Print/Copy Mail Services Vice President FAImportant Note: Any use of a foreign-flag
air carrier (other than one providing code sharing services for a U.S.-flag
air carrier) must be documented by the traveler with a statement describing
the specific circumstances that meet one or more of the exceptions listed
below in order to permit reimbursement of the airfare from a federal
source of funds.
Use of US Flag Air Carriers on Federally Funded Grants and Contracts
Any air transportation to, from, between or within a country other than the U.S. of persons or property, the expense of which will be paid from U.S. government funding, must be performed by a U.S.-flag air carrier* if service is "available".
U.S.-flag air carrier service is considered "available" even though:
comparable or a different kind of service can be provided at less cost by a foreign-flag air carrier;
foreign-flag air carrier service is preferred by or is more convenient for the traveler.
The following rules apply unless their application would result in the first or last leg of travel from or to the U.S. being performed by a foreign-flag air carrier:
A U.S.-flag air carrier shall be used to destination or, in the absence of direct or through service, to the farthest interchange point on a usually traveled route;
If a U.S.-flag air carrier does not serve an origin or interchange point, a foreign-flag air carrier shall be used only to the nearest interchange point on a usually traveled route to connect with a U.S.-flag air carrier; or,
If a U.S.-flag air carrier involuntarily reroutes the traveler via a foreign-flag carrier, the foreign-flag air carrier may be used notwithstanding the availability of alternative U.S.-flag air carrier service.
* U.S.-flag air carrier service includes service provided under a code share agreement with a foreign-flag air carrier when the ticket or documentation for the electronic ticket, identifies the U.S. flag air carrier's designator code and flight number.
Use of Foreign-Flag Air Carriers on Federally funded Grants and Contracts
Travel To and From the U.S. Use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if the airport abroad is:
the traveler's origin or destination airport, and use of U.S.-flag air carrier service would extend the time in a travel status by at least 24 hours more than travel by a foreign-flag carrier; or
an interchange point, and use of U.S.-flag air carrier service would require the traveler to wait six hours or more to make connections at that point, or would extend the time in travel status by at least six hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier.
Travel Between Points Outside the U.S. Use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if travel by a:
foreign-flag air carrier would eliminate two or more aircraft changes en route;
U.S.-flag air carrier would extend the time in a travel status by at least six hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier.
Short Distance Travel. For all short distance travel, regardless of origin and destination, use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if:
the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by a foreign-flag air carrier is three hours or less and
service by a U.S.-flag air carrier would double the travel time.