Executives at Denver International Airport (DEN) are facing some criticism over a recent work trip to Madrid, where they spent anywhere from $9K to $19K per person on tickets to get there (thanks to Zen for flagging this). Is the criticism warranted, or is this much ado about nothing?
In this post:
Denver Airport’s very expensive trip to a conference in Spain
CBS News Colorado has the story of how Denver International Airport CEO Phillip Washington and his eight top executive flew to Madrid in April 2025, for a three-day airport terminal conference. All nine of them flew either first or business class on all legs.
What’s causing some public outrage is how much they spent on their tickets, as was discovered under Colorado’s Open Records Act. Airport funding of course comes from what passengers pay for concessions, parking fees, rental car revenue, and more.
The team spent a total of $165K on the trip, or an average of $18K per traveler, including flights, hotels, meals, conference costs, and ground transportation. What’s causing the most anger among the public is how much was spent on flights. The cheapest ticket came in at over $9K, while the most expensive ticket cost over $19K. Yep, that’s just for flights between Denver and Madrid.
Airport executives have defended themselves, with Washington stating that “our policy allows us to do that,” and also saying “you got to hit the ground running, you literally go from the plane to a meeting or a conference or whatever.” However, CBS points out that they landed the day before their conference started (that’s not to say that they didn’t have meetings that day, though).
The CEO’s Chief of Staff has also been criticized for violating the employee travel policy, which allows employees to add a maximum of two business days onto their work trip, to prevent employees from using work trips as a jumping off point for a lengthy vacation. But that’s exactly what she did, as she only returned from Europe two weeks later.
When Washington was confronted about that, he said “I did not know about the rule,” and that “we’ll deal with that accordingly, we will take care of this.” Since Washington and most of the team returned home on a Friday, he was asked if they couldn’t have flown home more economically since they had the weekend ahead of them, and he responded “the policy allows that, so we took advantage of that.”
Washington also defended the decision by saying “those costs may seem high, they are an investment in our people,” and that “we sent who we sent, and they are going to pay dividends as we build out this infrastructure.”
My take on this airport executive controversy
So, I can sort of see both sides here, and I think this reflects the larger issue that exists with so many travel policies nowadays.
To the credit of the airport executives, it doesn’t seem unreasonable for them to fly business class on an overseas work trip. Furthermore, business class tickets often are very expensive, and that’s how airlines make much of their profits (the $500 economy tickets that they sell across the Atlantic are basically just “gas money”). Heck, airports even benefit from those high fares, because they’re what allow airlines to launch long haul routes, including to Denver.
Furthermore, there’s obviously a lot of potential upside to airport executives attending a conference like this, as it could lead to new airlines launching service to the airport, and that could have a positive impact in the tens of millions.
On the other hand, when you step back, this kind of gets at the absurdity of so many corporate travel policies. Often the policy simply dictates what class of service you can fly in, with no regard for the cost, or no one enforcing that you pick the cheapest routing, if it’s marginally less convenient.
That’s how you end up in a situation where you book a $19K ticket. “Well, our policy says I can do it, and that’s what the ticket costs, so that’s what I’m booking.” The employees figure it’s a rounding error to their bottom line anyway, and no one will notice. The joys of spending other peoples’ money.
I imagine if each of the people had been quoted the cost of the ticket they ended up booking, and were told they could receive 25% of what they saved in cash if they booked a cheaper ticket, things would’ve looked very different. There needs to be more corporate travel policy reform, if you ask me, and I think this incident is the perfect example of why.
But I hardly think the folks from Denver Airport are alone in acting this way. I’d say that the people who actually do their best to save their employer money on travel expenses when they have no direct incentive to do so are the exception rather than the norm. Now, I suppose it can be argued that they’re (in some way) public servants working for the people, and that makes this totally done deaf. I imagine people will have different takes as to where airport executives fall on the private vs. public spectrum.
Heck, this is one of the reason that many airlines have revenue based frequent flyer programs. They’re literally trying to incentivize business travelers to book more expensive tickets to rack up more rewards.
