See, that's what bugs me and causes me to bury the non-routine stuff in my reports from time to time. I look at my self as a frugal/smart traveler as well; I'd imagine there are many FTers in the same boat.

But, the 2 dinners each week at Taco Bell for $5.38 never get noticed for their frugality. However, red flags rise, alarm bells sound, emails travel around the world and the entire HR department comes to attention when someone dares to try to sneak a $9.95 one day T-mobile pass through on their expense report. The idea that it might be a very well spent $9.95 for someone who was delayed in CVG for 6 hours just doesn't cross the minds of these nimrods.

Sure, I could put it down as internet access and wait for the call / email from HR. Then I could spend 3-5 minutes on the phone with them explaining the details - and then probably have to provide them with some sort of evidence of my flight delay and necessity for internet access. Ultimately, the expense would be paid because its legitimate. But by just putting down dinner at $15.33 that night - I don't lose all my productivity time 5 days later with needless correspondence with HR.

I guess I'm just so pro-PerDiem that I basically work my expense report with my own per diem meter. If I decide that I'd like to go out for a nice dinner and drop $50 one night, I keep it cheaper the rest of the week. If I want to drive a Lincoln some week, maybe I'll stay at the Comfort Inn rather than the Courtyard. If I want to have internet access while I eat my Ben & Jerry's for dinner.... well then that internet access is just part of the meal cost.

Bottom Line: Someone who never travels for business really ought not be in charge of establishing, nor enforcing, the company's travel policies.