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5 U.S.C. 5704; 5 U.S.C. 5707; 5 U.S.C. 5707, note; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118; Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-126, revised May 22, 1992, 57 FR 22150.
FTR Case 2025-05, 90 FR 56893, Dec. 8, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
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The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) is a continuously updated online version of the CFR. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.
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Employees are authorized to use the least expensive class of accommodations (e.g., coach class) necessary to meet their needs and accomplish the agency's mission. Employees may be authorized to use accommodations other than coach class only when the agency head or designee specifically authorizes or approves such use under specific circumstances. Except as otherwise indicated in this section, agencies should authorize the lowest level of other than coach class accommodations, starting with premium economy, then business, then first, with much higher agency scrutiny on each increase in class level authorized. The agency head or designee may authorize other than coach class accommodations when—
(a) Such accommodations are required to accommodate a medical disability or other special need (see part 301-13 of this subchapter);
(b) Exceptional security circumstances, as determined by the agency, require other than coach class accommodations;
(c) Regularly scheduled service between origin and destination points provides only non-coach class accommodations;
(d) Common carrier costs are paid in full through agency acceptance of payment from a non-Federal source in accordance with chapter 304 of this subtitle;
(e) The use results in overall cost savings to the Government by avoiding additional subsistence costs, overtime, or lost productivity time;
(f) No coach class space is available that allows arrival in time to accomplish an urgent mission;
(g) Coach class accommodations on an authorized foreign carrier do not provide adequate health or sanitation standards;
(h) The origin and/or destination is/are OCONUS and scheduled flight time, including stopovers and change of planes, is in excess of eight hours, in which case agencies can authorize or approve premium economy class accommodations;
(i) The origin and/or destination is/are OCONUS and scheduled flight time, including stopovers and change of planes, is more than 14 hours, in which case agencies can authorize or approve business class accommodations;
(j) No coach class, premium economy class, or business class accommodations are available on a common carrier scheduled to leave within 24 hours of the proposed departure time, or scheduled to arrive within 24 hours of the proposed arrival time, in which case agencies can authorize or approve first class accommodations;
(k) Such accommodations are required because of agency mission; or
(l) The agency determines other than coach class accommodations are more advantageous than authorizing a rest period.
Employees must take action to change or cancel their common carrier reservation and report any changes or cancellations as prescribed by their agency. Failure to do so may subject the employee to liability for any resulting losses.
Any unused ticket or refund applications are the property of the Government and must be returned to the agency in accordance with agency procedures. Employees are not authorized to receive or keep a refund or credit for unused transportation, except as provided in § 301-10.123.
(a) Employees of an “agency” as defined in § 300-1.1 of this subtitle must use a contract City Pair Program fare for scheduled air passenger transportation service unless specific exceptions exist in § 301-10.111.
(b) When a carrier offers both a lower-cost capacity-controlled coach class contract fare (_CA) and an unrestricted coach class contract fare (YCA), employees must use the lower-cost fare when it is advantageous and meets mission needs.
(c) Employees of the Government of the District of Columbia, except the District of Columbia Courts, are not eligible to use contract City Pair Program fares.
The agency head or designee may authorize use of a non-contract fare when—
(a) There are no accommodations available on any scheduled contract City Pair Program flight arriving to the employee's destination in time to accomplish the travel purpose or use of contract service would require the employee to incur unnecessary overnight lodging costs which would increase the total cost of the trip;
(b) The contractor's flight schedule is inconsistent with explicit policies of the Federal department or agency with regard to scheduling travel during normal working hours;
(c) A non-contract carrier offers a lower fare to the general public that, if used, will result in a lower total trip cost to the Government (the combined costs of transportation, lodging, meals, and related expenses considered); or
(1) The exception in this paragraph (c) does not apply if the contract carrier offers the same or lower fare and has seats available at that fare, or if the fare offered by the non-contract carrier is restricted to Government and military travelers performing official business and may be purchased only with a contractor-issued charge card, centrally billed account (e.g., YDG, MDG, QDG, VDG, and similar fares) or GTR where the two previous options are not available.
(2) [Reserved]
(d) Cost effective rail transportation is available and is consistent with mission requirements.
(e) A group of 10 or more passengers traveling together on the same day, on the same flight, for the same mission, requiring group integrity and identified as a group by the travel management service upon booking is not a mandatory user of the Government's contract City Pair Program fares. For group travel, agencies are expected to obtain air passenger transportation service that is practical and cost effective to the Government.
(f) Contractors are not authorized to use contract City Pair Program fares to perform travel under their contracts.
(g) Carrier preference is not a valid exception for using a non-contract City Pair Program fare.
Employees are responsible for any additional costs or penalties incurred by using a non-contract carrier when contract service is available and no authorized exception applies.
When performing official travel and a carrier denies a confirmed reserved seat, employees must provide any liquidated damages payment to their agency in accordance with their agency's procedures.
(a) Employees may keep airline compensation for voluntarily vacating a seat under two conditions:
(1) Voluntarily vacating the seat will not interfere with performing official duties; and
(2) Any additional travel expenses resulting from vacating the seat are personally borne and not reimbursed by the Government.
(b) If volunteering causes travel delays during duty hours, the agency will charge the employee annual leave for the additional hours.
Employees may use reduced group or charter air fares only when the agency has determined, on an individual case basis before travel begins, that such a fare is cost-effective. Chartered aircraft are subject to Government aircraft rules, and executive branch agencies must follow Office of Management and Budget Circular A-126 and part 102-33 of this title when determining cost-effectiveness.
