Documentation
Receipts: For travel expenses per actual cost (with original receipt), it is
vital to keep your receipts. If a meal receipt is not itemized, you will need to note if alcohol was purchased.
If you are paying for yourself and a business associate, you must list the name and organization of the other person (s).
Expenses which may not be eligible for reimbursement: Expenses not eligible for reimbursement through federal funds may include, but are not limited to: alcoholic beverages, lobbying expenses, fines, first-class travel, laundry, grooming products, entertainment expenses, drugs, tobacco, personal preference items or any unnecessary or unreasonable costs. * To determine unallowable costs, BTI uses: Federal Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-122
Note: If expenses include sales tax or alcohol, be sure to include a grant with a valid "B" number for those items. They must be reimbursed through BTI funds.
Mileage
Mileage will be reimbursed based on the current IRS mileage reimbursement rate. Personal vehicles may be used for
business travel when necessary. However, reimbursement is not to exceed the equivalent airfare. Use MapQuest to document mileage and submit airfare quotes for rate comparison.
The following resources may be used to determine mileage and lowest airfare rates between two points of travel:
Recipients of federal funds are required to abide by the provisions of the Fly America Act
The Fly America Act requires that federally funded foreign air travel be performed on U.S. flag air carriers, unless an acceptable reason for not doing so is documented, (See “Exceptions.”) Acceptable reasons for not using a U.S. flagged air carrier are listed in the regulations implementing the Fly America Act and outlined in BTI’s policies regarding sponsored awards.)
The Fly America Act refers to the provisions enacted by Title 49 of the United States Code, Subtitle VII, Part A, subpart I, Chapter 401, 40118 - Government-Financed Air Transportation, (49 U.S.C. 40118.)
How to Comply:
The best way to maintain compliance with the restrictions of the Fly America Act is to familiarize your self with the regulations. When you book international travel, be sure to advise the travel agent if your trip is federally funded. If you schedule federally funded international travel, you should ensure that all flights, where possible, are on U.S. flag air carriers or on foreign air carriers that code share with a U.S. flag air carrier. To assist in this, consult the below list of U.S. flag air carriers:
- Airtran Airways (FL)
- Alaska Airlines (AS)
- America West Airlines (HP)
- American Airlines (AA)
- American Trans Air (TZ)
- Continental Airlines (CO)
- Delta Airlines (DL)
- Frontier Airlines (F9)
- Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
- Midwest Express (YX)
- Northwest Airlines (NW)
- Southwest Airlines (WN)
- Spirit Airlines (NK)
- United Airlines (UA)
- US Airways (US)
To comply with the Fly America Act, the code of a U.S. flag air carrier must be noted as part of the flight number on the airline ticket, flight coupon (boarding pass), or passenger receipt. Each airline has a two letter alpha code. This code is printed to the left of the flight number. Compare airline codes on the ticket with those from the above list to determine whether or not the flight is on a US Flag air carrier.
Exceptions:
When you submit your Travel Voucher, any exceptions to the Fly America Act provisions must be documented on the Fly America Act
Waiver Checklist (pdf).
There are times when an exception may be appropriate. Acceptable reasons for not using a U.S. flagged air carrier are listed in the regulations implementing the Fly America Act and outlined in BTI’s policies regarding sponsored awards.) Some examples include: when a U.S. flag air carrier does not provide service on a particular leg of your trip; you are involuntarily rerouted; when use of a U.S. carrier will unreasonably delay your travel time, (by 24 hours or more on a direct flight, or by 6 hours or more on connecting flights;) or for medical or safety reasons.