Ethical question from a topic that came up on another forum.

Let's say you work for a company and it pays your travel expenses. You buy the ticket and they reimburse you. Most companies will not allow you to "profit" from that. So, for instance, if they allow you to fly business class you can't buy a coach ticket, expense a business class ticket, then pocket the difference. Most companies would fire you for that.

But let's say you bought a business class ticket, expensed said business class ticket, then (due to IRROPS or something) you got down graded to coach. The airline then reimbursed you something for your down grade.

Do you give that money back to your boss or keep it for yourself?

My answer is that I give it to my boss (I've done it before) but I'm not sure myself whether I do it because it's the ethical thing to do or because it's not enough money to risk losing my job over.

Curious what others think.