PER DIEM, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 04J2501 Alexandria, VA 22350-9000 www.defensetravel.dod.mil PDTATAC/hm 11 July 2017 MEMORANDUM FOR SUBJECT: SEE DISTRIBUTION UTD/CTD for MAP/CAP 083-17(I) Economy Plus Seating 1. SYNOPSIS: Reinserts former JTR, par. 3515 (April 2017 JTR) Economy Plus/Coach Seating reference to current JTR, paragraphs 020206-K and Table 2-4. 2. The attached revision is forwarded for information purposes only. No coordination or comments are required. 3. This revision was initiated by Staff. 4. These changes are scheduled to appear in the JTR, dated 1 September 2017. 5. This determination is effective on 11 July 2017. 6. Action Officer: Henry Mitchell (henry.mitchell4.civ@mail.mil). Attachment: Rev 1 VELDA A. POTTER Regulations Lead, Policy & Regulations Branch Uniformed E-Mail Distribution: MAP Members P&R Branch PMO-DTS GSA-3FT GSA- OGP(MTT) DTMO PPC Civilian E-Mail Distribution: CAP Members P&R Branch PMO-DTS GSA-3FT GSA- OGP(MTT) DTMO CBCA Judges
JTR REVISIONS 020206. Airplane, Train, Ship, and Bus Transportation A-J ***** Table 2-4. Travelers Changing Class of Service If Then Approved to use non-u.s. flag carrier and economy or coach accommodations do not meet adequate sanitation or health standards, other transportation accommodations are not available and the AO identified in Table 2-5 determines that a premium-class upgrade or extra train fares are necessary for the mission after considering the TDY location, cost, and travel time, the traveler s or Service s needs require use of accommodations that do not meet minimum standards, accommodations that are usually more costly, such as business or first class, are offered at a lesser rate than economy or coach, *the AO determines the added cost of Economy Plus, Coach Elite Seating, or additional fee seating is in the Government s interest, the AO determines the added cost of premium-class seating is necessary because less costly accommodations are inadequate for a traveler with a documented medical or special need, Government property or a traveler would be endangered using less costly accommodations, a protective detail accompanies a traveler who is authorized more costly accommodations, a courier or control officer accompanies a controlled pouch or package when accommodations with adequate security are not available at a lower cost, the traveler should request the AO to upgrade the class of service. the AO may authorize or approve travelers to book first- or business-class airfare and extra train fares. the traveler may voluntarily accept or use these accommodations and the Government may furnish them. The Government cannot direct the traveler to accept inadequate accommodations. the traveler may use the upgraded accommodations without obtaining special approval or authorization. *The additional cost for seating in economy or coach class may be authorized or approved. a traveler may book economy plus or coach elite airfare seating and the AO may also authorize airfare for an attendant required to accompany the traveler en route (see par. 020206-K). more costly transportation at Government expense may be authorized or approved.
Table 2-4. Travelers Changing Class of Service If Then lower class accommodations are not reasonably available for departure within 24 hours of the traveler s proposed arrival or departure times, or do not allow the traveler to arrive or depart in time to report for duty when scheduled, a flight is scheduled to last longer than 14 hours during TDY and the origin or destination is OCONUS, the mission is so unexpected and urgent that it cannot be delayed or postponed, and a rest period cannot be scheduled en route or at the TDY site before starting work, the following personnel are required for the mission: Federal advisory committee members; Special high-level invited guests; and U.S. Armed Forces attachés accompanying foreign government minister traveling to the United States to consult with U.S. Federal Government officials. a non-federal source pays for business-class transportation in advance, a non-federal source pays for first-class transportation in advance, and at least one of the other circumstances in this table for firstclass travel is also met, using business class results in overall savings to the Government by eliminating overtime, additional subsistence costs, or lost productivity time, foreign-government personnel are traveling in the Government s interest and the traveler s country has regulations, a memorandum of understanding, a memorandum of agreement, or a status of forces agreement that requires business or first-class accommodations, an en route stopover is an overnight stay and an en route rest stop is authorized or an overnight rest period occurs at the TDY location before beginning work, the AO must justify putting business- or firstclass transportation in the travel authorization by stating all of the following: When the TDY travel was identified. When travel reservations were made. The cost difference between economy or coach transportation and the business- or first-class transportation selected. the traveler may use business class if it is available and first class if not. This is not applicable to NOAA. the travel authorization must state that the transportation has been paid by a non-federal source. Refer to DoD 5500.7-R and Service issuances. a cost comparison must be stated on the travel authorization. the traveler is authorized business- or firstclass transportation. business class is not allowed.
*K. Medical or Special Needs. Any accommodation for a medical or special need requires that a medical authority provides a written certification of the medical condition or special need. An AO should also consider physical characteristics when determining the class of travel and the options for accommodating those special needs. Consider other travel options such as reserving Economy Plus, Coach Elite Seating, or bulkhead seating that provide extra leg room or purchase two coach seats before recommending premium class travel. If the traveler requires an attendant or escort, see Chapter 3, Part D, for criteria to authorize or approve premium-class airfare for the attendant. Authority to use upgraded accommodations is limited to the disabled or special needs traveler and their attendant, and does not permit the rest of the family to travel on a class of service other than economy or coach. A medical authority must recertify the traveler s medical condition or special need in writing: 1. Every six months for a temporary condition. 2. Every two years for a lifelong condition. L-N *****
The following pages are the same policy preceding this page but showing tracked changes.
