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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxrh0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DCCUI4BNT BEELME.
0664q - rB2067C67]
b.-e of Discount Airline Fares and leleticketing Would Help Save
on (;ovcrnment Travel Experses. FGMSE-76-46; E-103315. July 21,
1978. 30 pp. + 9 appendices (21 pp.).
atport to the Conqress; by Eimer B. Etaats, Cccptrcller General.
Issue Area: Accounting and Financial Peporting (2800).
Conthct: Financial and General ManagEment Studies Liv.
Budqt Function: Miscellaneous: Financial Management and
Infozmation Systems (10C2).
orqanization concerned: General Services Administraticv;
Department of Defense; Office of Managesent and Eudget;
Department of Transportation.
Coilqressional Relevance: Hoese Comkittfe on Post ffice and
Civil Service; Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs;
ConGress.
Authority: Federal Froperty and Administrative Services Act of
19149 (40 U.S.C. 471). P.L. 93-604. CMB Fulletin 76-S. F.T.R.
(FP1R 101-7). Joint Military lraffic Manageaent Fegulation,
ch. 306. FEMR Temp. Reg. A-11.
A major portion of Federal travel costs involves
FedeLal employees* travel on commercial aiilinies. In fiscal year
1 76, for example, the Federal Government spent at least $470
miliicn on airline tares alcne and inctrred high administrative
costs for travel as well. 1he methods used to make airline
reservations, obtain tickets, and pay for them vary ly
department and agency. Such discounts as excursion, group, and
off-peak air fares, which are readily available and would not
interfere witn agency business, frequently are not used.
Findinqs/Conciusicns: Although Federal travel regulations
require use of lowest available air fares, most emslcyees who
quality for discount fares generally dc not obtain them. Most
Federal aqg-ncies do not keep accounting records of discounts
taken, andlyze rtasons why discounts are not taken, cr regularly
monitor travel expenditures to make sure that discount fares are
used. Greater qroup fare use wouid he possible if the General
Services Administration (GSA) %ould uake and pay for, on a
reiwoursaoie basis, Federal group reservations for routine
fliqhts. The proper use of teleticket machines, s-hich
eltctro:iically produce airline tickets. %culd reduce the
Government's cost of procuring airline tickets, prccessing
unus-d tickets for refunds, and auditing travel expenditures.
ihe kederal Government could save at least $145,000 annually if
aqencies wou.Ld purchase rather than lease the 172 teleticket
machines now in use. Many agencies waited months before
requestinq retuns for unused tickets and could not determine
whether. the amount of refunds received was correct.
necommdndations: The beads of departments and agencies should:
review tne use of airline discount fares and infora emElcyees of
th- potential for saviugs, establish adequate accounting for](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxrh0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)