)
• Saint Barthélemy - Euro (EUR)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis - East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
• Saint Lucia - East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
• Saint Martin (French part) - Euro (EUR)
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
• San Marino - Euro (EUR)
• Saudi Arabia - Saudi Riyal (SAR)
• Singapore - Singapore Dollar (SGD)
• Slovakia - Euro (EUR)
• Slovenia - Euro (EUR)
• South Africa - South African Rand (ZAR)
• Spain - Euro (EUR)
• Sweden - Swedish Krona (SEK)
• Taiwan - New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
• Timor-Leste - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Tokelau - New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
• Türkiye - Turkish New Lira (TRY)
• Turks and Caicos Islands - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Tuvalu - Australian Dollar (AUD)
• Vietnam - Vietnamese Dong (VND)
• Virgin Islands, British - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• Virgin Islands, U.S. - U.S. Dollar (USD)
• No matches found

Exchange rates may vary depending on whether you buy instore, online or by phone.

^ Travel money cards are available on selected currencies only.

Buy travel money

Buy, exchange money and order foreign currency online, by phone, or at our bureaux.  

How to get travel money with Sainsbury’s Bank

Need holiday money? Order currency online, by phone or visit a Sainsbury’s store with a bureau today. Or get a Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card for easy and secure spending overseas.  

There are various ways to buy travel money with Sainsbury’s Bank. Choose the method that’s easiest for you. 

1.    Buy currency online for home delivery.  2.    Order currency online and collect instore. 4-hour click and collect available. T&Cs apply.  3.    Buy currency via telephone. 4.    Visit one of our bureaux to buy currency in a Sainsbury’s store.  

Buy a prepaid travel money card

Our travel money card makes it safe and easy to manage and spend your holiday money.  1.     Order for collection – Collect your travel money card from your nearest Sainsbury’s Bank bureau. 2.     Order for delivery – We’ll send your travel money card straight to you. 3.     Download the app or log in online  – Check your balance, exchange between currencies, top up and manage your account.  

Where can you get foreign currency with Sainsbury’s?

Get travel money delivered to you.

Order online or by phone and we’ll mail your holiday money to you securely via special delivery. Order more than £400 of foreign currency and get free delivery.  

Collect travel money instore

Visit a store with an instore travel bureau to collect your travel money on your next weekly shop.

In a hurry? You can now order and collect Euros, US Dollars, and Travel Money Card pre-paid orders in as little as 4 hours with our click and collect travel money service^.

Click and collect currency the same day at a Sainsbury’s Bank travel money bureau when you:

• Order Euros, US Dollars, or a Travel Money Card
• Place your order on a Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays), and
• Order at least 4hr before the bureau’s scheduled closure time

For orders made outside of this period, or for any other currency, you will be able to select your preferred collection date when placing your online order.   

Get your travel money card delivered to you

We’ll send your travel money card straight to you, with your PIN arriving separately for security.  

Visit one of our bureaux 

We have stores with instore travel bureaux across the UK where you can pick up holiday money on the day.  

Why use Sainsbury’s Bank for foreign currency

• Wide range of currencies, including USD and EUR We offer over 50 different foreign currencies, so it’s easy to get the holiday money you need.
• Nectar Prices Nectar members get better exchange rates both online, on the phone and at our bureaux. See our Nectar member benefits .*
• Currency buy-back  Got holiday money left over when you get home? We’ll buy back most foreign currency, so you’re not out of pocket. 
• Pick up your travel money in one of our stores Within travel bureaux  across the UK, it’s convenient to pick up holiday money as you shop with Sainsbury’s Bank.
• Multiple ways to order and receive travel money Order online or by telephone, collect instore or receive holiday money by post – the choice is yours.
• 24/7 telephone assistance and online portal   Our team are on hand to help with your travel money card any time of the day or night, no matter where you are in the world. 
• Access to Western Union You can send an international money transfer instore with  Western Union Money Transfer® services .

Choose your foreign currency

From Euro and US Dollar to Swedish Krona and Japanese Yen, we have more than 50 foreign currencies from all over the world. 

Take a look at our most popular currencies.

Add to your travel money card to withdraw and spend on holiday.

US Dollar (USD)

Order by telephone and receive your travel money in the post.

Dirham (AED)

Order online for bureau collection or buy directly instore.

Turkish Lira (TRK)

Buy travel money at one of our bureaux de change.

