Authority: Chapter Five (U5243-C)
Forward: The Department of Defense provides a travel authority for
dependents of military and DOD civilian personnel to attend a college or
university. In most cases travel will be from the overseas area to a college or
university in the United States, however, there are exceptions.
A. Validate Order Content
FOP (Form Of Payment): If the order does not direct a form of payment,
or if travelers would like to use a form of payment other than what is directed
in the order (i.e. IBA directed however would like to use CBA), ticketing can be
provided however advise the member that the orders may have to be amended before
a voucher can be filed.
Special Orders: In the future, members may provide "special orders" in
an email format. These email orders must contain the same information as
identified in "a - e" above in order for travel to be provided.
Expired Order B. Communicate Entitlements
Example A: Example B: Entitled Travel Options
Mode of Travel
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:
Orders expire 14 days after school is out for the
year in question. There is no authority to use unused travel allowances from a
previous year.
The student travels from Germany to the school in
August. After 1 Oct, the student would be authorized travel back to Germany
(i.e. during the Christmas or Easter vacation period.) At the end of the
vacation period the dependent could be authorized travel back to the college or
university. At this point the student has been provided round-trip travel within
that fiscal year. The student would not be authorized return travel back to the
overseas area at government expense until after 1 October of the following year.
The student travels to the school in August. The
student requests travel back to the overseas area in December. This is
authorized. The sponsor then buys a return ticket from the overseas area back to
the school at the end of the Christmas vacation. Under this scenario, the
student would be authorized travel from the school to the overseas area at the
conclusion of the school term.
GSA Guidelines for commercial
travel using
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.
To view a sample copy of a TDY travel order (DD1610), with an appropriate approval authority contained in block 16, click here.
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.