Corporate travelers come up with some creative reasons to be upgraded, ranging from hangovers to allergies and pets, according to a survey by GetThere, an online business travel technology company.

With the National Business Travel Association citing travel as corporations' second highest controllable expense, travel and procurement managers try to create policies to keep down costs. Employees who stray from policy must explain why they needed to secure an airline upgrade or a larger rental car when the company is paying the bill.

So GetThere asked travel managers to submit their favorite excuses given by travelers pushing the boundaries of their corporation's defined travel policies. Corporate travelers using GetThere booked more than 10 million business trips online in 2006.

A West Coast-based travel manager for a manufacturing services provider submitted the top excuse: "I upgraded to first class because I can't afford the drinks in Coach."

GetThere asked travel managers to share the most outrageous travel excuses heard on a day-to-day basis, resulting in this unscientific — but amusing — top 10 list:

1. "I upgraded to first class because I can't afford the drinks in coach."

2. "Do you know who I am? If you did you would not ask me why I travel first class."

3. "I had to rent a full-size car in order to carry my golf clubs."

4. "I am allergic to peanuts and that is all they serve in coach, so I had to upgrade to first where they have almonds."

5. "I had to stay an extra day because I can't fly with a hangover."

6. "My dog is booked in the climate control hold on the flight and I need to sit in first class so I can hear him bark so I know he's OK."

7. "Isn't Boston on the way to LAX?" (Passenger lives in Las Vegas and wanted extra mileage points.)

8. "I have a doctor's note that states I have to fly first class."

9. "I'm claustrophobic, so I need to fly first class in order to get off the plane first."

10. "I accidentally booked a flight to Paris, France, instead of Paris, Texas."