Thai Baht (THB)

Order currency online and get free delivery over £400.

Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Get a travel money card instore to use on holiday in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any administration fees.

No, we don't charge any administration fees when you order currency from us.

Will I be charged for using my credit/debit card?

No, we don’t charge any extra when you buy foreign currency by card.

Some card providers may charge a cash advance fee and interest for buying currencies. Cash advance fees will not show on your travel money order, but you’ll be able to see them on your card statement. If you’re not sure, you should check with your card issuer.

There is no cash advance fee when you use a Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Card. No interest will be charged, as long as the full outstanding balance on the credit card is cleared during the current billing cycle. If a balance remains on the account at the end of the billing cycle, interest will be charged and may apply to the currency purchased.

Do I get any benefits for being a Nectar member?

Yes, you do. If you tell us your Nectar card number when you place your order, we’ll give you a better exchange rate*. Not a Nectar member? Sign up today .

When will I receive my home delivery order?

You can select a specific working day delivery date up to seven days in advance. Please note Saturday deliveries are not guaranteed. Also, if you’ve chosen a Monday delivery, Royal Mail may try to deliver on Saturday.

The earliest day you’ll be able to select for delivery is:

What are the home delivery fees?

How much money can i order online.

Orders for collection at any Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Bureau or for home delivery are subject to a maximum value of £4,500 per person per day.

All home delivery orders are subject to a minimum value of £100** and a maximum of £2,500. There is no minimum order value for orders for collection at a Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Bureau.

How long will my travel money card take to arrive?

We’ll send out your travel money card as soon as you order it, so it should be with you in three to five working days. You can also get a travel money card immediately at our bureaux if you need yours at short notice. 

Can I exchange unused travel money?

Yes, we can buy back your foreign currency. Just bring your unused currency back to a Sainsbury’s Bank travel money bureau and we’ll exchange it back to sterling. Please note that we can buy back notes but not coins. 

Terms and conditions

*Nectar members receive better exchange rates on single purchase transactions of all available foreign currencies. Excludes travel money card home delivery orders and online reloads. Exchange rates may vary depending on whether you buy instore, online or by phone.© You need to tell us your Nectar card number at the time of your transaction. No cash alternative is available. We reserve the right to change or cancel this offer without notice.

**You can order currency for a secure home delivery by 1pm on the day of your choice by Royal Mail (Mon- Sat). For next day delivery your order needs to be confirmed before 2pm (Mon- Fri). Please note that whilst Royal Mail make every effort to delivery on schedule, we cannot guarantee this as it is beyond our control. Highlands and Islands (including Channel Islands) are not guaranteed next day delivery. Delivery is free on all cash orders £400 or more (£4.99 for orders between £100 and £399.99). The minimum order for home delivery is £100. The delivery day quoted is dependent on the order day being a working day; if one of those days is a public holiday then additional day(s) will be added accordingly. All home delivery orders are sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery, unless we advise you otherwise, to your billing address, and a signature will be required upon delivery. A valid telephone number is required for home delivery. ^ For Euro, US Dollar and Travel Money Card only:

If you selected same-day collection your order will be available 4 hours from the initial order confirmation email received or if your order was placed before 6 am then the earliest your order will be available to collect is from 10 am. Please allow at least 4 hours for your order to be processed. Remember to check the bureau opening hours before collecting your order.

If you selected tomorrow or a future date your order will be ready from 10 am on your chosen collection date. For all other currencies

Your order will be available from 2.00 pm on your chosen collection date.

Your order should be collected within 72 hours or will be subject to cancellation. Sainsbury's Bank Travel Money Card is issued by PrePay Technologies Limited pursuant to license by Mastercard International. PrePay Technologies Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900010) for the issuing of electronic money and payment instruments. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.  

Find more Terms & Conditions here

Nectar prices for Nectar members*

FinanceBuzz

12 Ways To Keep Your Personal Data Safe While Traveling

Posted: January 15, 2024 | Last updated: January 15, 2024

Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter or a weekend warrior, every adventure comes with a hidden risk: the threat to your digital security.

While pickpockets and lost passports are travel woes of old, modern dangers lurk in the shadows of Wi-Fi hotspots and public charging stations.

So, step up your travel game with these essential cybersecurity tips and keep your data safe wherever your journeys take you.

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If you’re staying in a hotel while traveling, your internet connection likely won’t be secure. That gives hackers an easy way to steal your data.

