Elements of Travel

• Air travel (or travel by other common carrier)

Once a TA (Travel Authorization) number has been obtained, the traveler calls an approved travel agency and buys the ticket. The travel agency bills the ticket to the State Travel Card Central Travel System account (formerly known as the Ghost Card). Accounts Payable staff reconciles and pays the bill, charging each ticket plus any agency service fees to the departmental Banner ORGN and Account identified in the Travel Pre-Authorization.

•Baggage Charges

Mesa State College will reimburse charges for the first checked bag, but any charges for additional checked bags will be the responsibility of the traveler. For information on the checked bag charges by airline, please go to the following link: http://ts.tandt.com/checkedbags/index.htm

•Internet Airfares

Travelers may wish to take advantage of favorable Internet airfares. The use of Internet airfares is permissible if the Internet fare will achieve a cost savings as compared to purchase through an approved state travel agent. This cost savings must be documented.
- The traveler obtains a fare quote with travel dates, flight times, carrier, flight #s, and all ticketing cost. To obtain this quote, the traveler would reserve - but not purchase - the transaction on the Internet.
- The traveler must provide the quote to an approved travel agency and afford the opportunity to meet or beat the price. If the travel agency meets or beats the price the airfare must be purchased from the travel agency.
- The traveler purchases the Internet ticket using his or her individual US Bank VISA State Travel Card. The traveler accepts full responsibility for changes or cancellations to the Internet ticket in accordance with the restrictions for that specific ticket and Internet site.
- The traveler will not be reimbursed for the internet ticket charge until after he or she has returned from the trip.
- All documentation for internet airfares must be forwarded to the Purchasing Department for state reporting.

•International Airfares

All international travelers using grant and contract funds must comply with the following:
Use of U.S.-Flag Air Carriers

1. The General Services Administration issued an amendment to the Federal Travel Regulations in the November 13, 1998 edition of the Federal Register (Vol. 63, No. 219). The amendment related to the use of U.S. flat air carriers under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 40118, which is commonly referred to as the Fly America Act.

2. Any air transportation to, from, between, or within a country other that the U.S. of persons or property, the expense of which will be assisted by NSF funding, must be performed by or under a code-sharing arrangement with a U.S.-flag air carrier if service provided by such a carrier is available (see Comp Gen. Decision B-240956, dated September 25, 1991). Tickets (or documentation for electronic tickets) must identify the U.S.-flag air carrier's designator code and flight number.

3. For the purposes of this requirement, U.S.-flag air carrier service is considered available even though:

a. Comparable or a different kind of service can be provided at less cost by a foreign-flag air carrier;
b. Foreign-flag air carrier service is preferred by, or is more convenient for, NSF or traveler; or
c. Service by a foreign-flag carrier can be paid for in excess foreign currency.

4. The following rules apply unless their application would result in the first or last leg of travel from or to the U.S. being performed by a foreign-flag air carrier:

a. A U.S.-flag carrier shall be used to destination or, in the absence of direct or through service, to the farthest interchange point on a usually traveled route.
b. If a U.S.-flag air carrier does not serve an origin or interchange point, a foreign-flag air carrier shall be used only to the nearest interchange point of a usually traveled route to connect with a U.S.-flag air carrier.
c. A U.S.-flag air carrier involuntarily reroutes the traveler via a foreign-flag air carrier, the foreign-flag air carrier may be used notwithstanding the availability of alternative U.S.-flag air carrier service.

Use of Foreign-Flag Air Carriers

1. Travel To and From the U.S.

Use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if:

a. the airport abroad is the traveler's origin or destination airport, and use of U.S.-flag air carrier service would extend the time in a travel status by at least 24 hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier; or
b. the airport abroad is an interchange point, and use of U.S.-flag air carrier service would increase the number of aircraft changes the traveler must make outside of the US by 2 or more, would require the traveler to wait four hours or more to make connections at that point, or would extend the time in a travel status by at least six hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier.

2. Travel Between Points Outside the U.S.

Use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if:

a. travel by a foreign-flag air carrier would eliminate two or more aircraft changes enroute;
b. travel by a U.S.-flag air carrier would require a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point; or
c. the travel is not part of the trip to or from the U.S., and use of a U.S.-flag air carrier would extend the time in a travel status by a least six hours more that travel by a foreign-flag air carrier.

3. Short Distance Travel. For all short distance travel, regardless of origin and destination, use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by a foreign-flag air carrier is three hours or less and service by a U.S.-flag air carrier would double the travel time.