|CHAPTER�3�-�TRANSPORTATION,�ACCOMPANIED�BAGGAGE,��AND�LOCAL�TRAVEL
    PART�B:��TRAVEL�BY�COMMON�CARRIER
        U3115�REIMBURSEMENT�WHEN�TRANSPORTATION�MODE�OR�GROUP�TRAVEL�IS�DIRECTED
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| | U3115REIMBURSEMENT WHEN TRANSPORTATION MODE OR GROUP TRAVEL IS DIRECTED | 
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| | A.� Travel Directed.� | 
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| | When a member, individually or as part of a group, is directed (as distinguished from authorized) to travel by a specific transportation mode (Government/Government-procured, transoceanic or transportation furnished by a foreign Government or Government contractor), reimbursement and the payment of a mileage allowance is prohibited for transportation at personal expense unless the authority responsible certifies that the directed mode wasn't available at the time and place required to comply with the orders. | 
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| | B.� Other Reimbursable Expenses.� | 
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| | Reimbursement for additional transportation expenses (e.g., taxicab, bus, streetcar fares) incurred in the performance ofTDYare allowable as authorized in Part E. | 
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| | U3120� ARRANGING OFFICIAL TRAVEL | 
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| | A.� Use of Travel Offices. | 
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| | In arranging official travel, personnel are required to use the following in accordance with DOD 4500.9-R (DTR), Part I: | 
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| | 1.�CTO(seeAppendix Afor definition);� | 
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| | 2.� in-house travel office;� | 
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| | 3.� General Services Administration (GSA) Travel Management Center (TMC). | 
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| | Except as indicated in subpar. B below, the order-issuing official must authorize/approve that unusual circumstances exist for a traveler to be reimbursed for transportation procured directly from a common carrier or aCTOnot under Government contract. | 
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| | B.� Exceptions in Foreign Countries.� | 
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| | Except in Canada and Mexico, use of travel agents not under contract to the U.S. Government is authorized only when services of a contractCTOaren't reasonably available and ticketing arrangements can't be secured from a branch office or general agent of an American-flag carrier.� (DODI 4500.42 prescribesDODpolicy regarding passenger transportation reservation and ticketing services.) | 
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| | C.� Travel Agency Use for Group or Charter Arrangements forNOAACorps andPHSMembers.� | 
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| | Group or charter arrangements available through travel agents may be used by members of theNOAACorps andPHSif: | 
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| | 1.� before travel, an administrative determination is made that the reduced fares available through these arrangements result in a savings to the Government; and� | 
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| | 2.� travel by group or charter arrangement doesn't interfere with the performance of official business. | 
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| | In these cases, if transportation payment can't be made directly to a carrier by the Government, the traveler pays the travel agent for the transportation.� A receipt for the transportation cost (if $75 or more) must accompany the voucher.� Reimbursement may not exceed the cost of accommodations authorized under this Chapter (B-103315, August 1, 1978). | 
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| | D.� Travel Agency Use to Obtain Transportation on Vessels or Aircraft of Foreign Registry. | 
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| | Reimbursement for transportation may not be authorized for travel at personal expense on vessels or aircraft of foreign registry unless the conditions in par.U3125-C orU3130-F are met. | 
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| | E.� Payment to Travel Agency.� | 
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| | No payment may be made to a travel agency for transportation charges in excess of those properly chargeable had the requested service been obtained by the traveler directly from the carrier(s) involved. | 
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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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