PER DIEM, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 04J2501 Alexandria, VA 22350-9000 www.defensetravel.dod.mil PDTATAC/hm 11 July 2017 MEMORANDUM FOR SUBJECT: SEE DISTRIBUTION UTD/CTD for MAP/CAP 083-17(I) Economy Plus Seating 1. SYNOPSIS: Reinserts former JTR, par. 3515 (April 2017 JTR) Economy Plus/Coach Seating reference to current JTR, paragraphs 020206-K and Table 2-4. 2. The attached revision is forwarded for information purposes only. No coordination or comments are required. 3. This revision was initiated by Staff. 4. These changes are scheduled to appear in the JTR, dated 1 September 2017. 5. This determination is effective on 11 July 2017. 6. Action Officer: Henry Mitchell (henry.mitchell4.civ@mail.mil). Attachment: Rev 1 VELDA A. POTTER Regulations Lead, Policy & Regulations Branch Uniformed E-Mail Distribution: MAP Members P&R Branch PMO-DTS GSA-3FT GSA- OGP(MTT) DTMO PPC Civilian E-Mail Distribution: CAP Members P&R Branch PMO-DTS GSA-3FT GSA- OGP(MTT) DTMO CBCA Judges
JTR REVISIONS 020206. Airplane, Train, Ship, and Bus Transportation A-J ***** Table 2-4. Travelers Changing Class of Service If Then Approved to use non-u.s. flag carrier and economy or coach accommodations do not meet adequate sanitation or health standards, other transportation accommodations are not available and the AO identified in Table 2-5 determines that a premium-class upgrade or extra train fares are necessary for the mission after considering the TDY location, cost, and travel time, the traveler s or Service s needs require use of accommodations that do not meet minimum standards, accommodations that are usually more costly, such as business or first class, are offered at a lesser rate than economy or coach, *the AO determines the added cost of Economy Plus, Coach Elite Seating, or additional fee seating is in the Government s interest, the AO determines the added cost of premium-class seating is necessary because less costly accommodations are inadequate for a traveler with a documented medical or special need, Government property or a traveler would be endangered using less costly accommodations, a protective detail accompanies a traveler who is authorized more costly accommodations, a courier or control officer accompanies a controlled pouch or package when accommodations with adequate security are not available at a lower cost, the traveler should request the AO to upgrade the class of service. the AO may authorize or approve travelers to book first- or business-class airfare and extra train fares. the traveler may voluntarily accept or use these accommodations and the Government may furnish them. The Government cannot direct the traveler to accept inadequate accommodations. the traveler may use the upgraded accommodations without obtaining special approval or authorization. *The additional cost for seating in economy or coach class may be authorized or approved. a traveler may book economy plus or coach elite airfare seating and the AO may also authorize airfare for an attendant required to accompany the traveler en route (see par. 020206-K). more costly transportation at Government expense may be authorized or approved.
Table 2-4. Travelers Changing Class of Service If Then lower class accommodations are not reasonably available for departure within 24 hours of the traveler s proposed arrival or departure times, or do not allow the traveler to arrive or depart in time to report for duty when scheduled, a flight is scheduled to last longer than 14 hours during TDY and the origin or destination is OCONUS, the mission is so unexpected and urgent that it cannot be delayed or postponed, and a rest period cannot be scheduled en route or at the TDY site before starting work, the following personnel are required for the mission: Federal advisory committee members; Special high-level invited guests; and U.S. Armed Forces attachés accompanying foreign government minister traveling to the United States to consult with U.S. Federal Government officials. a non-federal source pays for business-class transportation in advance, a non-federal source pays for first-class transportation in advance, and at least one of the other circumstances in this table for firstclass travel is also met, using business class results in overall savings to the Government by eliminating overtime, additional subsistence costs, or lost productivity time, foreign-government personnel are traveling in the Government s interest and the traveler s country has regulations, a memorandum of understanding, a memorandum of agreement, or a status of forces agreement that requires business or first-class accommodations, an en route stopover is an overnight stay and an en route rest stop is authorized or an overnight rest period occurs at the TDY location before beginning work, the AO must justify putting business- or firstclass transportation in the travel authorization by stating all of the following: When the TDY travel was identified. When travel reservations were made. The cost difference between economy or coach transportation and the business- or first-class transportation selected. the traveler may use business class if it is available and first class if not. This is not applicable to NOAA. the travel authorization must state that the transportation has been paid by a non-federal source. Refer to DoD 5500.7-R and Service issuances. a cost comparison must be stated on the travel authorization. the traveler is authorized business- or firstclass transportation. business class is not allowed.
*K. Medical or Special Needs. Any accommodation for a medical or special need requires that a medical authority provides a written certification of the medical condition or special need. An AO should also consider physical characteristics when determining the class of travel and the options for accommodating those special needs. Consider other travel options such as reserving Economy Plus, Coach Elite Seating, or bulkhead seating that provide extra leg room or purchase two coach seats before recommending premium class travel.consider other travel options, such as purchasing two coach seats or reserving a bulkhead seat with extra leg room, before recommending first-class travel. If the traveler requires an attendant or escort, see Chapter 3, Part D, for criteria to authorize or approve premium-class airfare for the attendant. Authority to use upgraded accommodations is limited to the disabled or special needs traveler and their attendant, and does not permit the rest of the family to travel on a class of service other than economy or coach. A medical authority must recertify the traveler s medical condition or special need in writing: 1. Every six months for a temporary condition. 2. Every two years for a lifelong condition. L-N *****