In many / most professional services fields I think that's far from customary these days. Even years ago I was assigned to clients that commanded us to find and fly the lowest possible airfare (which meant ATA redeyes connecting through Midway -- aargh) and stay in the hotel where they had a special lowball rate for their vendors (which meant no Hiltons). More recently I've had consults in India for while I've been told business class is out of the question, end of story... and accommodation is, again, under some sweetheart deal. And with car rental tariffs out of control, we have certainly been asked not to rent cars.

Just two weeks ago I was installed at the Fairmont in San Jose, instead of the Hilton right across the street, not because I wanted to be but because my tech-company client had negotiated a great bulk rate for people like me... and what am I going to say? Naah, I prefer to stay at the less-nice place across the street, and bill you nearly twice as much, because I want my Hilton points? Any guesses as to how that would go over... even with this client, which is making billions in quarterly profits? I just don't have the leverage, and even if I did I don't think I'd use it for diplomatic reasons.

(Even traveling on my own dime nowadays I price both Hilton and Marriott properties, and if the differential is more than $30 or $40 I go Marriott. The HHonors points aren't worth it. So there's a fundamental failure of HHonors to do the one thing it's built to do, which is to blunt my proclivity to choose a lower price.)

Arguing that I'm flying J or not taking the job, or demanding my preferred hotel chain, is unthinkable from a client-relations standpoint. My field is extremely competitive, so dollars count, but more importantly you look like a twit who's focused on personal comfort ahead of client needs. Factor this realpolitik consideration into the discussion.