New Defense Authorization Act allows government travelers to keep promotional benefits
According to the new law "any promotional items through official travel belong to the traveler," said Dwight Moore, staff attorney at USTRANSCOM and a principle writer of the proposal, "it also grandfather(s)mileage received before the act."
As the law states, this includes "frequent traveler benefits such as points or miles, upgrades, or access to carrier clubs or facilities." The change includes allowing personal use of the promotional items "regardless of when the mileage was accrued." People who have accumulated mileage in frequent flyer accounts through official travel over the past years now own all of that mileage.
According to Moore, the change in the law was the result a legislative proposal forwarded by U.S. Transportation Command in 1999 as part its yearly package of proposals for consideration by the Department of Defense and Congress.
The proposal went to all federal agencies for coordination and comment and eventually was sponsored by legislators. The president signed the FY 2002 Act in Dec. 2001.
Government travelers cannot accept special promotional items that are not available to the general public.
"The promotional material must be obtained under the same terms as those offered to the general public and must be at no additional Government cost," according to implementing instructions from the Per Diem, Travel And Transportation Allowance Committee, a Department of Defense activity.
For more information contact your local travel section.
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