Maybe for some - but the C-Level folks are mostly traveling F -- I've personally seen a number of examples where the travel manager at company x is quoted, "everyone flies coach, even our CEO" and the CEO was in F or in a private jet.

I was at a conference last year where the travel manager of a major financial service company was telling a bunch of hotel executives that she would only support hotels that gave her significant discounts, and to underscore the point she told them that the company had sold its private jets, everyone flies coach, and the ceo only takes taxis. Just before thanksgiving i was in the office of a friend who works at a private jet company. He had to take a call during the meeting - it was to coordinate some thanksgiving flights for the same ceo - and it turns out since the company sold their jets, they had been doing all the business trips for this company.

About three years ago, I was at a hotel in beijing and was chatting w the GM and he was telling me that even though they had lost a major fortune 500 account because their rate was higher than the city per diem per the new ceos "save every penny" policy he had still done about 50% of the revenue from the previous year with this same company from the ceo and board members and their entourages who stayed there anyway.

I dont think these guys are using the upgrades. They dont want somebody to tell them - yes, we can get you on the earlier flight, but we can't get you upgraded. That PA, travel agency or whomever would be looking for another job the next day.