c1ue

This doesn't excuse ignorance, but one legitimate reason (IMO) for such policies is when customers have "no biz or first" policies.
The worst situation that I've seen is watching high level executives at a (huge and much bigger customer) file past my boss while he sat in biz - because that customer has a policy where nobody flies biz or first.
Sure, the customer execs were really nice and polite, but it can't be good when you have P & L owners of 10000 man business units going to premium economy when my boss (manager of 10) is in biz...

mandolino

Yes and no.

The bigger the multiplier, the more sense such savings make.
And the importance of setting an example to 10,000 rather than 10 who know you well.

UALfromMSN

We used to have a policy of no upgrades on flights to or from conventions, when customers might be on the same flights and possibly see us. The owner of the company realized that our customers might object to how much they were paying for our services if they saw us in first while they were shuffling off to coach. I was actually OK with that policy, especially because any other time, if you scored an upgrade, the company looked the other way.

BThumme

This just sounds like higher-ups complaining that if they can't have nice things, no one else can. But this is all corporate politics 101, a game I absolutely loathe.

Proudelitist

Funny how all that has changed. In the heady days of the 1980's, it was good business practice to appear opulent and rich. The thinking was that any company that can afford to do that knows what it is doing and is flush. If they are flush, they must earn plenty of money, and if they earn plenty of money, they must be good. It was standard in corporate culture to be in F, and if clients were in E, it would be embarrassing for them.

Nowadays there is this pervasive, overly egalitarian attitude that has F appearing wasteful, elitist, privileged..have we become the Danes? It is no longer good form to enjoy the fruits of your wealth..even if that wealth is in airmiles from thousands of coach flights. I get it of course, when it comes to government employees, or if you are spending a client's money...but if your company allows it, and if you have earned it, and even if you pay full fare out of your own pocket, that shouldn't be bad optics.

jrl767

and right there is the real problem ... pretty much everything is about image and impression rather than substance and intelligent rationale

Often1

There are many businesses which prohibit employees from F/J cabins, having nothing to do with the cost of the ticket and who paid for what.

When you take a job which involves lots of travel, the travel policy is an essential part of the job and you really need to ask yourself whether you can be happy with the policy.

Smart employers don't hide these things. They let it be known that there us a Y-only policy during the interview process, in the same way that they disclose how much travel is involved.

The tougher issue arises when a job has a lousy travel policy, but has great compensation or other perks.

thelark

gooselee

True, but to your point, the best employers are simply transparent and up front about all of this from the beginning, so candidates can make an informed decision on their own.

And add me to the list of people that get frustrated at the whole "if I can't have it nobody can" culture that has taken hold. I cringe every time I see some sort of article or Facebook post about 401k savings or first class travel or whatever because I know it will have the subsequent comments about how it's the entire world's fault that I couldn't save money or luxury anything is wasteful and the money could do so many better things or whatever else.

I'm by no means part of the bootstraps dogma crowd, and I know I have been especially lucky in my life, but I also work my butt off (as so many others I know) in order to save and be able to afford nice things and also contribute to some good in the world. But to listen to many people these days, you'd think I'm an evil person just because I make more than median income and am not constantly rolling in consumer debt.

invisible

In company I worked about 10 years ago one sales guy produced such note. Next week he was informed that the position he was employed was no longer available and he was given one hour to clean desk and got escorted out with security.

fassy

Same experience (with a bit of suffering behind a desk time) in my previous company: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29987024-post22.html

STVA

invisible

This - 'I am better/smarter than you or I deserve more than you' shown in very stupid way always (literally) backfires.

chrisl137

Was this in the US? It sounds like something that could open up a company to an ADA lawsuit.

fassy