Anyone whose air travel is financed by U.S. Government funds must use a U.S. flag air carrier, except as provided in §§ 301-10.134, 301-10.135, and 301-10.136.
U.S. flag air carrier service is service provided on an air carrier holding a certificate under 49 U.S.C. 41102 (excluding a foreign air carrier operating under a permit), and which service is authorized by the carrier's certificate or by exemption or regulation. This also includes service provided under a code share agreement with a foreign air carrier in accordance with title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, when the ticket identifies the U.S. flag air carrier's designator code and flight number.
Employees are required by 49 U.S.C. 40118, commonly referred to as the “Fly America Act,” to use U.S. flag air carrier service for all air travel funded by the U.S. Government except as provided in §§ 301-10.135 and 301-10.136 or when one of the following exceptions applies. Exceptions can only be approved by the agency head or designated official.
(a) Use of a foreign air carrier is determined to be a matter of necessity in accordance with § 301-10.135.
(b) The transportation is provided under a bilateral or 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.
(c) The employee is an officer or employee of the Department of State or an Executive branch employee under Chief of Mission authority, and travel is paid with funds appropriated to one of these agencies and the employee's travel is between two places outside the United States.
(d) 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.
(e) A U.S. flag carrier involuntarily reroutes the employee's travel onto a foreign carrier.
(f) Service on a foreign air carrier would be three hours or less, and use of the U.S. flag carrier would at least double the employee's en route travel time.
(g) When the costs of transportation are reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government, international agency, or other organization.
(h) For travel solely outside the U.S., use of an available U.S. flag air carrier when compared to using a foreign air carrier will increase the number of aircraft changes the employee must make en route by 2 or more; or extend the travel time by 6 hours or more; or require a connecting time of 4 hours or more at an overseas interchange point.
(i) The employee is an officer or employee of the Department of State or an executive branch employee under Chief of Mission authority, and travel meets the requirements of 22 U.S.C. 4081a.
(a) Foreign air carrier service is deemed necessary when U.S. flag air carrier service is available but—
(1) Cannot provide required air transportation; or
(2) Will not accomplish the agency's mission.
(b) Necessity includes circumstances such as:
(1) Medical reasons, including reducing connections and potential delays for individuals needing medical treatment.
(2) Avoiding unreasonable risks to employee safety, which requires a case-by-case agency determination and written agency approval.
(3) Threats against U.S. flag air carriers, which must be supported by a travel advisory notice from the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of State.
(4) Threats against a Government employee or other travelers, which must have evidence supporting the threat that form the basis of the agency's determination and approval.
(5) Inability to purchase a ticket in the authorized service class on a U.S. flag air carrier, and there is an available seat in the authorized service class on a foreign air carrier.
(a) If a U.S. flag air carrier offers nonstop or direct service (no aircraft change) from origin to destination, the employee must use the U.S. flag air carrier service unless such use would extend travel time, including delay at origin, by 24 hours or more.
(b) If a U.S. flag air carrier does not offer nonstop or direct service (no aircraft change) between origin and destination, the employee must use a U.S. flag air carrier on every portion of the route where it provides service unless, when compared to using a foreign air carrier, such use would:
(1) Increase the number of aircraft changes made outside of the U.S. by 2 or more;
(2) Extend travel time by at least 6 hours or more; or
(3) Require a connecting time of 4 hours or more at an overseas interchange point.
Employees must provide a certification as required in this section and any additional documents specified by the agency. The agency will not pay the foreign air carrier fare without the required certification. The certification must include—
(a) Employee's name;
(b) Travel dates;
(c) Origin and destination;
(d) Detailed travel itinerary, including air carrier and flight number for each leg of the trip; and
(e) Statement explaining compliance with exceptions in § 301-10.134 or § 301-10.136, or a copy of the agency's written approval deeming foreign air carrier service necessary in accordance with § 301-10.135.
Employees will not be reimbursed for transportation costs incurred through improper or unauthorized use of foreign air carrier service.
Employees may use extra-fare train service when the agency determines it is more advantageous to the Government or required for security reasons. Such use must be authorized or approved as other than coach class accommodations in accordance with § 301-10.100.
Employees may use the lowest class of sleeping accommodations aboard a train that meets mission needs when overnight travel is required, and the agency determines such accommodations are advantageous to the Government.
When authorized to travel by ship, employees must use a U.S. flag ship when available, unless the mission's necessity requires using a foreign ship. (See 46 U.S.C. 55302.)
Employees are required to travel by U.S. flag ship for the entire trip, unless the agency specifically authorizes use of a foreign ship. Any costs resulting from improper or unauthorized use of a foreign ship are the employee's responsibility.
Employees may use a transit system as a means of transportation in conjunction with official travel when such transportation is authorized and approved by the agency in the following manner:
(a) At the official station.
(1) From the employee's residence or other authorized point of departure, e.g., rail to airport;
(2) To the employee's residence or other authorized point of return, e.g., airport to rail;
(3) From the employee's residence to the office on the day of departure from the official station on official TDY that requires at least one night's lodging; or
(4) From the office to the employee's residence on the day of return to the official station from an official TDY assignment that requires at least one night's lodging.
(b) At the TDY location.
(1) From the TDY transit system station(s) to the place of lodging or place of official business and return;
(2) To, from, and between places of lodging and official business;
(3) Between places of official business; or
(4) To obtain meals at the nearest available place when the nature and location of the official business or the lodging at a TDY location are such that meals cannot be obtained there.