Bottom line
Denver Airport executives are facing some backlash, after a recent trip to attend a conference in Madrid racked up $165K in expenses, with flight tickets ranging in cost from $9K to $19K each.
Do I think they could have booked cheaper tickets, and should have? Absolutely! Am I surprised that people working for an organization that dictates class of service of travel but not cost ended up spending a fortune on flights, just because they could? Absolutely not…
What do you make of this Denver Airport executive controversy?
Maybe not comparable, CEOs and executives of large public companies have their own dedicated company jets, pilots, and other stuff, which are far more expensive than this business trip.
Notable that though a partner alliance airline, the $19,000 ticket was on Lufthansa not United.
Business travel can be important and necessary but it seems like a lot of our public representatives take advantage of the opportunity. We should have transparency and guidelines for public officials. I heard of a guy at the wastewater company that has been overseas on business a dozen times over two years. That’s seems unchecked and excessive. Or maybe I’m just a grouch.
So piecing it together the execs in First Class would have had to double connect somewhere right? Neither BA nor Air France offer first class to Denver and Lufthansa hadn't yet flown the A380 from Munich back in April. Seems like a case of booking First Class just because they can and not because it made any sense for their itinerary.
The exorbitant flight costs are obviously outrageous and show bad optics, but I'm also curious about the hotels they chose. Like are we talking Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons for the CEO and maybe Deluxe Suites for the executives? Or did they just call it good with the flights and settle for the Hampton Inn?
Also, how did this story get out? Like did some vindictive employee who didn't get an invite rat them out?
This story is hilarious. I can't wait for CBS to dig even deeper into the expenses and find out that their trips to visit international airlines and international conferences consistently violate policy. I know for a fact that all those employees abuse the travel policy for personal gain because they haven't ever been caught and continue to flaunt it and push their limits. Corruption knows no bounds for those executives.
When I was a corporate travel manager our international travel policy was business class over 2 hours. Our professionals were also billing clients thousands of dollars an hour. You don't have our level of execs flying coach.
I think more ridiculous is that someone actually goes out to find what was spent for a conference trip... like don't they have anything better to do?
Dublin Airport execs do this all the time. Especially the CEO - he travels in business / first but forces low level staff to travel in economy - even if they are flying to Australia.
They're a bunch of thieves. They should all be fired and also reimburse those expenses. There is no way you would pay anywhere near 9k - 19K to go from the US to Madrid.
If you think this is bad, look into all the other airport authorities and chambers of commerce
Miami Beach chamber has been flying all around the world in J for years now, taking their families with them for the “business trip”
Nothing to see here, folks. Just Denver Democrats being Democrats. These are the same clowns spending $2.1 BILLION dollars on 'renovations' to turn DIA into a "destination shopping experience." You literally can not make it up. Incompetence on this scale is simply mind-boggling.
Because, you know, taxpayers always think about going to the airport for a "destination shopping experience."
Some conferences don't require much thought.
I have arrived on a transpacific flight at 6 am and went to the job site at 8:30 am. All in premium economy. Then came back in economy.
Ding, ding, ding.
At my (top grossing) law firm we often send our people in economy even as our work facilitates multi-billion dollar M&A deals.
Then those a stupid employees who work for your top grossing law firm if they are accepting travelling in economy internationally, when on business. Or perhaps you are just being a troll.
Anyone who has ever worked at a big law firm knows this is untrue, unless it is a short flight (under 3-4 hours) travel guidelines and office manuals allow for business class, especially if on the Client’s dime (for firm business is usually either business or premium economy).
Of course you would not know this.
Most of us mere mortals have to fly coach or maybe premium economy and then we have limits on what we can spend. They should be fired for bad judgement and optics. I have flown to Europe many times and "hit the ground running" after a nights sleep
All nine employees should be removed from their positions by the Monday morning, and be made to reimburse the cost of the taxpayer funded junket/vacation. And I especially don't want to hear so much as another GD peep about global warming (excuse me, it is now a Climate Catastrophe) from these slime ball democrat grifters.
Maybe you didn’t read the article, but none of it was taxpayer funded, and firing someone for following the organization’s policy seems like grounds for wrongful termination.
