I used to do a lot more business travel than I have in the past few years. Was United 1K for 3 years PE for 4 years before that, etc. Corp travel has really cracked down, and I agree with you. Used to be any airtime over 12hrs was auto business. Then any segment over 12 hrs. Now NO business class travel. I have miles for upgrade on most US carriers, but not BA and our travel dept. is required to book lowest available or I get a call from finance. Yeah, sucks. If it was up to me, I'd pay the $2K difference for Y+ out of pocket, but the wife has some say in that . . .