I can only speak for my employer's travel policy, but 'lowest logical' is the order of the day for all travel - you've gotta have an exceptionally good reason to book a flexible ticket (and it requires extra levels of approval) - so most don't bother with it.
--
I generally only buy Flexi tickets to use the upgrade certificates. When Flexi was a small premium over a Saver ticket, I was happy to do so .. but now that Flexi fares are in excess of a 100% premium over a Saver fare (which are also a lot more expensive these days)? Not so much.
VFF, a little feedback for you in case you read this: what is the point of Platinum over Gold any more? The benefits have been 'enhanced':
- Upgrade certificates: now costs too much to use them - given the fare increases, perhaps consider making them usable on Saver fares?
- Better lounge access: no F Lounge at AUH for an indefinite period, F Lounge at LAX is a little box - otherwise lounge access is basically the same as Gold - and I can count the number of times I've travelled with more than one companion on one finger (and in that instance, buying lounge access would have worked just as well).
- Better seats: generally easy to get row 3 at the lounge for domestic, row 5 going away in the refit. IMHO, seating on VA domestic is a major issue - non status guests regularly end up in premium seats when there are seats further back.
- Better priority service: HAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAA .. does anyone (VA staff included) actually believe that? My calls are answered by the same people as Gold and I still get transferred offshore if I want to use my points.