Invitational Travel
Authority: JFTR Appendix E
Forward: Invitational Travel includes the travel of professional
personnel from outside the DOD to advise the DOD on specific issues. These
personnel are not employees of the Department of Defense. The Department of
Defense is the inviting agency. In recent years, the use of Invitational Travel
Orders have been expanded to include other individuals such as dependents or
other DOD personnel that have been designated to accompany military personnel
who incapable of traveling alone.
A. Validate Order Content
- Identify where traveler is authorized to travel from; travel to; travel
dates and search for any special travel requirements.
- Pay special attention to use of premium transportation requirements.
Premium class travel can only be provided when properly approved. See "Premium
Class Travel" below for approval requirements.
- Accounting Citation
Special Orders: In the future, travelers may provide "special orders"
in an email format. These email orders must contain an accounting citation in
order for travel to be provided.
It is important that Invitational orders are read very
carefully.
Expired Order
Orders are valid from the date of issue
and only for the number of days as listed on the order.
B. Communicate Entitlements
- Round trip travel to/from destination(s) listed on travel
order.
- Traveler is required to travel along the most direct route. A
direct route is defined as any route that does not require the government to
pay additional per diem costs or additional transportation costs.
- Travel from the duty station to the commercial airport
servicing the duty station is authorized by common carrier. Common carrier is
defined as rail, bus or private auto.
- Government fares can be used for travelers on Invitational
Travel Authorizations (ITA) orders except for:
- Contractors
- Foreign military members as they are not U.S. government
employees.
- Government fares can be used for foreign national civilians
employed by the U.S.Government.
Entitled Travel 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
- The traveler is entitled to commercial travel following the guidelines set
by the General Services Administration (GSA).
- 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
No availability date requirements.
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:
"Circuitous routing used to ensure an economy fare, as direct route
required the use of a business class fare."
- 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.
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.
"SatoTravel is a government contractor. We are obligated by
contract to follow the rules of the JFTR."
last update September 29,
2005