Originally Posted by cytog64

@rgrobins - here is an update From my Nov 2014 reply #136

My employer still uses the ALL in Coach policy. Since 2014 the company has grown from 1500 employees to 2000, about only 10-15% are long haul travelers. Annual revenue is around 500M$/yr.

I spent a few months collecting research (corporate policies from other companies) as well as documenting stories and opinions from co-workers (I know of about 40+ long haul travelers). I presented my findings and suggestions to the VP of the department I work in around January 2015. He promised to take it to the executive team meeting and then I never heard about it again. The VP left the company last month. I would say the request died (though I kept my 12 pages of research and interviews). I was starting to get to the point where I had to balance the corporate politics of being a squeaky wheel and picking my battles.

I learned that based on the previous year's travel, the travel/expense department estimated allowing business class on flights over 8 hours would cost the company 1$M extra per year.

At this point all I can do is keep submitting Employee Job Satisfaction Surveys to human resources (I've gone Andy Dufresne on them) Also, I tend to bring up the issue with my manager on a quarterly review basis.

Of course I could find another company to work for; however, I really like my employer (a Fortune top 100 to work for). I am very happy with my pay and many of the destinations I get to travel to for work.

I don't think the corporate policy will change any time soon, so my next approach will be likely a doctor's order. I've also been stewing on an idea of using my miles to buy business class and trying to get the travel/expense department to reimburse the coach cost (that would be awesome to be able to convert excess miles to cash in this way).

I still have to travel to Brazil, Australia, Europe, Japan and South Africa about a half dozen more times this year and am dreading the back pain.