|CHAPTER�3�-�TRANSPORTATION,�ACCOMPANIED�BAGGAGE,��AND�LOCAL�TRAVEL
    PART�B:��TRAVEL�BY�COMMON�CARRIER
        U3125�COMMERCIAL�AIR�TRANSPORTATION
            B.��Class�of�Service
                4.�Premium-Class�Other�Than�First-Class�Use.
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| | 4.Premium-Class Other Than First-Class Use.� | 
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| | Premium-class other than first-class accommodations use may be authorized/approved only when: | 
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| | a.regularly scheduled flights between the authorized origin and destination points (including connection points) provide only premium-class accommodations, and the member certifies this circumstance on the travel voucher. | 
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| | b.space is not available in coach-class accommodations on any scheduled flight in time to accomplish the purpose of the official travel, which is so urgent it cannot be postponed. | 
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| | c.necessary to accommodate a member's disability or other physical impairment, if the condition is substantiated in writing by competent medical authority.� Premium-class other than first-class accommodations use also may be authorized for an attendant, who is authorized under pars. U7250-D and U7251-B to accompany the attended traveler when the attended traveler is authorized premium-class other than first-class airline accommodations use and requires the attendant's service en route. | 
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| | d.the accommodations are required for security purposes or because exceptional circumstances, as determined in accordance with Service regulations, make their use essential to the successful performance of the mission. | 
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| | e.coach-class accommodations on foreign carriers do not provide adequate sanitation or meet health standards and foreign flag carrier service use is approved in accordance with the Fly America Act. (See subpar. C for rules governing U.S. flag carriers use.) | 
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| | f.the accommodations would result in an overall savings to the Government based on economic considerations (e.g., the avoidance of additional subsistence costs, overtime, or lost productive time) that would be incurred while awaiting coach-class accommodations. | 
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| | g.obtained as an accommodations upgrade through the redemption of frequent traveler benefits (see par. U2010-B6). | 
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| | h.the member's transportation is paid in full through Services/Defense Agency acceptance of payment from a non-Federal source in accordance with Chapter 7, Part W. | 
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| | i.travel is direct between authorized origin and destination points (one of which isOCONUS) which are separated by several time zones, and the scheduled flight time (including stopovers) is in excess of 14 hours.� Scheduled flight time is the time between the scheduled airline departure from the PDS/TDY point until the scheduled airline arrival at the TDY point/PDS.� A rest stop (see par. U4325-D) is prohibited when travel is authorized by premium-class accommodations. | 
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| | 5.Documentation Requirements | 
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| | a.Orders. | 
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| | Travel orders authorizing premium-class accommodations should be annotated "(first/premium class or premium-class other than first-class) authorized by (cite reference)."� When the travel orders do not authorize premium accommodations use, first/premium class or premium-class other than first-class service may be provided if the original order, and copies thereof, are annotated that "(first/premium class or premium-class other than first-class issued, only first/premium class or premium-class other than first-class available between authorized origin and destination points.") | 
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| | b.Travel Voucher. | 
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| | Specific authorization/approval must be attached to, or stated on, the voucher and kept for the record. When regularly scheduled flights between the authorized origin and destination (including connection points) provide only premium-class accommodations, the member must certify these circumstances on the voucher.� In the absence of authorization/approval, the member is liable for all additional costs resulting from premium-class air accommodations use. | 
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| | C.U.S. Flag Air Carrier (Certificated Air Carrier) Use. | 
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| | 1.� Definition of U.S.� | 
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| | For the purposes of this subpar., U.S. means the 50 states, District of Columbia, territories, and possessions of the U.S. (49 U.S.C. �40102). | 
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| | 2.� Requirements.� | 
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| | Available U.S. flag air carriers shall be used for all commercial foreign air transportation of persons/property when air travel is funded by the U.S. Government (49 U.S.C. �40118 and B-138942, March 31, 1981).� Except as provided in subpar. 3, U.S. flag air carrier service is available if:� | 
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| | a.� the carrier performs the commercial foreign air transportation required, and� | 
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| | b.� the service accomplishes the mission, even though: | 
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| | (1)� a comparable/different kind of service by a noncertificated air carrier costs less,� | 
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| | (2)� noncertificated air carrier service is preferred by the service/traveler, | 
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| | (3)� noncertificated air carrier service is more convenient for the service/traveler, or | 
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| | (4)� the only U.S. flag air carrier service available between points in the U.S. and points outside the U.S. requires boarding/leaving the carrier between midnight and 6 a.m., or travel spanning those hours (the traveler may have a brief non-work period not to exceed 24 hours, for "acclimatization rest" at destination as well as per diem during the rest period when the destination is other than the traveler's PDS) (56 Comp. Gen. 629(1977)). | 
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| | 3.� Exceptions.� | 
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| | When one of the following exceptions exists, U.S. flag air carrier service is not available. | 
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| | a.� Transportation is provided under a bilateral/multilateral air transportation agreement to which the U.S. Government and the government of a foreign country are parties, and which the Department of Transportation has determined meets the requirements of the Fly America Act. | 
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| | b.� No U.S. flag air carrier provides service on a particular leg of the route, in which case foreign air carrier service may be used, but only to or from the nearest interchange point on a usually traveled route to connect with U.S. flag air carrier service. | 
