Originally Posted by ByeByeDelta
If I have a tightwad client paying big bucks for my services AND pays for my travel, I'd be happy to pay for the upgrades. Of course, I'd ask once if they would spring for them. Worse they can say is no. I imagine they would also appreciate the fact that I asked and didn't just forward the bill.
However, if I get caught pulling a fast one and billing for upgrades, I could be without a paying client. Then I really couldn't afford the upgrades, much less a plane ticket.
I'm an agent, so we bill like law firms do, every paperclip, every copy on the machine, you know the drill. Nobody would flinch at a reciept, uncommented, in a major stack of expenses, that said "American Airlines - $100" or the equivalent. They wouldn't care or ask. Someone might give a call if it said "First Class Upgrade Certificates - $100"
Small, but relevant difference. I'm not intending to decieve anyone and certainly will not forge documents, that's not ethical. But this isn't quite that, ya know. Like when I rent cars I don't get the cheapest one, nor the most expensive, nobody says anything. If I send a receipt from Hertz that says car, $45 a day, 4 days, etc... nobody says anything. If I sent one that said $75 a day, they wouldn't flinch either. It's in the context of tens of thousands we're billing. BUT if I sent one that said "Luxury Limo Airport Service" for $30, for a trip to JFK, even if it was they might call, even if the yellow cab would have been $40. Perverse, but a reality... 'tis the nature of the beast and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Just curious. I may well find out soon enough...