I actually think the price is normal. Business travelers usually are the only ones who booking those very expensive tickets..,
I’ve been in a similar role at a different U.S. airport, and we had the same policy - intercontinental travel allowed business class bookings if business were taking place within 48-hours of arrival or from the point of departure. As in this case, no tax payer funds were spent - our travel budget came from airport revenues.
For transatlantic trips, we usually arrived in the morning and had meetings in the afternoon, so it really...
I’ve been in a similar role at a different U.S. airport, and we had the same policy - intercontinental travel allowed business class bookings if business were taking place within 48-hours of arrival or from the point of departure. As in this case, no tax payer funds were spent - our travel budget came from airport revenues.
For transatlantic trips, we usually arrived in the morning and had meetings in the afternoon, so it really was imperative. Regardless, we were operating out of approved annual travel budgets. Nobody would care about 100 $1k tickets, but 10 $10k one’s bother them?
And when we won an international flight on those trips, it typically amounted to $100M in economic impact to the community.
9k is not unreasonable, a bit in high side. 19k is unnecessary unless you are flying first. I think business class is justified and usually cost 5-10k even if you book ahead for direct flights. 19k needs to be scrutinized.
Lets be honest, the true crime and disservice to the public here is spending 19k on a United Polaris seat.
Also reporter needs some fact checking on First vs Business class here.
Google flights shows r/t DEN-MAD biz class tickets for under $5K on LH, Swiss and other airlines. This is what it should have cost them. It looks like the DIA policy didn't have a cap on air fares but reasonableness should have prevailed, which is a general principle when expensing business travel. $19K for a plane ticket is clearly absurd, policy or no policy.
BEST line you wrote, Ben, in the whole article?
"How sad to spend $19K on this kind of catering (probably!)"
I bought Polaris MEX-AMS for over $5000 and could not stomach the absolutely horrible and hideously-served food in Polaris on the plane (not counting the food in the IAH Polaris lounge, which was fresh, edible, delicious, and plentifully served).
Since I'm not on the public dole, I will never make that mistake again!
Spending 19k of the public’s money on a single airline ticket….for a Public employee…..is abhorrent….regardless of what the (self serving) policy may be. If they are serious about improving the airport experience, maybe those execs (like our politicians) should travel in economy, as most Americans do.
I work for a public entity in the US, and while our travel policy would definitely not warrant a $19k ticket to go anywhere, even if it did, I would not dare to take advantage of the policy like Mr. Washington is trying to make us believe is something legitimate, because "policy allows us to do that...". Also inserting that the generous aspects of the policy he is well aware of, yet the restrictive portions not so much.
DIA has a 30 year history of corruption, no bid contracts, endless cost overruns, and a total disregard for the poor miserable suffering passengers.
I miss Stapleton. Better off going into Colorado Springs and going up I-25
Denver International Airport is a scandal!
Bernie Sanders sees nothing wrong here;)
This would never work in the public sector but some private sector companies have policies saying if you fly economy instead of business they'll pay for two extra nights of hotels. It ends up being a win-win assuming the employee uses leave for the two extra days.
The company where I work used to have a weekend travel incentive. If you stay over the weekend to get a cheaper plane ticket, they would pay for hotel/car/meals up to the difference in ticket price. Otherwise, as Ben pointed out, the incentive is to buy the most expensive ticket allowed by policy - getting more miles by spending other people's money.
Oh so $165k is unacceptable but we're ok with billions being pissed away with the military??
“The current population of the United States is approximately 346,790,860 as of May 2025”.
butterbub, what price do you put on the lives of all those people?
The U.S. military is not extracting the urine …. however, some might think that your post is doing so, yes?
I grew up in South Korea and saw all the American soldiers there pissing away that tax money. You guys should be real angry at the monetary waste going on overseas
Defend your own country then.
I’m American
you would be surprised at the luxury of the Seoul "military" resorts that the US build for their soldiers, to allow the "tired" soldier to recover from such a "fatigue" of being in South Korea.