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| | c.� A U.S. flag air carrier involuntarily reroutes a traveler's travel on a foreign air carrier; (if the traveler is given a choice as to substitute service, a U.S. flag air carrier should be selected if it does not unduly delay the travel) (59 Comp. Gen. 223 (1980)). | 
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| | d.� Foreign air carrier service would be three hours or less, and U.S. flag air carrier use would at least double en route travel time. | 
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| | e.� Foreign air transportation is fully paid for directly, or later reimbursed by a foreign government, an international agency, or other organization. (B-138942, March 31, 1981 and 57 Comp. Gen. 546 (1978)); NOTE: See Security Assistance Management Manual, Chapter 2, par. 20202-C3e of the DoD 5105.38-M, when travel is on Security Assistance Business. | 
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| | f.� If a U.S. flag air carrier offers nonstop/direct service (no aircraft change) from origin to destination, U.S. flag air carrier service must be used unless such use would extend travel time, including delay at origin, by 24 hours or more. | 
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| | g.� If a U.S. flag air carrier does not offer nonstop/direct service (no aircraft change) between origin and destination, U.S. flag air carrier must be used on every portion of the route where it provides service unless, when compared to using a foreign air carrier, such use would:��� | 
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| | (1)� increase the number of foreign OCONUS aircraft changes made by 2 or more; or | 
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| | (2)� extend travel time by at least 6 hours or more; or | 
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| | (3)� require a connecting time of 4 hours or more at a foreign OCONUS interchange point. | 
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| | h.� The order-issuing official determines that a U.S. flag air carrier cannot provide the needed air transportation, or cannot accomplish the mission. | 
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| | i.� Foreign air carrier use is necessary for medical reasons, (including use to reduce the number of connections and possible delays when transporting persons needing medical treatment). | 
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| | j.� Foreign air carrier use is required to avoid an unreasonable safety risk (e.g., terrorist threats).� NOTE:� Approval based on an unreasonable safety risk must be in writing on a case by case basis.� Determination and authorization/approval of foreign air carrier use based on a threat against a U.S. flag air carrier must be supported by a travel advisory notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of State.� Determination and authorization/approval of foreign air carrier use based on a threat against Government employees or other travelers must be supported by evidence of the threat(s) that forms the basis of the determination and authorization/approval. | 
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| | k.� Only first class accommodations can be furnished by a U.S. flag air carrier but less than first class accommodations are available on a foreign air carrier (60 Comp. Gen. 34 (1980)). | 
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| | l.� The total delay, including delay in initiation of travel from a TDY point, in en route travel and additional time at the TDY station before the traveler can proceed with assigned duties, involves more than 48 hours per diem costs in excess of per diem that would be incurred if noncertificated service was used (56 Comp. Gen. 216 (1977)). | 
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| | m.� The only U.S. flag air carrier service between foreign OCONUS points requires boarding/leaving the carrier between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., or travel spanning those hours, and a noncertificated carrier is available which does not require travel at those hours (the traveler may travel by noncertificated carrier to the nearest practicable interchange point on a usually traveled route to connect with a U.S. flag air carrier) (56 Comp. Gen. 629 (1977)). | 
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| | 4.� Nonavailability Documentation.� | 
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| | When the order-issuing official determines U.S. flag air carriers are unavailable, commercial foreign air transportation on a noncertificated air carrier may be authorized/approved.� Documentation explaining why U.S. flag air carrier service is not available must be provided to the traveler.� Endorsements on the travel orders and/or Government travel procurement document, made in accordance with Service regulations, are acceptable.� The documentation should include the name of traveler, foreign flag vessel(s) or air carrier(s) used, flight identification no(s), origin, destination and enroute points, date(s), justification, and authorizing/approving official's title, organization and signature. | 
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| | 5.� Air Travel Schedule Selection. | 
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| | a.� General.� | 
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| | Schedules maximizing U.S. flag air carrier use must be selected.� Schedule selection is made using the following guidelines: | 
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| | (1)� when U.S. flag air carrier service is available at the point of origin, schedules providing service by a usually traveled route, between origin and destination, and originating with a U.S. flag air carrier must be used; | 
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| | (2)� when U.S. flag air carrier service is not available at origin or an interchange point, noncertificated air carrier service should be used only from point of origin to the nearest practicable interchange point on a usually traveled route, between origin and destination, to connect with a U.S. flag air carrier; | 
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| | (3)� when schedule selection leaves the traveler at a location from which there is no choice but to use noncertificated air between the U.S. and another continent, the travel should be rerouted so that available U.S. flag air carriers are used. | 
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| | b.� Selecting a Schedule.� | 
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| | The following example applies the guidelines shown in subpar. a. when selecting a schedule. | 
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| | EXAMPLE: | 
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| | Assuming there are no constraints on the departure or arrival time, a traveler requiring transportation between Ankara, Turkey, and Stuttgart, Germany, can accomplish required travel by any of the four schedules shown (schedules are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect actual airline schedules): | 
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| | Schedule I 
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday | 
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| | CityTimeAir CarrierLeave:Ankara0830Foreign Arrive:Frankfurt1210Leave:Frankfurt1325Foreign Arrive:Stuttgart1410 | 
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| | Schedule II 
Wednesday/Friday/Saturday | 
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