Would you ask for anything?

[v]

I would ask to split the travel costs, absolutely.  If the other client isn't willing to pay to make it a 50/50 split, the designer should eat the costs to that extent. 

But I would definitely change to the more affordable hotel.

Also, no more wasting first class upgrades on others!!!  But I don't think you can ask for compensation for that.

[mrs07]

I don't think you are being unreasonable, but I don't know how to go about sorting it out tactfully. ...maybe asking the other client for the equivalent of the cost of the first class upgrade since that is lost to you now.

[mich1]

I would just tell her that you prefer that she keeps arrangements as they are. You are paying for her entire time in Seattle and it sounds like you get to pay all the travel related expenses and the other client gets benefit of this.  Not only that, your designer's attention is diverted away from you and you are paying for her undivided attention.

If the other client wants her out there, she can make arrangements at another time, on her dime.

JMHO

[flatlan]

I also agree to ask to now split the travel costs. This would irritate me as I feel that this is a waste of your time.

[oswin]

I would think that if your designer wants to add on a client, then you should no longer responsible for any of her travel (hourly or ticket) to your area - the other client should be. You would still be responsible for her travel back. I have no idea how to tactfully suggest this to your designer. I wouldn't worry about the lost first-class upgrade, just don't buy her a new first-class ticket, pretend like she used it and she's stuck in economy.

[ECB]

I say they need to pay the change fee AND split the travel cost.  I don't think 'either /or' is fair here.  You had this all set.  She wants to add another client into the mix?  YOU shouldn't be penalized for this OR have to pay for the entire trip.

[v]

Oct 2, 2014 11:17:25 GMT -5 ECB said:

I say they need to pay the change fee AND split the travel cost.  I don't think 'either /or' is fair here.  You had this all set.  She wants to add another client into the mix?  YOU shouldn't be penalized for this OR have to pay for the entire trip.

Absolutely.  Sorry, should have taken that into account.  Other client (or designer) should eat 100% of change fee and 50% of other costs.

[dexteroni]

Yes, I would ask the other client to split all travel costs, including the $75/hour in-flight time, and cover 100% of the change fee. Does the designer know she'll lose the upgrade? The idea of switching to coach for two 5-hour flights would be enough to make me leave the flight as-is.

I would be ok with switching the hotel, too. It sounds like all you have to do is email your agent and ask her to cancel, which isn't much of a hassle. And you'll save money on the less expensive hotel.

ETA: And if either the client or designer balked at your proposal, then I would decline to make any changes, and suggest that they arrange a separate visit on their own.

[rikki]

Honestly, I would be super annoyed and ask her to make another trip to visit that client. You're investing a lot of money and time with her and I would be upset if she was distracted, thinking about the other client's home, etc.

If she does see the other client then I would ask them to pay for her travel time there (half of her total travel time) and half of the total ticket (including any change fees).

[10nille]

No you would not be out of line for the other client to pick up some of the fees. After all you aren't paying for her to see them. I hope she is the best, because these changes wouldn't please me

[randp1]

Oct 2, 2014 11:21:34 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Yes, I would ask the other client to split all travel costs, including the $75/hour in-flight time, and cover 100% of the change fee. Does the designer know she'll lose the upgrade? The idea of switching to coach for two 5-hour flights would be enough to make me leave the flight as-is.

I would be ok with switching the hotel, too. It sounds like all you have to do is email your agent and ask her to cancel, which isn't much of a hassle. And you'll save money on the less expensive hotel.

ETA: And if either the client or designer balked at your proposal, then I would decline to make any changes, and suggest that they arrange a separate visit on their own.

I agree with this.  other client should split all travel costs - including the $75/hour the designer will be travelling.

is the other client paying for 1/2 of the hotel stay too?  is that why she wants designer to go to a cheaper hotel?  or is she just paying for 1 night, or something else?

other client shouldn't get to ride on your financial coat-tails by just paying the change fee.  why should you spend $750 on travel when the designer is seeing 2 clients.

i would be annoyed.