Nothing surprises me out of my home airport these days ... The people that run Denver and Colorado are about as out of touch one can be. They'll say they need more in tax revenue and drop $165k and not even see the irony. Prior to this the former mayor and CEO of the airport wanted a legacy/vanity project with their name on it, so they remodeled the terminal. It's still not done and severely...
Nothing surprises me out of my home airport these days ... The people that run Denver and Colorado are about as out of touch one can be. They'll say they need more in tax revenue and drop $165k and not even see the irony. Prior to this the former mayor and CEO of the airport wanted a legacy/vanity project with their name on it, so they remodeled the terminal. It's still not done and severely way over budget. I never understood the need for a "shopping mall" in the terminal when you're gonna get through security, get on the train, and then go to your gate. They are finally looking at a consolidated rental car facility, which IMHO is larger need and would eliminate a lot of traffic at the terminal. This, and many other reasons, is why I'm planning an exit of Colorado in the next few years. Their heads are in the clouds.
When I worked for an arm of the federal government, I would have reported this to the OIG if something like this had occurred during my tenure, as we had to use taxpayers monthly wisely.
Admittedly, this is different from tax revenue, but it goes to show the corruption at many organizations.
If their travel policies allow it, then I don't see the issue. But only if their policies allow it.
A few years ago, I was in Miami and was told I needed to be in Honolulu the next day. It was $8,000 for a ticket. Another time I landed after an overnight red-eye from Hawaii only to find a voicemail message and email message telling me to return to Hawaii on the first available flight. A last-minute, same-day flight in business-class was almost $11,000. My contract entitled me to the highest class of service on a flight over 90 minutes in duration.
And last month, I needed to be in Turkey for business on one week's notice. It was over $11,000 for a Turkish Airlines ticket in business-class. I flew Delta to Mexico City and then Air France from Mexico City to Paris to Istanbul for about $6,000 plus two nights hotel accommodation; one night in Mexico City and another night in Paris. I saved the client over $5,000 even with the hotels. Of course, not everyone...
And last month, I needed to be in Turkey for business on one week's notice. It was over $11,000 for a Turkish Airlines ticket in business-class. I flew Delta to Mexico City and then Air France from Mexico City to Paris to Istanbul for about $6,000 plus two nights hotel accommodation; one night in Mexico City and another night in Paris. I saved the client over $5,000 even with the hotels. Of course, not everyone could do two nights or the bizarre routing through Mexico City. The real question here is when did the people know they needed to be in Spain and how far in advance were the tickets booked. I presume they booked fully refundable airfares in the event something happened at Denver's airport and they needed to cancel.
I would be shocked if, given that it was for a conference and they showed up the day before there wasn't at least a week of lead time
I assume this is a corporate and not o public/government job?
Corporate, but the airport authority, like most airport authorities, is a weird situation. Technically, government but more like a government-owned corporation. Typically funded at least in part by airport revenues, not taxpayer dollars per say. And generally no direct small-d democratic accountability. I'm not defending Denver's airport executives. I think Denver is the worst major airport in the US. But I could see a fully refundable business-class airfare costing close to $10,000+, especially at the...
Corporate, but the airport authority, like most airport authorities, is a weird situation. Technically, government but more like a government-owned corporation. Typically funded at least in part by airport revenues, not taxpayer dollars per say. And generally no direct small-d democratic accountability. I'm not defending Denver's airport executives. I think Denver is the worst major airport in the US. But I could see a fully refundable business-class airfare costing close to $10,000+, especially at the last minute.
This is a conference. Tickets could have been purchased ahead of time for cheaper. This was done on purpose.
... a first generation immigrant ... for 35 years. ...
I am first generation immigrant and have been a naturalized citizen for 35 years ago. In my early years as a citizen, I used marvel at the relatively corruption free way the US government functioned by and large, especially compared to the country of my birth. Most politicians would do a decent bit to avoid the appearance of corruption
Those days are gone. I wonder how much insider trading went on with the on-gain/off-again tariff...
