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Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a topic to view answers to common questions related to the JTR and travel policy. Access more than 800 additional FAQs [login required] in the TraX Knowledge Center.

FAQ | Jan. 3, 2022

Commercial Air

Federal employees, service members in the DoD, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coast Guard, and Public Health Service, Dependents of Federal employees and Service members, and Foreign military personnel who are not Grantees (31 U.S.C. Chapter 63) are required to use the CPP.

Federal employees and service members (and their dependents) traveling at personal expense or traveling to or from places of leave in connection with official travel are not permitted to book CPP fares. Contractors and Contractor employees, as well as grantees (31 U.S.C. Chapter 63), are also restricted from CPP fares.

Use of scheduled commercial air service contracted through the City Pair Program is mandatory unless one of the exceptions shown below applies:

  • Space or a scheduled contract flight is not available in time to accomplish the travel purpose, or contract service use would require the traveler to incur unnecessary overnight lodging costs that would increase the total trip cost
  • The contract carrier's flight schedule is inconsistent with explicit policies of individual federal departments and agencies to schedule travel during normal working hours
  • A non-contract (DoD-approved) U.S. certificated carrier offers a lower airfare to the general public, the use of which results in a lower total trip cost to the Government to include the combined costs of transportation
  • Lodging, meals, and related expenses (Note: This exception does not apply if the contract carrier offers a comparable airfare and has seats available at that airfare, or if the lower airfare offered by a non-contract carrier is limited to a government and/or military traveler on official business and may only be purchased with a Government procurement document (e.g., a GTR), Government sponsored Contractor-issued travel charge card, or through a centrally billed account (e.g., YDG, MDG, QDG, VDG, and similar airfares)
  • Rail service is available and that service is cost effective and consistent with mission requirements
  • Smoking is permitted on the contract flight and the nonsmoking section of the aircraft is not acceptable to the traveler.

DoD Approving Officials should ensure that only the above exceptions are granted when travelers are unable to use a contracted City Pair carrier. The utilization of frequent flyer accounts, ability to upgrade seats, and traveler carrier preferences are not valid exceptions.

There are a few reasons why a reservation may be cancelled:

  • The travel authorization was not approved at least 72 hours in advance of the flight departure, or it expedited ticketing was not requested of the TMC
  • There may be an issue with your Government Travel Charge Card

If your airline reservation is cancelled due to not receiving prior approval/authorization, you will be notified via email or phone by your TMC. Travelers are not advised to rebook at the airline counter. Often, agents are not familiar with GSA’s City Pair Program and may book you on a full-priced fare at a much higher cost. If your trip is cancelled before travel begins and the authorization has been approved/ticketed, you may cancel the authorization using the “trip cancel” feature in DTS.

To resolve GTCC issues, contact your APC for further direction.