One of the best ways to protect your data in these situations is by using a virtual private network or VPN. This is a great way to encrypt data and hide your IP address from prying eyes.

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Disable auto-connect

When you are at home, the odds are good that you select the auto-connect option for your Wi-Fi and internet connection for convenience. However, leaving this setting activated means you might accidentally connect to a nefarious network when traveling.

So, before you travel, turn off this feature on your phone, laptop, tablet, and other electronic devices, just to be safe.

Update your devices

While it is important to ensure your internet connection is secure, it’s equally vital that the devices you use to connect to the web are also secure.

Before you travel, fully update all electronic devices you plan to take. And if you have downloaded any security software, make sure that gets updated as well.

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Bring your own chargers

There are a host of clever travel scams that data thieves can use to steal your information. One of the more difficult-to-detect schemes is “juice jacking.”

To commit this crime, scammers could potentially load malware on USB port charging stations. You can find these free stations in busy areas such as airports and the lobbies of hotels.

It is important to note that while “juice jacking” is technically possible, the Federal Communications Commission says there are no confirmed instances where it has been used.

Still, it makes sense to play it safe and use your own portable charger to charge devices.

Enable two-factor authentication

Odds are good that your email, social media accounts, and many apps have asked you to enable two-factor authentication. Make sure you do so before traveling so you can protect your data.

Instead of simply requiring a password, two-factor authentication also asks for a code or PIN. This request is usually sent to another device, such as your phone or computer.

While two-factor authentication doesn’t make your accounts hack-proof, it does provide a bit of extra security.

Back up your data

Securing your data isn’t just about protecting it from a security breach. Instead, you also want to prepare for such a breach in case it happens despite your best efforts.

Backing up information can help you recover if your data is breached. If you're hacked and have to wipe your devices, it helps to have that information backed up safely at home.

So, transfer a copy of this important data to a USB or external hard drive.

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Use device managers

An easy way for hackers to steal your personal information is by stealing your devices. The risk of such a theft looms large when traveling, especially to popular tourist destinations.

If your device is stolen, having a tracker or manager can be a tremendous help, as it can help you track where the device is.

Apple has a tracker called Find My, which can track any number of Apple products. Android has Google Find My Device.

Change passwords before and after your trip

A strong password is one of the best ways to protect your accounts and information. Changing your passwords frequently works even better.

So, change passwords before you travel to something especially strong. When you return home, change passwords again. That way, if anyone stole your passwords while you were traveling, they couldn’t get into your accounts.

Also, ensure each account has its unique password rather than sharing a single one among all accounts.

Be discrete

While many hackers use advanced, sneaky techniques to steal your data, some hackers use simple tricks like looking over your shoulder and snooping.

Using a VPN can help protect your data, but it won’t stop people from snooping. If you’re using a phone or laptop in public, be careful to shield your screen.

Ensure that people aren’t watching you when you enter sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.

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Ask for a loaner device

If you’re traveling for work or school, consider asking your company or school if it will lend you a work-specific phone or computer so you can protect your personal information.

These devices usually have their own encryption and can be wiped clean of data when you get back home and return them to your company’s IT department.

Keep an eye on your devices

While it may seem obvious, an important way to protect the data on your devices is by keeping an eye on the devices themselves. Don’t leave your phone or computer unsupervised in public spaces, and be wary of pickpockets in popular tourist spots.

Similarly, keep your devices locked in the safety lockbox when leaving your hotel room. That way, no one with access to your room can steal your information.

Limit what you store digitally

Most of our information is stored digitally now, including data associated with our bank accounts and credit cards. However, if you can avoid storing it digitally when traveling, you should.

For example, make sure your devices do not carry lists of passwords or your Social Security number, driver’s license number, or address.

Bottom line

In today's digital world, a lost passport is no longer the only worry on your travel itinerary. 

Data breaches and identity theft can loom large, casting a shadow over your hard-earned vacation. Don't let your digital security be an afterthought. 

Pack these precautionary tips alongside your sunscreen and top travel credit cards , and safeguard your data so you can truly enjoy every moment of your adventure.

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National Nurses Week 2024: Chipotle's free burrito giveaway, more deals and discounts

Nurses should be celebrated every day, but they do have a special week: national nurses week, which runs may 6-12. restaurants like chipotle and buffalo wild wings have specials during the week..

