Ask the Experts

Q: If you are on official travel and then want to spend an extra night there for leisure, can you use the government travel card to pay the bill?
A: You could, but you would be responsible for your portion of it. A better bet is to ask the hotel or motel to give you two bills.

Q: If you are going on official travel and the drive to the airport is shorter than your usual commute to your place of business, you can't get reimbursed for driving to the airport, right?
A: Wrong. The commute is irrelevant. You can get the regular mileage reimbursement rate for your trip to the airport.

Q: If you choose to drive to a temporary duty location even when flying would have been most advantageous to the government, can you be paid the standard mileage reimbursement rate for that trip?
A: Yes, but if air was your authorized mode of travel, your reimbursement is limited to the amount air travel would have cost. If you choose to drive rather than fly, and you would have rented a car had you flown, you may include the cost of a rental car in the cost comparison.

Q: If you live in an area with more than one major airport, do you get to pick which one you fly out of, or can your federal agency tell you which one you must use?
A: That's an agency-by-agency decision. Some may choose to let travelers choose; others may make choices for their travelers.

Q: Is there a minimum distance that your destination must be from your regular place of work before you can fly?
A: No. Your agency chooses the mode of transportation that is most advantageous to the government.

Q: When are the $.285 and $.105 mileage rates used?
A: If an agency has a motor pool and a car is available, but you decide to use your personal vehicle anyhow, then you are reimbursed only $.285 a mile. If you have made an agreement that you will use a government-owned vehicle and it is reserved for you, but you use your personal vehicle anyhow, then you only get reimbursed $.105 a mile.

Q: Can a family member ride in a government-owned vehicle?
A: That's up to each agency on a case-by-case basis. No law or regulation prohibits it.