|CHAPTER�3�-�TRANSPORTATION,�ACCOMPANIED�BAGGAGE,��AND�LOCAL�TRAVEL
    PART�B:��TRAVEL�BY�COMMON�CARRIER
        U3125�COMMERCIAL�AIR�TRANSPORTATION
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| | U3125COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORTATION | 
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| | A.� General.� | 
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| | Travel by common carrier air transportation is generally the most cost efficient and expeditious way to travel.� For reimbursement for personally-procured transportation in lieu of using Government or Government-procured transportation under this Part, see par.U3110. | 
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| | B.� Class of Service | 
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| | 1.General.� Government policy is that: | 
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| | a.members and/or dependents who use commercial air carriers on official business must use coach-class accommodations; | 
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| | b.members should determine travel requirements in sufficient time to use coach-class accommodations.�� | 
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| | c.first-class accommodations may be used only as permitted in subpar. 3; | 
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| | d.premium-class other than first-class accommodations may be used only as permitted in subpar. 4; | 
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| | e.authorization for all premium-class accommodations use should be made in advance of the travel unless extenuating/emergency circumstances make authorization impossible.� In these cases, the member must request written approval from the appropriate authority as soon as possible after the travel; | 
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| | f.less than minimum standards may be authorized as permitted in par.U3100; and | 
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| | g. when an airline flight has only two classes of service, the higher class of service, regardless of the term used, is "first class". | 
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| | 2.Officials Who May Authorize/Approve Premium-Class Air Accommodations Use.� | 
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| | The officials listed below may authorize first-class air accommodations use by members under their jurisdiction.� This authority may be redelegated; however, delegation or re-delegation must be held to as high an administrative level as practicable to ensure adequate consideration and review of the circumstances necessitating the first-class accommodations. | 
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| | a.Department of Defense, see DOD 4500.9-R (Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR), Part I);� | 
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| | b.The Secretary of Health and Human Services;� | 
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| | c.The Director, USNOAA Corps; and� | 
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| | d.The Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Transportation. | 
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| | Appropriate authority, in accordance with Service regulations, may authorize/approve premium-class other than first-class accommodations, except for travel using Coast Guard funds.� Only the Commandant/Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard may authorize/approve premium-class other than first-class accommodations use. | 
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| | 3.First-Class Air Use.� | 
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| | First-class air accommodations may be authorized/approved only when necessary because: | 
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| | a.lower class accommodations aren't reasonably available.� In subpar. B, reasonably available means that accommodations, other than first-class, are available on an airline scheduled to leave within 24 hours of the member's proposed departure time, and scheduled to arrive within 24 hours of the member's proposed arrival time.� Reasonably available doesn't include a scheduled arrival time later than the member's required reporting time at a duty site, or a scheduled departure time earlier than the time the member is scheduled to complete duty. | 
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| | b.a member is so handicapped or otherwise physically impaired that other accommodations can't be used.� Determination of this condition must be substantiated by competent medical authority.� First-class accommodations use also may be authorized/approved for an attendant, who is authorized under pars.U7250-DandU7251-B, to accompany an attended traveler when the attended traveler is authorized first-class accommodations use and requires the attendant's service en route. | 
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| | c.of exceptional security requirements.� Examples are: | 
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| | (1)a member whose use of other than first-class accommodations would entail danger to the member's life or Government property;� | 
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| | (2)agents of protective details accompanying individuals authorized to use first-class accommodations; and� | 
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| | (3)couriers and control officers accompanying controlled pouches or packages. | 
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| | First-class accommodations may be used without authorization/approval only when regularly scheduled flights between the authorized origin and destination (including connection points) provide only first-class accommodations.� When that is the case, the transportation officer/agent must make an appropriate entry on the travel order, travel voucher, or other travel-related document as appropriate. | 
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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 isn't available in coach-class accommodations on any scheduled flight in time to accomplish the purpose of the official travel, which is so urgent it can't 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-DandU7251-Bto 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 don't 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.� ParagraphU4325-D prohibits a rest period 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 don't 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 Carriers Use | 
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| | 1.Requirements of Fly America Act | 
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| | a.General.� | 
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| | Except as stated in subpar. b, when Government transportation isn't used and travel is authorized by commercial air, U.S. flag carriers (those U.S. carriers holding certificates under Sec. 401 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, 49 U.S.C.�41102 (1970)) shall be used for all commercial foreign air transportation of persons or property if service provided by those� carriers is available (49 U.S.C.�40118 and B-138942, March 31, 1981). | 
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| | b.Transportation Paid by Foreign Government or International Organization.� | 
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| | The requirement that U.S. flag air carriers be used doesn't apply to foreign air transportation paid for directly and in full or reimbursed by a foreign Government, international agency or other organization (B-138942, June 17, 1975 and 57 Comp. Gen. 546 (1978)).� See Chapter 2, par. 20202-C3e of the Security Assistance Management Manual (DOD 5105.38M) concerning any requirement that DOD members traveling on Security Assistance business use U.S. carriers for travel to and from a foreign country under the circumstances in this subparagraph. | 
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| | 2.Availability of U.S. Flag Air Carrier Service.� | 
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| | U.S. flag air carrier service is available if a U.S. flag carrier can perform the commercial air transportation required and if the service accomplishes the mission.� Passenger or freight service by a U.S. flag air carrier is available even though: | 
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| | a.a comparable or different kind of service by a noncertificated carrier costs less;� | 
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| | b.service by a noncertificated carrier can be paid for in excess foreign currency;� | 
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| | c.service by a noncertificated air carrier is preferred by the Service or traveler;� | 
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| | d.service by a noncertificated air carrier is more convenient for the Service or traveler; or� | 
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| | e.the only U.S. flag air carrier service available between points in the United States and points outside the United States, requires boarding or leaving the carrier between midnight and 0600, or travel spanning those hours.� (In these cases, the member is entitled to a brief non-work period up to 24 hours, for "acclimatization rest" at the destination as well as per diem during the rest period when the destination is other than the member'sPDS� (56 Comp. Gen. 629 (1977)).) | 
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| | 3.Determining Unavailability of U.S. Flag Air Carrier Service.���� | 
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| | Noncertificated� air�� carrier�� use generally may be authorized/approved only when service by U.S. flag air carriers is unavailable.� Passenger service by a U.S. flag air carrier is unavailable when: | 
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| | a.the traveler, while en route, would be scheduled to wait 6 or more hours to transfer to a U.S. flag air carrier to proceed to the intended destination;� | 
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