[livinitup]

So, the only thing the other client has to pay is the change fee or 1/2 the plane ticket? You still have to pay 100% of the travel time?

And you are saying that the ticket is NOW so expensive that even at 1/2 split - you are STILL paying the same amount of money out-of-pocket for a ticket. And she looses her first class seat.

That's crazy.

I think if you are sharing the cost of a ticket, it should be sharing the cost of the ticket you booked 3 months ago. Not sharing the cost of a ticket books 2 weeks before a trip - for someone else's appointment.

I guess I sound petty, because the costs haven't really changed for you. You agreed to these costs. But it somehow sounds like you are loosing an exclusive appointment and someone else is getting the benefit of your top-dollar.

[dexteroni]

Oct 2, 2014 11:36:29 GMT -5 livinitup said:

And you are saying that the ticket is NOW so expensive that even at 1/2 split - you are STILL paying the same amount of money out-of-pocket for a ticket. And she looses her first class seat.

Oh - wait. @sfgal530 Is the the case? If you won't save any money by making the change, even with the other client paying half of the travel costs, then I would decline to make any changes at all.

And even if the client does agree to pay half, I would tell the designer that I prefer she not make such a request again. If she wants to combine visits in the future, she should make her own arrangements and bill you for half. Then any upgrades, fees, etc. won't come out of your personal travel accounts, and it eliminates any hassle on your part.

[maddiepaddy]

I agree that it's not fair for the other client to just get a free 'ride' here because you already have a trip arranged. If I were you, I would try to accommodate, if the other client will split 100% of the travel fees and change fees. If not, I'd say 'tough luck'.

I would be super annoyed though. Part of the reason you are willing to spend the money to get her there is for her undivided attention. Who's to say that other client won't try to monopolize designer's time once she's in Seattle?

[felicity]

This is very...bold of the designer to ask of you and it seems like they are both taking advantage of you. I'd be pissed. Yeah you did agree to pay her travel costs, but now you are also footing the bill for another client. Not cool. I'd actually be annoyed enough to reconsider using the designer all together. The designer should never have brought it up this way.

But in any case, I wouldn't agree to paying more than half of your original travel expenses at this point, including the travel time. The other person or the designer should pay the change fee. That's not your problem.

And, I'm not flaming, because to each their own, but man this seems like a lot of hassle and expense for an interior designer. I hope she's really that good.

[felicity]

Oct 2, 2014 11:38:59 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

Is this other client really a client or a friend she's visiting? Is she well known enough to get multiple clients across the country?
#cynic

This thought crossed my mind too. 

[spanikopita]

Definitely ask to split travel costs 50/50

[dexteroni]

Oct 2, 2014 11:47:17 GMT -5 felicity said:

this seems like a lot of hassle and expense for an interior designer. I hope she's really that good.

I hope the same thing. I don't think I would want to pay $1500 (estimating travel costs plus hotel) every time I wanted to meet with my designer.

[Deleted]

Hell yes ask to split the costs.

[M]

I would ask they pay for 50% of the travel cost, not tell them you got the tickets cheap, and make them pay the change fee as well...for MY troubles. I'm easily irritable though.

[mich1]

So who is going to be paying the 10 hours of travel time? Is the other client kicking in for that too? It sounds like all she's willing to kick in for is half the change fee and discount hotel. If the hotel is further away from you, are you going to be paying additional travel time for her to get from the hotel to where you live?

I know that getting through Seattle can be a mess. If you live on the opposite side of the airport, a couple trips out to your place can add substantially to your tab. I know it's minor in the grand scheme of things but you are the primary client and you are being asked to make all the concessions. I don't like it and wouldn't do it.

[Deleted]

I agree with the split all travel and either client #2 or designer picks up the change fee. This should work out to be a cost savings to you, you shouldn't have to incur additional expenses bc designer added a second client to the trip.

[ECB]

Yeah, the more you tell us... they need to pay their share. the change fee (not your fault they are booking her now and not when you first booked her), 1/2 the cost of the flight, 1/4 of the hotel (one night), and 1/2 her hourly travel fee.

