I didn't mean to suggest keeping it, although re-reading what I wrote I can see how you took it that way. If there's any potential blowback on doing that then it's not even a question worth raising: follow their policy and book the one way and let them carry the cost. EOS.

Utterly wrong on both counts. :)

The policy for which you argue ( correctly) against was put in place by one of your coworkers, past or present.

Somebody is in charge of deciding that this policy should remain in place. If you are right, then one of your coworkers, probably above you on the totem pole, is wrong.

You're not going to gain, within your company, by stressing your point more than once. Being right can be a burden.

(In my own line of work, I find things that i think we do wrong or inefficiently, pretty much every day. Sometimes I get my way. But usually not. And no one fully appreciates how visionary I really am.)

Buy the one way, I say.

Do you want to do the job you are paid for or do you want to be the corporate TA?

Suggesting cheaper travel options are always a good idea - but your company might not care one hoot about the cost of your individual flight - they may only care about the total travel budget.

Your company is sending you someplace for a year and is not flying you back at any time during that year?

I would find that way more disturbing than their one way policy.

I would follow their policy, buy a one way ticket. It's silly to spend them money by costing you money.

If you book the return, how are you going to get back to the work location? Is the company going to pay for another outbound one-way?

+1 - It's easy to be right and wrong because you are right. Different organizations react diffrently to suggestions about how to better run the business. Forward-looking operations welcome catches such as this. Others look at a suggestion such as this and say, "why is this guy who is paid XXX, wasting his time playing TA?"

Only OP knows the sort of organization for which he works.

It bothers us because we know these things about travel / airline pricing. Don't worry about it and give your attention to stuff that concerns you. The company is paying for your relocation expense. Simple. The rest is their problem.

Take advantage of the high fare they fare willing to pay - you might be able to upgrade for miles or money-or get a comp upgrade to Y+ r business (e.g. some corporate TAs will have upgrade vouchers).