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Panoptic Enterprises' FEDERAL CONTRACTS DISPATCH

DATE: May 18, 2005

SUBJECT: Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Amendment 2005-03; Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel Via Airlines

SOURCE: Federal Register, May 18, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 95, page 28459

AGENCIES: General Services Administration (GSA)

ACTION: Final Rule

SYNOPSIS: GSA is amending the FTR to replace the term “premium class” with “first-class or business-class” when referring to classes of TDY irline travel.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The FTR is Chapters 300 through 304 of Title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 18, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Umeki Gray Thorne, Office of Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy, 202-208-7636.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: GSA is amending the FTR as follows:

• FTR Chapter 301, Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel Allowances
  
  
  • FTR Part 301-2, General Rules
    
    
    • In FTR 301-2.5, What travel arrangements require specific authorization or prior approval?, “premium-class” is replaced with “first-class or business-class.”
    
    
  • FTR Part 301-10, Transportation Expenses
    
    
    • In FTR 301-10.106, What are the basic requirements for using airlines?, “premium class” is replaced with “business-class.”
      
      
    • In FTR 301-10.121, What classes of airline accommodations are available?,:
      
      
      • The definition of “coach-class” is revised to “The basic class of accommodations offered to travelers regardless of fare paid. The terms ‘tourist’or ‘economy-class’ are sometimes used for this class of accommodation. When authorizing this class of accommodation, use of the contract city-pair fare is mandatory.”
        
        
      • The term and definition of “business-class” is added: “A premium-class of accommodation offered by the airlines that is higher than coach and lower than first class, in both cost and amenities. This class of accommodation is generally referred to as ‘business, business elite, business first, world business, connoisseur, or envoy’ depending on the airline. Not all city-pair fares are available in business-class, and even when use of business-class is authorized, the use of business-class city-pair fares is optional. This class of service may only be authorized in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 301-10.124 of this part [When may I use business-class airline accommodations?].”
        
        
      • The definition of “first-class” is revised as follows: “Generally, the highest class of accommodation offered by the airlines in terms of both cost and amenities and termed ‘first-class’ by the airlines and any reservation system. This class of accommodation may only be authorized in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 301-10.123 of this part [When may I use first-class airline accommodations?]. There are no contract city-pair fares for this class of accommodation.”
        
        
      • The terms “premium-class” and “premium-class other than first-class” are deleted.
      
      
    • In FTR 301-10.123, When may I use first-class airline accommodations?, the term “premium-class other than first-class” is replaced with “business-class,” and the introductory paragraph is revised to read: “You may use first-class airline accommodations only when your agency specifically authorizes/approves your use of such accommodations, for the reasons given under paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section.”
      
      
    • In FTR section 301-10.124, When may I use premium-class other than first-class airline accommodations?, the title is changed to “When may I use business-class airline accommodations?,” and the term “premium-class” is replaced with “first-class and business-class.”
    
    
  • FTR Part 301-11, Per Diem Expenses
    
    
    • In FTR 301-11.20, May my agency authorize a rest period for me while I am traveling?, “less than premium-class” is replaced with “coach-class.”
    
    
  • FTR Part 301-13, Travel of an Employee with Special Needs
    
    
    • In FTR 301-13.3, What additional travel expenses may my agency pay under this part?, “premium-class” is replaced with “first-class” and “business-class.”
    
    
  • FTR Part 301-50, Arranging for Travel Services
    
    
    • In FTR 301-50.6, Are there any limits on travel arrangements I may make?, paragraph (a)(2) is revised to read: “You may use first-class accommodations only under Sections 301-10.123, 301-10.162 [When may I use first-class train accommodations?], and 301-10.183 [What class of ship accommodations must I use?] and business-class accommodations only under Sec. 301-10.124 of this chapter...”
    
    
  • FTR Part 301-70, Internal Policy and Procedure Requirements
    
    
    • In FTR 301-70.102, What governing policies must we establish for authorization and payment of transportation expenses?, “premium-class service” is replaced with “first-class service” and “business-class service.”
    
    
  • FTR Part 301-71, Agency Travel Accountability Requirements
    
    
    • In FTR 301-71.105, Must we issue a written or electronic travel authorization in advance of travel?, “premium-class” is replaced with “first-class or business-class.”
      
      
    • In Appendix C to Chapter 301, Standard Data Elements for Federal Travel, the terms “premium class” and “non-premium class” are replaced with “first-class and business class” and “non-first-class and non-business-class,” respectively.
  
  
• FTR Chapter 304, Payment of Travel Expenses from a Non-Federal Source
  
  
  • FTR Part 304-3, Employee Responsibility
    
    
    • In FTR 304-3.9, May I use premium-class other than first-class common carrier accommodations when a non-federal source pays in full for my transportation expenses to attend a meeting?, “premium-class other than first-class common carrier” is replaced with “business-class.”
    
    
  • FTR Part 304-5, Agency Responsibilities
    
    
    • FTR 304-5.5, May we authorize an employee to travel by premium other than first-class common carrier accommodations if we accept payment in full from a non-federal source for such transportation expenses?, “premium other than first-class” is replaced with “business-class.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Panoptic Enterprises at 703-451-5953.

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