Chipotle is giving away 100,000 burritos for National Nurses Week. And you don't necessarily have to be a nurse to get in on the deal.

From Monday, May 6, to Friday, May 10, healthcare workers can sign up for a chance to win a free burrito e-card on the Chipotle website . At the end of National Nurses Week, 100,000 healthcare workers will be randomly selected to get an email asking them to verify their employment status via ID.me. Those who successfully verify that within 48 hours will get a free burrito e-card.

Customers can get in on the action, too, by purchasing limited-edition Chipotle Healthcare Heroes E-Gift Cards online; 10% of the proceeds from the gift card purchases will be donated to the American Nurses Foundation. And throughout the month of May, you can round up your online or app orders to the nearest dollar amount. 100% of those proceeds will go to the foundation.

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When is National Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week is observed annually May 6 through May 12.

What is National Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week grew out of a congressional resolution and proclamation signed by President Reagan in 1982 deeming May 6 as a National Recognition Day for Nurses.

The American Nurses Association board of directors expanded this to a National Nurses Week in 1990. The permanent dates for the week were designated in 1993 to be officially observed starting in 1994.

The week includes National School Nurses Day on May 8 and May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, which has been celebrated as International Nurse Day since 1974.

More ways to save: Visit USA TODAY's coupons page for deals from thousands of vendors

National Nurses Week 2024 freebies, deals and discounts

Here's a roundup of freebies, deals, discounts and other specials for National Nurses Week.

• Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza: Nurses get a 20% discount on all orders with a valid ID from Monday, May 6, to Sunday, May 12.
• BurgerFi: Nurses get a 20% discount on all orders with a valid ID from Monday, May 6, to Sunday, May 12.
• Buffalo Wild Wings: From Monday, May 6, to May 12, nurses get 20% off their orders with valid IDs on dine-in, call-in, and walk-in orders.
• Buzz E-Bikes and Huffy Bicycles : Both United Wheels -owned companies give nurses 20% off online purchases year-round when verifying their ID.me at checkout.
• Create Amor: Through June 7, get 25% off orders for scrubs (use the code NURSE25) and $1 per set (top and bottom) will be donated to the American Nurses Foundation. The scrubs brand will also donate 100% of proceeds from each Iris Five Pocket Top sold directly to the foundation.
• Dunkin': Nurses can get a free medium hot or iced coffee, no purchase necessary, on Monday, May 6. (The deal excludes Frozen Coffee, Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew. Espresso shots, flavors, dairy alternatives & cold foam may be an additional charge.)
• Firehouse Subs: The sandwich chain has a week of specials available starting Monday through its Firehouse Rewards loyalty program and app including (on Wednesday) BOGO Hook & Ladder Subs and (on Friday) two medium sandwiches for $12 or two large sandwiches for $18.
• Free Rein Coffee Company: Nurses, first responders and medical providers get 20% off all year long from "Yellowstone" star Cole Hauser's brew brand by verifying with ID.me. Also eligible for the 20% discount: military members.
• The Good Feet Store : The retailer, with more than 250 locations, will give nurses a complimentary pair of Architek Comfort Slip-Ons and three pairs of OS1st Comfort socks with the purchase of at least a Good Feet Store 3-Step Arch Support System. (Note: if Architeks are not available, a pair of Brooks running shoes will be provided. Valid nurse's ID is required.)
• The Greene Turtle: All nurses and healthcare workers with a valid ID get a free meal (value of up to $15) on Monday, May 6.
• Happy Joe’ s Pi zza & Ice Cream: Nurses get a 10% discount at participating locations from Monday to Friday, May 6-10.
• honeygrow: Nominate a nursing team for $250 worth of catering from the fast-casual chain with 33 locations in the eastern U.S. Submit your nomination on the honeygrow website before Wednesday, May 8. Five winning teams will be announced on May 10 via honeygrow's social media platforms.
• HTeaO: The iced tea chain will give healthcare personnel 50% off cups of tea from Monday, May 13, to Sunday, May 26, with a valid hospital, doctors office, and school nurse ID.
• Insomnia C ookies: The Philadelphia-based late-night bakery chain with more than 240 locations is giving nurses a free Classic cookie in-store, no purchase necessary, all week beginning Monday, May 6. (Just show a valid ID; availability varies by location.)
• KIND Snacks: Nurses get 15% off their purchases on the website all year long. Customers just verify with ID.me at checkout.
• Landing: The flexible rental firm, with sites especially practical for travel nurses, is giving away prizes including three months' rent. Nurses can enter to win by submitting a 60-second video and others can nominate a nurse, too.
• Logan's Roadhouse: Nurses get 20% off their entrée this week. Just show your badge.
• McAlister’s Deli: Nurses can get free tea – either one big Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, ½ Sweet & ½ Unsweet Tea, or ½ Lemonade & ½ Sweet/Unsweet Tea (flavor shots excluded) – at McAlister's Deli from Monday, May 6, to Sunday, May 12, with their badge or ID. Offer valid in-store only; no purchase necessary.
• Moe’s Southwest Grill: Cater a Moe's Southwest Grill meal for nurses from Monday, May 6, to Sunday, May 12, and when you spend $300 or more, get a $50 E-gift card (use code THANKYOU24). Good at participating locations; not valid with other offers or third-party delivery. Doesn't include tax, tip and fees.
• Pancheros: Nurses can buy one entrée and get one free on Wednesday, May 8, at participating restaurants. (Offer good in-restaurant; just present a valid hospital badge at checkout.)
• The Parking Spot: The parking company is giving healthcare workers 25% off parking during their trips; just signup with an associated healthcare email account .
• Peter Piper Pizza : Nurses can get a free personal pizza every day Monday through Friday (May 6-10). Redemption is limited to once per day; valid nurse ID/credentials must be shown.
• Postino: The restaurant chain, with more than 25 locations in five states , will give nurses its $25 Board and Bottle (bruschetta board, plus a bottle of wine) all day every day during the month of May with badge/ID. (The special is usually only available Monday and Tuesday 8 p.m. to closing.)
• Potbelly Sandwich Works: Nurses get a free cookie or fountain drink with the purchase of an entrée by showing their ID Monday, May 6, to Sunday, May 12. Also, all customers can get free delivery on a catering order over $150.
• Salata Salad Kitchen: On Monday, May 6, Healthcare workers get 20% off their order when they present their badge at checkout. Also from Monday to Friday, get 20% off catering orders of $200 or more, and get free delivery on orders through DoorDash.
• Shipley Do-Nuts: Nurses who belong the chain's Do-Happy loyalty program can get a free half-dozen box of glazed do-nuts with any purchase on Monday, May 6.
• Skechers: Nurses get a 10% discount on all styles during the month of May on the Skechers website (valid ID or form of employment required). Online shoppers can also round up the purchase price of May purchases to the nearest dollar with proceeds going to the American Nurses Foundation; donate $5 or more and get $10 off your next $100 purchase in June.
• Smoothie King: Get $2 off your on Monday and Tuesday via Smoothie King’s Healthy Rewards App (use code THANKS2024). The promo code may be used multiple times. Also, Friday, May 3, to Friday, May 10, when you buy $25 or more in gift cards online, get a bonus of 2,000 Healthy Reward points.
• Sockwell: Nurses get a free pair of socks when they buy three pairs at full price May 6-12 on the Sockwell website (excludes closeouts and 3-packs).
• Yogurtland: Through May 14, the frozen yogurt chain is offering free delivery on orders of more than $15 made through the website or mobile app (use the code FREEDELIVERY).
• Zaxby's : Nurses can buy one Boneless Wings Meal and get a second one free on May 7 at participating locations (redeemable through the Zaxby's app or website for Zax Rewardz members, while supplies last).
• Zips Car Wash:  Nurses can get a $5 "Pro" Wash at any Zips Car Wash or Rocket Express location across the country through May 19 with wash code 3687.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads:  @mikesnider  & mikegsnider .

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Money latest: Jaguar Land Rover offers to pay £150 a month to cover insurance

Jaguar Land Rover is offering £150 a month towards the cost of insurance to help drivers cope with rising premiums amid a spike in thefts. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance below - and leave a comment on any of the stories we're covering.

Wednesday 8 May 2024 19:05, UK

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Ask a question or make a comment

If you earn significantly more or less than your partner, how do you split payments for things like housing, food, household essentials, entertainment and holidays? 

Do you both pay equally, do you split costs according to income, or do you have another method? 

Get in touch with an outline of your situation in the  box above or:

• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here .

Wetherspoons has revealed it is seeing soaring demand for Guinness among younger drinkers. 

