Flight Reimbursement (going home) Q & A

[suji29]

Hi everyone,

Apparently, a new rule has been implemented where, upon completion of your contract, you will be reimbursed for the flight back to your home country only once you have left Korea and you're back home.

I've been told that some foreign teachers have bought their air ticket, given the receipt to their schools, got the money for it and then canceled their ticket (and remained in Korea), but still kept the money.

I'm leaving in August and would prefer to get the money before I leave Korea. It makes sense to wrap up all admin before leaving - which I am! My visa will expire anyway, so why/how would I stay here even if I wanted to?

Anyone else? Would appreciate feedback!
Thanks 

[Ashlea]

According to my co-teacher, I am required to send her a copy of my boarding pass once I've left the country to prove that I am home. This sounds very weird to me. I've already purchased my ticket...I am not sure, Im going to see my coordinator next week, I'll verify with him.

[suji29]

You have to send a copy of your boarding pass? Gosh! I haven't been told that.
Please let us know once you've spoken to your coordinator...thanks!

[torstrom]

I was just at GEPIK orientation and they confirmed that you won't be reimbursed for your return flight home until after the ticket has actually been used.

[suji29]

Did they say how teachers should confirm that the ticket has been used? Also, will they transfer the money into the account in your home country?

[sheila]

The amount of the ticket at the converted price will be reimbursed to you within the month along with your severence.  However, it does state in the 2009-2010 GEPIK contract that there is the option of the direct purchase as well so that might be something that you could discuss with your school.  If you're going with the reimbursement option, your co-teacher should be giving you a form soon that you have to fill in your information, address, contract dates, bank account and routing number for home, etc.  Then the school will make the int. transfer when all of the paperwork has gone through.  I am going home and coming back. My contract is finishing on August 20th but my co-teacher said I probably won't get the money back until the middle of September after all of the verification has gone through the school office. Good luck with everything!

[Drapes]

But, if you were to say stop off in China for a week before continuing to fly back to North America would they still reimburse you for the cost of a direct flight home?

[sheila]

Then I believe that they would pay for the amount that a typical (most direct) flight would be to your airport.  You would just have to buy the ticket for your trip and then look up one for going directly home and give them that.  A good place to check the cost of tickets is www.kayak.com.  And if you're flying out in August, it's a really popular time for Koreans to travel so I would advise you to get your tickets as soon as possible. 

[lurkingheretic]

I ran into this, and it's driving me nuts!  I'm switching from a GEPIK elementary school to a GEPIK middle school, and the airfare for my yearly visit home is apparently at my expense.  Neither school is paying to fly me home or to fly me to Korea because I'm already here.

I'm fighting it, but I don't really expect to win.

[Girlygirl]

I ran into this, and it's driving me nuts!  I'm switching from a GEPIK elementary school to a GEPIK middle school, and the airfare for my yearly visit home is apparently at my expense.  Neither school is paying to fly me home or to fly me to Korea because I'm already here.

I'm fighting it, but I don't really expect to win.

OMG This is stupid.  I feel so sorry for you.  I was in the same boat but of course I asked them about that flight home before signing on the dotted line, but in my case, they (the new school) would pay only 1.3 mil Won.  So I said "no thank you, you can keep your money."  And I never switched schools.  Now I'm staying where I am, then will go home after. 

Of course in your case, please fight.  I think they're being idiots.

[sheila]

lurkingheretic~ It is in the contract that your original school must pay you for the cost of your flight home.  However, if you are just renewing your visa and not getting a completely new one, the middle school will not pay for the flight.  I am in the same boat with switching and the flight payments and everything.  So instead of having three weeks at home, I have four because I have to obtain a new Korean visa.  This takes some time because it takes 7 calendar days to get your visa confirmation number. After that, sending out your visa to the Korean consolate for the new visa, etc.  If you are under the GEPIK contract, check out Article 9 Sections 5 and 6. It clearly explains the payment for your flight home there.  Because you are not renewing, just changing schools, you are entitled to receive this benefit. 

[HazelJane]

i handed in my ticket receipt in april, and have received my money already...

[Drapes]

I'm taking the ferry to China then Flying home to Canada. My school thinks they reimburse for the flight from china, I want them to give me the money of a flight from korea(it costs more).

The contract is ambiguous not specifying which it's reimbursing.

I think they didn't expect anyone to do this.

[Girlygirl]

I'm taking the ferry to China then Flying home to Canada. My school thinks they reimburse for the flight from china, I want them to give me the money of a flight from korea(it costs more).

The contract is ambiguous not specifying which it's reimbursing.

I think they didn't expect anyone to do this.

If you want your school to reimburse for a flight from Korea to Canada, you need to show them a receipt.  You should just get a refundable ticket from a travel agent, cancel it after getting the money.  Then book whatever you want after.  But you already told them about your plans, just have to lie now.   

In my opinion, your school is fair.  What's the difference of a flight from China to Canada vs a flight from Korea to Canada?  How much are you trying to get from your school? 

[Drapes]

1 or 2 hundred bucks. Although if they gave me the money for a direct ticket home the difference comes close to 1000 bucks.

Its too late to lie and change flights.
They know my plans, and changing them is rather obvious.

I couldn't lie my out, unless I was a champion liar dedicated to extra cash.

[Drapes]

This is what I was told.

Within 10 days you have to be heading to your home country, taking a detour (ex.trip to china) doesn't count. It has to be heading home.

Either you get a free ticket, or you get reimbursed for the ticket you buy to go home up to the cost of the free ticket they would have provided.

There is no opportunity for extra money that I know of. It seems Loopholes have been exploited, discovered and covered already.

I was hoping for extra cash, considering my choice of flights was much cheaper than what they would otherwise have to pay.

But I have to admit the policy is fair. I just wish it was more generous.

[AC_in_Korea]

Doesn't anyone have a specific amount of money listed in their contract?  I am with the EPIK program as well, but my contract states a set amount for airfare.  If I find a flight that is cheaper, I can keep the difference, however if it's more expensive, I have to eat it.  It's a reasonable amount though.  I guess not all EPIK program contracts are the same?

[Drapes]

Should have specified I'm GEPIK

[shkim]

(I'm asking this Q on behalf of my friend)

She's finished her GEPIK contract this month. She is going on a mini vacation then back home. She'll stop in India for a bit, then fly back to Canada. Since she is not flying immediately back home, they're refusing to give her the flight money until she is back in Canada. She has already booked and purchased her tickets, but needs the flight reimbursement funds for the trip.

Anyone else experience something similar? I told her to show her contract, but she says there's nothing in her contract that specifically states this information. My thinking is that the school is to give the lump-sum for the airplane ticket regardless of the destination. I told her to show her ticket stub for her India to Canada ticket.

[Paul]

Not trying to criticise here, but wouldn't fuel surcharges render the India -> Canada trip more expensive than Korea -> Canada? And wouldn't the relevant flight be (the less expensive) Korea -> India?