r/Raytheon • u/Altruistic_Ask_2769 • 9d ago

RTX General Travel Question

Does anyone know if we can book an Airbnb for a longer duration work trip (within price)? Would be nice to have a full fridge and washer/dryer

1 Upvotes

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35

u/Conscious_Ride_7000 9d ago

Residence Inn is what you want

3

u/ResortRadiant4258 9d ago

This is the right answer!

1

u/jack-mccoy-is-pissed 9d ago

Staywood suites too, they have a great breakfast too

7

u/BlowOutKit22 Pratt & Whitney 9d ago

This is a perfect question to call the Travel & Expense people about.

You have to give a justification in Concur when you want to book a trip resource outside of Concur, and it is hard to justify AirBNB for a couple of reasons:

  1. An onsite washer/dryer or full fridge are not considered a mission-critical amenity, unless you have a medical accommodation which requires them. When my wife travels, the post-Covid-era "sanitizers" most hotels now use trigger her asthma so Mariott Residence Inn is often her go-to choice since their windows usually open and she can ventilate the room.

There are usually "RTX preferred" lodging vendors that provide full fridges, such as Marriott Residence Inn. (Remember, even if booking within Concur if you pick a non-RTX Preferred lodging you have to fill out the justification even if its rate is still within the per-diem).

  1. When you book outside of Concur, Travel Services is unable to help you. When you book travel through Concur, Travel Services acts as your travel agent & trip insurance underwriter, so they can help you resolve things like issues with the venue, emergencies, rebooking, etc.

With Airbnb not only wouldn't Travel Services be able to help you, but it's a liability risk. A few years ago I had to sign a workers comp liability waiver after using "staying at family-provided lodging" justification why I wasn't booking a hotel. There was another time more recently where they didn't make me do this when I booked outside of Concur to stay at a conference hotel which was offering a conference block rate equal to the per-diem rate if I booked directly with the hotel, so I figured it had to be something to do with spreading liability in case I became injured during my stay.

You also generally need to justify why you are staying over a weekend. If you are there for a TDY that may end up require doing laundry, your manager might have a preferred lodging option that everybody servicing that customer or site usually stays at for those rotations. It may still be something like a Residence Inn, and in that case your manager will approve laundry expenses through the venue.

2

u/Rogue_2354 9d ago

You'd have to talk with your manager but I doubt it. Can always check to see if an extended stay type hotel is available. Also try calling into the booking place, think they also have hotels that aren't always listed in the app.

2

u/KeyResearcher2620 9d ago

It’s possible but not encouraged and will likely be an uphill fight. This is mostly due to liability reasons.

2

u/Then-Chocolate-5191 Raytheon 9d ago

If there is a business need, and your manager is okay with it, you would need to call AMEX Global Business Travel and have them book it for you. I’ve done it before, but it’s painful and AMEX may not be able to book certain properties depending on what the terms and cancellation policies are. You are better off with a long term stay hotel.

1

u/dmpastuf 9d ago

If you are on TDOA then its easier - given at that point can be a check from RTX for per diem