For them to offer ONLY the fee OR 1/2 the cost of the ticket... um, no. If she weren't coming out for you, they'd be paying the full fee otherwise. They don't get a free ride just because she was already coming out for you.

[dexteroni]

Oct 2, 2014 12:17:14 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

The other client has offered to pay half the original cost of the ticket OR the change fee, whichever is more.  Not surprisingly, since my ticket was so cheap, the change fee is more than half the ticket cost (since the change fee was $125 and the ticket is more expensive).  I paid $260 for the ticket; the change fee is $230.

The other client made a lowball offer; that doesn't mean you have to agree to it. Tell the designer your terms for agreeing to making any changes - the client pays 50% of *all* travel costs, which comes out to $X, plus the entire change fee. I'm thinking they won't want to pay that much for one day of the designer's time, but too bad. If she wasn't already coming out, they would have to pay all of it.

But I still don't quite understand the cost breakdown. Is the change fee $125 or $230? How much is the new ticket? You said there's no benefit to you - is that the case even if the client paid half of the $75 per hour travel time?

[wanderlustfoodie]

Oct 2, 2014 12:32:09 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yeah, the more you tell us... they need to pay their share. the change fee (not your fault they are booking her now and not when you first booked her), 1/2 the cost of the flight, 1/4 of the hotel (one night), and 1/2 her hourly travel fee.

For them to offer ONLY the fee OR 1/2 the cost of the ticket... um, no. If she weren't coming out for you, they'd be paying the full fee otherwise. They don't get a free ride just because she was already coming out for you.

Ditto, word for word.

[WOT?*]

The other client can pay for a one-way return ticket on Southwest, or a change fee for the return on the same ticket after the designer flies out and isn't able to do all the work by the time she's supposed to return.  And she can pay for the time for the return flight, too.  If the designer wants a lower-grade hotel, as long as it isn't detrimental to the time she has to serve you (travel, meeting, etc.) then that would be no big deal. Cancel your hotel and let them make the arrangements for the new one. You've already done the work you were supposed to do to get her to come up here and do her job for you. She gets on the plane on the ticket you've already bought and travels to the hotel you've arranged (or will change to accommodate her and her new client). You shouldn't have to have any hassle or expense for time already served. You've already gone out of your way for her.

If you need a designer out here, I can ask a friend of mine (who is a designer and a darn good one) for recommendations.

[sjh722]

Oct 2, 2014 12:32:09 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yeah, the more you tell us... they need to pay their share. the change fee (not your fault they are booking her now and not when you first booked her), 1/2 the cost of the flight, 1/4 of the hotel (one night), and 1/2 her hourly travel fee.

For them to offer ONLY the fee OR 1/2 the cost of the ticket... um, no. If she weren't coming out for you, they'd be paying the full fee otherwise. They don't get a free ride just because she was already coming out for you.

The longer I read, the more annoyed I am on your behalf.

They need to also be footing the bill for 50% of the travel time. This is ridiculous. Are they really a client? This whole production is kind of unprofessional. 

[jinkies]

Not the point, but is this designer like a minor celebrity or something? I'm surprised you can't find someone who "gets" your style who is local to Seattle.

My poverty is showing here, I'm sure, but I'm also kind of appalled at the designer charging $750 for flying time, when you are already covering all travel costs.

Anyway, to your point, other client should be covered change fee PLUS half the flight, PLUS half the $75/hr flying time.

[ECB]

Oct 2, 2014 12:54:13 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

 I had told the designer when I first hired her that I'd be fine with splitting travel trips out (if she had other Seattle clients) because that would save us money, and be much easier on her, and I am totally fine with doing that if the costs are shared. 

Good.  So she won't be surprised when you basically remind her of this!! 

[jinkies]

You don't sound like a whiny brat. YOU are paying HER. She should be making every effort to be keeping YOU happy, not the other way around.

I'm confusing myself on the math of splitting the airfare, but you need to counter, at least, with her splitting the $75/hr travel fee.