I am first generation immigrant and have been a naturalized citizen for 35 years ago. In my early years as a citizen, I used marvel at the relatively corruption free way the US government functioned by and large, especially compared to the country of my birth. Most politicians would do a decent bit to avoid the appearance of corruption
Those days are gone. I wonder how much insider trading went on with the on-gain/off-again tariff saga. There is no way to know with all the DOGE cuts and deregulation executive orders.
Really sad.
The real tragedy is the folks paying $19,000 don't get any additional miles vs. someone on a $9,000 ticket because of United's ridiculous 75k mile cap on flight earning...
Kidding aside, I do think you can reasonably blame the CEO for a lack of accountability - whether by setting budget caps that may have forced some to book non-star alliance options or longer layovers, or by instituting a better travel policy in general. I...
The real tragedy is the folks paying $19,000 don't get any additional miles vs. someone on a $9,000 ticket because of United's ridiculous 75k mile cap on flight earning...
Kidding aside, I do think you can reasonably blame the CEO for a lack of accountability - whether by setting budget caps that may have forced some to book non-star alliance options or longer layovers, or by instituting a better travel policy in general. I work for a PE-backed company and while we can fly business class, there are limits and a $19,000 flight would never pass scrutiny.
What's odd is this quote "you got to hit the ground running, you literally go from the plane to a meeting or a conference or whatever.". Surely a conference is scheduled at least a year in advance at least in my industry (hotels) and reoccurs yearly on a similar date.
A conference doesn't just appear out of nowhere and like if they had booked in advance, it would have been less.
Wait until ATL staff fly to a conference in Tokyo on Delta One.
They were just conducting a survey of "How the Rich people Live". Looks like the survey worked Fine.
If their policy allows for international business class travel, then I don't see the issue here. No one violated the policy. For cost, the person who bought the $19k ticket should be reprimanded by HR since that HAS to be a violation of travel policy to book a ticket that's $10k more than the lowest priced ticket in that fare category.
Similarly, I don't understand the issue of employees using a work trip as a...
If their policy allows for international business class travel, then I don't see the issue here. No one violated the policy. For cost, the person who bought the $19k ticket should be reprimanded by HR since that HAS to be a violation of travel policy to book a ticket that's $10k more than the lowest priced ticket in that fare category.
Similarly, I don't understand the issue of employees using a work trip as a jumping off point for additional (personal) travel. Why is that an issue? I do it all the time, and when it works it's a great way to save some money while still enjoying some wonderful and unique experiences. Is it my preferred way to travel? No...because it causes me to have to bring extra cloths and carry my work laptop around with me while on vacation...but it's a great opportunity to save some $$.
I wonder who wrote the policy, though.
Does the state of Colorado have government contract fares including to Europe, and then, if not, then they absolutely should be held to the scrutiny of public examination.
Colorado isn't a company but is supported by voters who ultimately pay the costs for DEN to operate.
Just think about all the tax revenue from that new UA HDQ.
Many airports are supported by rent and fees that are paid (directly and indirectly) by travelers, not necessarily residents. Rental car feed and surcharges are essentially paid by visitors as residents rarely rent at the airport. The parties paying for these tickets have zero say.
yes, that is true but local passengers have as much or more of a say in their home airport as connecting passengers or visitors.
that is why cities impose ridiculous fees on hotel stays and rental cars - locals don't use them.
DEN is a public organization; there would be no outcry if people didn't think they could do anything
Sounds like they were disorganised and booked direct flights last-minute.
I don’t think the policy, per se, is wrong. I do think the airport authority needs a better travel management system that would block such bookings if they were the cheapest available. $9,000 round trip for business class was probably the going rate at the time of booking. Choosing a $19,000 fare just because you can is a problem that needs to be fixed.
…..if they weren’t the cheapest available…
I don't really object to airport employees booking in business class. I mean, I'm not a Colorado resident, so I don't have much to object to anyways since it isn't really my tax dollars wasted here. What I do, however, find more objectionable is that the cheapest ticket rung up at $9k when a pretty easy flight search on IATA can find round trip business class fares for ~3,500 on pretty much any combination of...
