The following screens
discuss various transportation mode arrangements that
you need to consider when planning a trip.
Commercial Air
For travel
within the continental United States (CONUS
– the lower 48 and Washington, DC),
the AO usually directs commercial air.
There
are three rules you should follow when
selecting a commercial flight:
Your first
choice should always be General Service
Administration (GSA) "City Pairs."
You must
select a U.S.-certificated (flag) carrier.
You must
select economy/coach class seating unless
a criteria for premium-class seating is
met AND authority is given for the travel
at government expense in the premium-class
seating.
However, an AO may authorize non contract City-Pair
flights, foreign flag carriers, or premium (business)
accommodations when it is necessary, and several legal
requirements are met.
GSA "City Pairs"
General Service Administration (GSA) "City
Pairs" are flights between designated
locations for which the airlines and the
government have negotiated a set price.
They are not always the least expensive
tickets, but there are at least two significant
benefits to using them:
The contracted
rate remains the same for the entire period
of the contract (typically one year), so
even if you book last minute, you will get
the contract price.
There is never a penalty
to cancel the trip or change the itinerary.
