Deferred Travel

Member may defer travel until the last month of the new tour of duty.

Entitled Options

• A stop-over in route is authorized as long as there are no additional costs to the government. Stop-over privilege will be determined by the rules of the airline being used.

• A member may elect to purchase his own transportation and file for reimbursement.
  • They must use SatoTravel.
  • Refer the member to the government finance officials for reimbursement information.

Mode of Travel

1. The traveler is entitled to commercial travel following the guidelines set by the General Services Administration (GSA).

   GSA Guidelines for commercial travel using

   Government Fares

2. All travelers are required to use American Flag air carriers.
   • If American Flag carriers exists, but no seats are available, use of Foreign flag airlift requires an approved and signed exception form.
   • If no American Flag carrier exists for the route, and a Foreign Flag is used, an approved and signed exception form is required.
   • If travel orders "Direct" or "Authorize" the use of foreign flag air travel, SatoTravel is still required to gain the approval of the SACOR/ITO.

Availability Date

• The availability date is the earliest date a member can travel. Military members are prohibited from travel prior to the availability date stated on the travel order. This applies to COT travel only.
• The member is required to travel within seven (7) days of his availability date unless travel has been deferred. This applies to COT travel only. Personnel who desire to travel beyond the 7 day time frame must provide an exception form.
• Dependents (military and DOD civilian) may travel upon the member's receipt of PCS orders. Dependents may travel before the member, with the member or after the member.
• Deferred Travel - The military member may defer travel. Travel must be completed prior to the end of new tour. The exception for this time limit would be due to a contingency operation (armed conflict). If this is the case, this benefit extends to another year after the contingency operations ends.

Premium Class Travel

It is DOD policy that economy class travel accommodations be used for all official travel unless higher class accommodations are properly approved. When booking a travel request keep in mind, direct air service does not have to be used. Circuitous travel can be provided if economy seating is available even if the circuitous routing is more expensive than the direct route using a COW/CRT fare.

COW/CRT fares may not be used as they are considered, by USAREUR, to be business class fares. For some routes you have the ability to override the business class fare for a unrestricted coach fare (YOW/YRT). Check with your Branch Manager for CRS entries and further instruction if required. If overriding is not possible proper approval for business class travel must be obtained. If a circuitous routing is used to avoid the use of a business class fare, the following sentence must appear on the invoice:

• Approval

  In all cases appropriate approval authorities are at the General Officer (GO) level. Obtaining approval is the direct responsibility of the Authorizing Official (AO) which is also the person/agency responsible for publication of travel orders.

  Approved orders must contain the following.

  • Name of the approving General Officer.
  • The travel points the approval is being provided for.
  • The specific paragraph reference in the JTR or JFTR and reason/justification used.
  • Name and contact information of the person responsible for preparing and executing the approval request.

  To view a sample copy of a TDY travel order (DD1610), with an appropriate approval authority contained in block 16, click here.  

• IBA
  If a customer pays with his IBA (Government Travel Card), approval is not necessary as long as the traveler is aware that the following sentence will appear on his invoice. "Notice: if a business class fare was purchased, you are advised that appropriate approval for this class of service has to be properly approved or you may not be reimbursed for the travel performed."

• Round Trip Ticketing
  The issuing of a round trip ticket for one way travel as a means to obtain economy fares has been determined to be an illegal business practice. USAREUR transportation personnel have also agreed that it should not be done. SatoTravel Associates will not indulge in this practice.

• Statements of non availability
  SatoTravel does not provide statements of non availability for economy fares. Travelers who have performed travel at personal expense, and bought tickets from other than a contract travel office, will have to discuss reimbursement with a government representative.

Excess Baggage

Orders must authorize excess baggage in order for the traveler to be reimbursed. Excess baggage cannot be charged to the CBA without SACOR / ITO approval (exception form). The member is expected required to pay for excess baggage and claim reimbursement.

Pet Travel

Cost of pet travel is at the traveler’s personal expense. The contract carrier can not be waived if there is no pet space available or the contract carrier cannot accommodate the pet.

C. Communicate Exception Options

If a customer requests an exception to their travel entitlement refer them to the SACOR / ITO for approval (exception form). SatoTravel will gladly ticket any travel request that has been approved with an authorized and signed exception form. This does not apply to Premium Class Travel. Refer to Premium Class Travel for approval authorities.

Exception Form