I don't really object to airport employees booking in business class. I mean, I'm not a Colorado resident, so I don't have much to object to anyways since it isn't really my tax dollars wasted here. What I do, however, find more objectionable is that the cheapest ticket rung up at $9k when a pretty easy flight search on IATA can find round trip business class fares for ~3,500 on pretty much any combination of dates.
This egregious spending orders of magnitude more than the cheapest business class option is much more objectionable than me than the person who used the Madrid flight as a jumping off point for a vacation, assuming, at least that the rest of the vacation was not taxpayer funded.
Raylan, obviously as I reside on the ‘right side of the pond’, I know little about what occurs in the U.S. in regard to this subject. However, I share the consternation of many here who are appalled by the actions of the subject public purse parasites.
We suffer from those too in the current UK Labour government circles. If it’s taxpayers money then they will exploit every opportunity to provide benefits for themselves.
...
Raylan, obviously as I reside on the ‘right side of the pond’, I know little about what occurs in the U.S. in regard to this subject. However, I share the consternation of many here who are appalled by the actions of the subject public purse parasites.
We suffer from those too in the current UK Labour government circles. If it’s taxpayers money then they will exploit every opportunity to provide benefits for themselves.
Notwithstanding, when I travel overseas at public expense (as my job requires), if I take leave in a foreign country, then any additional travel costs, taxes, flight time charges, etc, must be borne by me.
What is good for the goose is certainly not good for the gander as far as the UK bean counters are concerned.
It’s not tax dollars though. Airports make most of their revenue from rent paid by airlines and airport concessionaires, landing fees, parking, fuel sales, etc etc.
I think one big difference is that these people work for the people, to an extent. I work for a corporation and follow their travel policy. There are times I have to buy a last minute ticket to London that costs $12-15k. Just is what it is to do business
The airlines aren’t dumb. Someone like me is the reason airlines won’t discount biz class flights, even if biz class is pretty open. Airlines...
I think one big difference is that these people work for the people, to an extent. I work for a corporation and follow their travel policy. There are times I have to buy a last minute ticket to London that costs $12-15k. Just is what it is to do business
The airlines aren’t dumb. Someone like me is the reason airlines won’t discount biz class flights, even if biz class is pretty open. Airlines likely make the biggest margin from people like me.
Glad I don’t work for the public though!
Out of curiosity, what do you do that makes you fly intercontinental last minute? I often wonder when people travel so last minute - is it lack of proper planning or real emergencies that could not have been foreseen?
I can't attest to what @Tom does, but I personally have had some last minute intercontinental travel. 90% of the time it's scheduled at least one month in advance, but I have had a few instances where due to various types of last minute incidences, I've been told to head to Latin America (core of our international business) with less than a week's advance (and as little as two days).
So at that point, a...
I can't attest to what @Tom does, but I personally have had some last minute intercontinental travel. 90% of the time it's scheduled at least one month in advance, but I have had a few instances where due to various types of last minute incidences, I've been told to head to Latin America (core of our international business) with less than a week's advance (and as little as two days).
So at that point, a flight from western Europe to the South America that it somewhat convenient (i.e. not backtracking to IST/ADD/ME), can easily start in the 7-9k€ range.
don't they have travel industry perks like staff fares/discounts?
I follow a ground ops guy from DEN on Instagram - based on his posts he probably could have gotten the whole gang to MAD in Polaris on non-rev standby.
I was wondering when this news would break on this site, one is certainly waiting with bated breath for the incoming …. :-)
State and local governments in Colorado are in a budget crisis at this moment. This is just so tone deaf and out of touch with the economic realities of the moment and is part of a pattern of abuse of public fund by Mr. Washington, including trips to Turkey and Ethiopia. He’s trying to get Ethiopian to start up service to DEN when no aircraft on sale today can make it between ADD and DEN with hot and high on both ends.
@ Mitchell -- Totally agree with you on the tone deaf part. But regarding Ethiopian, presumably the airline could launch one-stop service, much like it has in other US markets, no?
They are precisely looking at one stop service. I think this is a case of confusion over direct vs. non-stop.
Also, Emirates to DEN???
The Lome to Denver market is just off the charts :D :D :D
Is there another government agency out there that turns a profit?