First, it doesn't say that they can only book you in biz if lie flat seats are available nor does it say that first class is authorized if the aircraft offers it.

Read a little further.

8.A.5.c.ii If a higher class of service is authorized on a deadhead with less than 10 scheduled block hours, such service shall be booked in Business or First Class at the Company’s option

Maybe that’s why I haven’t run into that problem, the flights I exercise this option on are JL, EK, SQ across the ocean with 10+ block.

CORRECT!!! How can someone use “deviation funds” if they don’t deviate.

CORRECT statement.

Maybe true in the context of the original question, but this statement isn’t completely accurate. You can attach ‘deviation’ expenses to any trip, including those without deadheads.

Correct, our pilot group is a bunch of contract clowns. You read jetflyers and you can see why we get crap contracts.

Hard pass.

Not correct. There are two classes of service in our contract. Coach, and “a higher class of service”. If you are legally booked in coach and want to pay for “a higher class of service” fill out the form and pay for it. “Higher class of service” is the contract language because some airlines don’t have first class or business class. If you meet contractual rules for a “higher class of service”, you can book yourself into any seat on the airplane that is higher than coach.

I do agree with the OP that management denying mid trip deviations based solely on the price of the deviation ticket isn't supported by the language in the contract and should be fought.

While I wish what you said was correct, I'm afraid it isn't supported by the contract.

First, a lie flat seat qualifies as meeting the higher class of service for a deadhead. Even if that lie flat seat is in economy or economy plus, it qualifies as a higher class of service seat.

Second, there is a hierarchy of scheduling a higher class of service. Unless the deadhead consists of a single leg with over 16 hours of duty, only discounted first class tickets get higher priority than business class. So, if your deadhead is scheduled for 10+30 block, and the only fares available are full fare first class or business class, you will most likely get business class for the higher class of service.

Now, you need to look at allowable expenses for air travel. It only talks about expenses for deviation travel. If there is a section of the contract that says you can arbitrarily decide to book yourself in any higher class of service than was booked by the company without deviating as an allowable expense, I'd like you to point it out.

Again… it does not have to be written in the contract for it to be a status quo violation. If it’s written in the contract it would be a contract violation for them to change it. Because it’s a standard practice that’s being changed and not written in the contract, it’s a status quo violation.