The Irish stout has become "fashionable" among younger generations, according to JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin, who has also seen a rise in ale sales. 

Wetherspoons, which runs 809 pubs across the UK, said like-for-like sales increased 5.2% over the 13 weeks to 28 April compared with a year earlier, with total sales up 3.3%.

The company has now said it expects annual profits to be "towards the top of market expectations". 

Toyota has warned it faces an impending drop in income after it was forced to cut down production to address a safety scandal. 

The carmaker, which is the world's largest by sales, had a record net profit of 4.94trn yen (£25.5bn) in the year to March.

But earlier this year it became embroiled in a scandal after it emerged one of its subsidiaries had cheated on safety tests. 

The Japanese government subsequently ordered the supplier, Daihatsu Motor Co, to halt production of its entire line-up.

Toyota has now warned net income will fall 27.8% this financial year to 3.57trn yen because of investments.

Morrisons has acquired 38 convenience stores and six fuel forecourts in the Channel Islands.

They are located on the islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney. 

The supermarket acquired the stores from its long-time partner SandpiperCI. 

More than 500 employees from Sandpiper CI will be transferred across. 

Underwhelming box office performances have signalled cinemagoers might be starting to tire of superhero films. 

And now Disney has announced it will cut its output of Marvel content, moving to two television series and three films per year. 

The company's chief executive, Bob Iger, said Disney would "reduce output and focus more on quality" particularly when it came to Marvel. 

Some 33 Marvel films have been released since 2008, but recent releases such as The Marvels and the latest Ant-Man film have underperformed. 

The Marvels was the lowest grossing film in the franchise's history, generating just £165m - less than its budget of £219m. 

At the same time, Disney Plus revealed worse-than-expected subscriber numbers and a slowdown in its traditional broadcast television business. 

Its shares dropped 8.5% in morning trading.

Brighton Palace Pier is introducing a £1 admission fee. 

It has been implemented to cover the rising costs of maintaining, repairing and operating the 125-year-old structure, The Brighton Pier Group said. 

The group said in the last five years the annual cost had risen to £11.6m.

The admission fee will come into force from 25 May and will apply weekends in June and then the whole of July and August.

It will not apply to locals or children under two. 

Anne Ackord, chief executive of Brighton Palace Pier, said: "We have, to date, been able to offset and absorb these costs but we have now reached the point where, in our view, it is sensible to implement a small admission charge."

She said the fee would help the pier be "with us for generations to come". 

Jaguar Land Rover is offering £150 a month towards the cost of insurance to help drivers cope with rising premiums. 

The company announced the initiative will help those who own cars covered under its in-house insurance division that are registered between 1 May 2023 and 30 September 2023. 

In order for it to apply, the vehicle cannot be worth more than £150,000. 

If your car is eligible, Jaguar Land Rover has said it will make the contribution for up to three years. 

It comes after the company launched Land Rover Insurance in October after reports suggested car thefts were pushing up the costs offered by mainstream providers. 

"Customers of luxury cars and other luxury items are experiencing an increase in thefts due to organised criminal activity in the UK," a spokesperson said at the time. 

"The desirability of our luxury vehicles, coupled with concerns around thefts, has recently led to challenges in obtaining insurance cover for some clients." 

An airline entirely dedicated to dogs is arriving in the UK next month - but it will cost you more than £6,000 for you and your pet to enjoy it.

Bark Airlines will start by flying two routes - from London to New York and New York to LA. But it is hoping to add more to its roster soon. 

During the flights, your pooch will be given free access to roam the plane and will be provided with treats, as well as a beverage of their choice during ascent and descent to help with the change in pressure. 

On its website, Bark Airlines brags about being the first of its kind due to it being built "from the ground up" for dogs. 

The experience is very high end, with a concierge greeting you and your dog before the flight, a free pass through security and only 10 people per flight. 

The cabin also comes prepped with pheromones, music and lavender scented towels to help keep the beloved pets calm. 

A "just in case" bag is provided too, filled with leashes, poo bags and snacks. 

However, it comes with a hefty price tag of £6,400 for a one way ticket and under-18s are not allowed on board. 

Money struggles are forcing more than half of new mothers to return to work earlier than planned, according to a survey. 

Weekly statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance are now worth less than half the £400.40 minimum wage for a working week. 

