The bank will essentially be whatever the biz class ticket is. Assuming you deviate early, check the pairing to see what it is. The fare will be what they quote you. You need the extra bank to cover the difference.

 

Bummer. That's what I thought. Thanks again!

 

I haven’t specifically booked a greater than 16 hour first class ticket (I did have one automatically booked for me by GT on an airplane with lay flat seats in both first and business). But I have found it helps to be proactive with GT to get your scheduled tickets booked. When you get assigned to the trip, call them and tell them what you want (don’t deviate. Just ask them to book the scheduled ticket). Our contract says the booking priority in your case is discounted first, full fare first and business. Have them book in that order on the scheduled flight. If the fare is more than the baseline fare, the eventual published fare should raise to meet what they paid for it. But in the meantime contact the expense report folks via insite and explain to them what is going on. You now have a ticket in first and a paper trail that matches our contract. You also have not deviated so GT will still eventually have to purchase a ticket for your scheduled trip. When they do, compare what they got and what you got and based on what kind of response you get from the expense report folks, choose your next course of action.

 

I did call GT and they told me per fedex instructions, they are only allowed to book in business if it is lie flat seat. So, there's that.

 

They are wrong. I’ve had them tell me that too. I hang up and call the next agent until I get what I asked for. I’ve never had to talk to more than two.

 

Not if you are deviating.

 

You don’t have to tell them why you are getting a ticket. I just politely tell them what I want. If they ask the pairing I tell them that too. But you can book a ticket on the phone without deviating and I don’t recall them asking the last dozen or so times I’ve done it.

 

I do the same thing, but I’ll bet the company considers it deviating. And I will official deviate before the trip to stay legal.

 

Per the contract -

c. Higher Class of Service

i. Regardless of a passenger carrier&rsrsquo;s nomenclature or hierarchy for classes of service, a Flat Bed Seat satisfies the higher class of service requirements set forth in this Section.

So unless he is deviating, the company can book him in business with a lie flat. I agree with Lag that if he wants first class, he needs to deviate and cover the difference with bank money.

If you really want to be sure, call the union.

 

Remember issues like this when the union wants to negotiate our retirement benefits away.