Anonymous wrote:Federal airline rates?? The federal airline rates are not available for personal travel..and no one would want them because they are no deal at all..

Plus you have to take the airline with the government contract for that particular route - even that airline makes two stopovers. If there's another airline that flies direct or takes less time, you have to fill out a form to make your case, and cross your fingers. It's a total pain!

Anonymous wrote:Why is this even in the MD Public Schools forum? It's not really about teachers, or MoCo schools.

Because OP has the charm of a wasp but the brains of a fruit fly?

My Phd husband will be in Paris for a conference next week but may not add any vacation days to the trip because it is a "vacation destination" despite the fact that the conference is paying for his trip. Regardless of how late his flight gets in he can not take a vacation day to recover because his managers will fear it looks bad. Thanks GSA. Hope the taxpayers realize what it is like to be a federal worker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Federal airline rates?? The federal airline rates are not available for personal travel..and no one would want them because they are no deal at all..

Yeah, the great Fed travel perks. In fact, as a Fed I used to get sent overseas a lot (Thailand, Bolivia, Paris, lots more) and we were told never to take vacation during these trips because the general public - by whom I mean people like OP - would think it was a boondoggle. Nothing like sitting in a conference room in Bangkok, wondering what the town looks like out there....

I know that I enjoyed my fully paid trip to Iraq during the summer immensely. It was just sun, sand, and fun! That is except for the IEDs when you had to travel.

Anonymous wrote:Federal airline rates?? The federal airline rates are not available for personal travel..and no one would want them because they are no deal at all..

Yeah, the great Fed travel perks. In fact, as a Fed I used to get sent overseas a lot (Thailand, Bolivia, Paris, lots more) and we were told never to take vacation during these trips because the general public - by whom I mean people like OP - would think it was a boondoggle. Nothing like sitting in a conference room in Bangkok, wondering what the town looks like out there....

Why is this even in the MD Public Schools forum? It's not really about teachers, or MoCo schools.

So OP, do you feel like a gullible fool now?

I like how the author takes a formula used in one place and then acts as if it applies everywhere. As a fed, I'd rather have a true 401k. That pension is only there until a politician decides it should not be, or should be cut. You know it s not the greatest deal in the world due to the fact that participation is mandatory. I'd opt out if I could.

Federal airline rates?? The federal airline rates are not available for personal travel..and no one would want them because they are no deal at all..

Anonymous wrote:Feds retiring now under the old system can get about 80% but they have been in the system fir 30 years. I know people who get military retirement and retired under the old more generous pension package.

Actually, you had to put in 40 years for full retirement benefits under the old fed retiree system. But that went away in the 1980s, 30 years ago!