Maternity Action, which spoke to more than 1,000 new mothers, found 62% rely on credit cards or borrowing from friends when pregnant or on maternity leave. 

Meanwhile, 59% have either returned or are planning to return to work earlier than preferred after the birth because of money worries. 

At least one mother described how it would take "years" for her to recover financially from the cost of maternity leave. 

Just 13% of women on maternity leave benefit from employers' occupational maternity pay schemes, down from 44% in 2008, according to government research. 

Some are unable to claim statutory maternity pay due to self-employment. 

Ros Bragg, director of Maternity Action, said: "The low levels of maternity pay and benefits come as a huge shock to many trying to start families. 

"We've heard from women skipping meals, relying on food parcels and becoming anaemic because they can't buy healthy food."

The French capital is about to raise the cost of public transport - impacting any city-breakers or those heading to the Paris Olympics this summer. 

Metro ticket prices will rise by more than 85% from 20 July, jumping from €2.15 (£1.85) for a single ticket to €4 (£3.43). 

The price for a city bus ticket will double from €2.50 (£2.15) to €5 (£4.29). 

It comes into force six days before the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and will remain in place until 8 September. 

The price of transport passes will stay the same, meaning regular travellers such as residents should be unaffected. 

To avoid the extra cost, you could buy a weekly travel pass. 

These are priced at €30.75 (£26.39) for zones 1 to 5 while a Navigo Day Pass costs €8.65 (£7.42) to travel across two zones. 

Tourists can also buy a Paris Pass which is aimed at people travelling for the Olympics and Paralympics. 

 The banking group has said some of its branches will close starting in September and continuing until May next year. 

Job cuts will be in the fraud operations department of the bank, central operations and staff who work at the branches earmarked for closure.

After this round of closures, TSB will have 175 branches across the UK. 

It announced earlier this year it would make cost-saving plans including cutting jobs and closing branches.

Trade union Unite said the decision by the UK high street lender was a "grave mistake".

"The decision to close a branch is never taken lightly, but our customers are now doing most of their banking digitally and we need to move to a better balance of digital and face-to-face services," a spokesperson for TSB said. 

"We remain committed to a national branch network and through innovation and integration with video, telephone, digital, branch and other face-to-face services TSB customers have more ways to bank with us than ever before."

See the list of closures here ...

A new savings account is offering customers a rate of 5.2% AER - making it a market leader. 

Raisin UK has partnered with Al Rayan Bank to offer the one-year Fixed-Term Deposit account. 

Those who deposit £1,000 can expect to have £1,052.00 in their account by the end of the year. 

The minimum deposit is £1,000, while the maximum is £85,000. 

Customers will not be able to withdraw from the account for the year. 

It is operated under Shariah principles, meaning interest cannot be earned but some of the profit the bank earns will be returned to you - meaning you can grow your savings without earning interest. 

Anna Bowes, co-founder of Savings Champion , tells the Money blog...

"It's good to see that although the markets are expecting the base rate to fall in the near future, the anticipated date for this keeps being pushed back, and this seems to have stimulated a little bit of competition among some savings providers – in particular fixed-term bonds - pushing rates upwards.

"This latest increase from Al Rayan Bank, available both directly and via the Raisin UK cash platform, is exactly what we like to see, and hopefully it will create a little more competition from other providers - pushing rates further in the right direction."

Anna points out this rate can be beaten with shorter fixes but in that instance "you'll need to find another home for your money on maturity, so fixing for a bit longer could actually realise more of a return in the end".

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Bonza has entered voluntary administration. What's happening with the flight cancellations across Australia?

Many Australians have been left stranded at airports across the country after budget airline Bonza "temporarily" suspended all flights on Tuesday.

The company entered voluntary administration within hours of the cancellations, and the administrators have since confirmed the fleet will remain grounded until Thursday, May 2.

Here's what we know so far.

First up, what is Bonza?

Bonza Aviation was set up as a budget regional airline and its first flight took off in January 2023.

The airline aimed to target the regional routes that weren't serviced by the larger carriers like Virgin , Qantas or, more recently,  Rex Airlines . 

For example, with Bonza you were able to fly from the Sunshine Coast to Mildura without having to stop in a capital city.

The Transport Workers' Union said there were roughly 150 Bonza workers between the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne.

Who owns Bonza?

The airline was the brainchild of  Tim Jordan, who held senior commercial roles with Virgin Australia . He was the chief executive of Bonza.

