I've been flying for 2 yrs at my current company, and do about 100K miles per year. I encountered a problem that I wanted to know if anybody else encountered, and how to deal with it in the future. Maybe I just need to vent. I had to fly from DEN-Pitts, and our corp TA had two choices: UA for $1000 or AW for $400. The AW was through PHX, and UA was through ORD. I ordered the UA (I'm PEX on UA, no status on AW), with 3 main justifications: 1. AW is more prone to delays and cancellations; they had no other flights if my outbound is cancelled, UA had 3 more options. 2. AW would be a coach seat (I'm 6'3"), UA would be E+ or high probability of upgrade to work. Since my company bills me at $135 p/hr, it seemed like a no-brainer. I don't make money while reading Harry Potter. 3. AW puts me in the air for 2 extra hours because of going west before going east. I would up on an "exception list" that went to our corp HQ because I didn't take the lower fare that was offered by the TA. My VP asked for me to change the flight to please "big brother" Any thoughts?? BTW, this is the same TA that quotes $1100 fares that I double check and find a similar flight on the same airline for $400. My asst calls back and I get the lower fare, but I never get credit for that.