CASE 2.2 Flying or Lying in Business Class Robert C. Solomon A few months ago, you graduated from business school and began working at National Inc. in New York City. It was exciting for you and your spouse to live in New York, but also very expensive, especially since you still have huge loans to pay off from college. Your boss at National is sending you to a conference in Amsterdam. This is a great opportunity for you to display your talents. New hires are watched closely to see if they have the maturity and sophistication to work with foreign clients. At National employees have the option of getting an advance for their plane tickets, instead of paying for them and being reimbursed later. National also has a policy of sending employees business class on any flight of five hours or more. You were surprised at the amount of the advance for the business-class ticket and realize that you could use it to buy two coach tickets. Your spouse has not yet found a job in New York and is getting a little depressed. When your spouse hears about the trip and expresses an interest in going with you, you agree that it is a good idea. You can't really afford a vacation, and it would be nice to stay in a good hotel and enjoy the sights in Amsterdam. Since the company is so large, and you submit your receipts to the accounting division, your boss would never know if you bought one or two tickets. Two coach tickets may even cost the company less money. QUESTIONS 1. Should you ask your boss if you can use the money to buy two tickets? 2. What would keep you from asking your boss? 3. Does the fact that the two coach tickets cost less justify not telling your boss? 4. What ethical principle is at stake here