Back in 2023, Mr Jordan he said the airline would lead to cheaper  ticket prices  due to greater competition.

"I think in any industry anywhere in the world, additional competition is positive for downward pressure," he said at the time.

The airline has the backing of a US investment firm called 777 Partners .

Based in Miami, the firm describes itself as "investment platform that helps bold entrepreneurs transform visions into enduring value".

Among other things the firm owns an "ultra-low cost" airline in Canada called Flair Airlines and a minority stake in the Melbourne Victory A-League team.

What's happening with the Bonza flight cancellations? 

Customers arrived at airports across Australia to learn their flights had been cancelled. 

Mr Jordan released a two-line statement just after 8am saying all services would be temporarily halted:

"Bonza has temporarily suspended services due to be operated today (Tuesday 30th April), as discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business. "We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we’re working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market."

Basically, Mr Jordan said he was in talks about whether the business can continue.

But within hours a notice was filed to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stating that the company had entered voluntary administration.

This means there is an opportunity for the director or a third party to rescue Bonza, or for the company to be restructured.

The airline is yet to provide any update, but administrators Hall Chadwick released a statement late on Tuesday afternoon saying that it is : "currently considering the continued trading of the company's operations during the course of the administration period including the continuation of employment of all employees of the company".

"The company's fleet is currently grounded pending discussions with relevant parties and key stakeholders," the statement reads.

"The grounding of the fleet is currently up to and including Thursday 2 May 2024, and customers with bookings during this period are advised not to travel to the airport."

Have the cancellations come out of nowhere?

It's not the first time the airline has cancelled flights. Roughly 1,600 customers were left in the lurch when its Darwin-Gold Coast flights were cancelled in December .

That cancellation was extended to March this year , flights were cancelled out of  Mount Isa  and the airline has been facing ongoing questions about  the timeliness of its arrivals .

Aviation expert Keith Tonkin said analysts felt it was difficult for the airline to make a profit.

He says that's because routes it took "had relatively thin margins" — but he says it's not impossible to break into a market dominated by Qantas and Virgin Airlines.

"Where there's a will there is a way," Mr Tonkin says.

"But Bonza's model has seemingly proven to be difficult to sustain."

Aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas, the editor-in-chief of the website Airline Ratings, said he understood the airline's backers, 777 partners, had made changes to the leasing and financing of its aircraft.

He said the budget carrier may have been caught off guard.

777 Partners has been contacted for comment.

"I think that the problem of Bonza is overseas, with leasing companies, and not the local management, not the business model," Mr Thomas said.

Has the government said anything?

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says she's looking into it. She says she's spoken to the chief executives of Qantas and Virgin.

"Both airlines stand ready to assist stranded passengers needing to get home," Ms King says.

The Transport Department has established a hotline for stranded passengers –  1800 069 244 – that will be operating until 10pm on Monday. 

Ms King says she expects Bonza to deal with its customers in a transparent fashion.

"My department has reached out to Bonza and our expectation is that they keep passengers informed of their options and their consumer rights," she says.

Can I get a refund from Bonza?

Affected customers received text messages on Tuesday directing them to fill in an online form, which states:

"We will be issuing you a refund for this flight and, if you no longer wish to travel on them, any other flights on the same booking reference as this cancelled flight. "To allow us to process your refund as quickly as we can, please fill in the details below within the next 24 hours and note the form may close for responses after that time. "Once you have completed the form, you can expect the refund to appear in your account within 21 days. The refund will be paid to the payment method you used at the time of making the booking. "Sorry again for the inconvenience and we hope to welcome you onboard a Bonza flight in the future."

Customers whose flights have been cancelled in the past say they have had difficulty getting refunds from Bonza.

But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has protections in place for airline customers.

According to the ACCC, a travel service provider  must give the option of a refund if it can't provide a replacement service for a cancelled flight in a reasonable amount of time.

If you booked a now-cancelled Bonza flight using a credit or debit card online, you may be able to have that transaction reversed through your bank or financial institution, but it's unlikely to be a speedy process.

The Transport Department's hotline is focusing on helping stranded Bonza customers book Qantas, Virgin, or Jetstar flights.

The airlines have offered passengers stranded mid-journey on Tuesday complimentary seats, where available, on flights to the airport nearest to their final planned Bonza destination.

Bonza has not responded to requests for comment.

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