As more employers look for places to cut costs I hope they keep this concept in mind.

I'm also too frugal to spend that much for personal travel, but going into my 4th year of regular business travel I know I'd take a seat in J over $1,000 any day, because I want to be ready for work when I get there as much as my employer expects it.

It's not that I'm some workaholic or am sucking up to my boss, but because I know work travel is generally high enough profile that my performance will impact my career, and hence my material well-being, more than a even a few $k upfront.

On the flip side, my boss knows I respect the investment and, as mentioned up thread, I work hard to travel cost-effectively. Our corporate travel policy does allow documented savings (from alternative itineraries, not downgrading CoS) to be used for adding on personal travel. Thus I'll pad trips to fly on cheaper days and try to do a little sightseeing if it works out, or cushion the blow of IRROPS if it doesn't, as is happening to me right now.

I understand how cost pressures are making it hard to maintain such enlightened policies. I just hope employers remain professional enough to realize investing in the proper tools is more cost effective, and employees act professional enough to provide the expected ROI.