My stupid company has a "coach to Europe" pseudo-policy as well. Fortunately, there are a couple of very narrow loopholes in the policy that I've been able to take advantage of on one or two occasions. I just don't get it - I talk to my European colleagues and they're aghast that a company would expect an employee to fly in Coach and they're further aghast that a company would expect an employee to put in a full day of work on the day s/he arrived (regardless of class of travel).