Frequently Asked Questions

1.  **What is happening to travel at U.S. Department of Agriculture
    (USDA)?**

> The current method of booking USDA Federal travel is changing.
> Electronic Data Systems (EDS) was selected to replace the **Travel
> Management Centers (TMC)** that currently book travel for USDA.
>
> **2. Why is my TMC changing?**
>
> Current TMC contracts, including the Washington D.C. metropolitan TMC,
> are expiring beginning December 31, 2004, through August 2005. Within
> four months, the majority of the TMC contracts will have expired.

3.  **When is my TMC changing?**

> Your agency Travel Policy User Group (TPUG) representative has the
> date(s) when your agency will begin using EDS. For those TMC contracts
> expiring on December 31, 2004, this will be January 1, 2005.

4.  **I am traveling in January, whom should I call?**

> If the current TMC contract does not expire December 31, 2004, you
> must use the current TMC until the contract expires. You should
> continue booking travel through the existing method within your
> agency. If your TMC contract expires December 31, 2004, you must begin
> using EDS effective January 1, 2005.

5.  **I already have reservations for a January trip, what do I do?**

> For those travelers whose TMC contracts expire December 31, 2004, the
> Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) is waiving the rule
> prohibiting early issuance of airline tickets. Your current TMC is
> permitted to issue tickets in December 2004 for Domestic and/or
> Foreign travel that commences no later than January 31, 2005. OCFO is
> permitting [only]{.underline} those TMCs, whose contracts expire
> December 31, 2004, to issue tickets for any domestic and/or foreign
> travel that commences by January 31, 2005.

6.  **What if my travel arrangements change after January 1, 2005?**

> If your TMC contract expired on December 31, 2004, but the TMC issued
> tickets for January 2005 travel, any changes to your travel
> arrangements will require you to contact EDS at toll free (866)
> 876-8020 to provide new tickets. To obtain a refund on tickets
> provided by another TMC, you must contact the issuing TMC.

7.  **How do I make reservations through EDS?**

> You may call toll free (866) 876-8020 and make travel arrangements
> through EDS (Full Service) or you may use their on-line booking engine
> (OBE) at FedTraveler.com (Self Service).

8.  **What telephone number do I call to make reservations?**

> Domestic, Foreign, Very Important Person (VIP), and emergency travel
> can all be handled by calling (866) 876-8020.

9.  **What is the website, if I want to book on line?**

> [www.fedtraveler.com](http://www.fedtraveler.com/)

NOTE: Several incidences have occurred where USDA employees are trying
to

log into www.fedtravel.com which is an unassociated web address. Please

ensure you are logging into the correct web address.

10. **How do I receive my login ID?**

> USDA travelers who already have an existing eAuthentication User ID
> will use their User ID and a password provided via email to login to
> the system. For those USDA travelers that do not have an existing
> eAuthentication User ID and password, a User ID and password will be
> created for them and provided via email to login to the system.

11. **What happens when I login for the first time?**

> Once you login to FedTraveler.com, you will be requested to verify
> your current profile data and submit any updates. FedTraveler.com will
> then respond and provide a temporary pin number that will permit you
> to enter the OBE and then create your own personal pin number.

12. **When will I receive my login ID from OCFO?**

> OCFO will provide the traveler's login ID no later than December 28,
> 2004.

13. **How will the system handle emergency travel?**

> EDS will have a live representative 24/7 to make travel reservations
> at (866) 876-8020.

14. **Who do I contact if I have a problem with the TMC?**

> First, you should contact the EDS help desk at (866) 876-8020. If they
> have not resolved the issue, contact your TPUG representative.

**15. Why would I want to use the OBE instead of calling the toll-free
number?**

> The advantage of using the OBE self-service process over the full
> service process of calling EDS directly is the price involved. The
> cost of using the OBE is \$11.00. The full service process cost is
> \$27.09.

16. **What if I need to change my travel plans?**

> If a change in the travel arises, the traveler must call EDS at (866)
> 876-8020 to make the change. This call will be considered a full
> service charge, regardless if the initial arrangements were made using
> the OBE.

17\. When I start a new travel reservation and press the go button, why
does the system return that I'm finished or does not respond?

> FedTraveler does not work if you have a Pop-up Blocker turned on in
> your WEB Browser. Please consult with your internal IT Department to
> set your Pop-up Blocker to allow pop-ups from
> [www.fedtraveler.com](http://www.fedtraveler.com/) or to turn this WEB
> Browser feature off.