I'll throw my hat in here. I somtimes end up pruchasing Y fares for business related travel. My travel policy at work is that anything less than transcontinental or internatinal is coach. So, that's why I don't just buy first class tickets all the time instead of Y. I do buy Y sometimes, depending on the trip, because my trips tend (1) to be last minute and (2) change from minute to minute and only a Y ticket provides that kind of flexibility. Generally my business travel is billed to the client but I do try to be sensitive and book the ticket that in the end run offers the best value proposition while producing the required degree of flexbility--sometimes that's a Y-ticket and sometimes not.

Cheers,
Brooklynflyer