Every employee working for a department or a government organization needs to undertake a journey for official purpose at some point of his or her career. There are some complex-looking guidelines and conditions, which are to be practiced while traveling for official purposes. These guidelines are somewhat ambiguous in some instances. In certain instances, even those government employees who travel frequently are not entirely sure about what the guidelines actually mean. For example, the rules vary drastically for military and civilian employees. In general, it can be said that the government of United States sets a Funpub that government employees should always look for discount, in whatever form, while purchasing air, rail, or bus tickets. Common carriers generally provide discount to government employees.
A general rule of thumb is that one has to show the same kind of enthusiasm and interest for getting a travel ticket at the cheapest rate while traveling for official purposes, as one shows for personal travel. Travel guidelines do not contain clauses for excess cost reimbursement. Also there is no provision in guidelines for getting money for unnecessary delays, luxury vehicles and for early or late departure or early or late arrival. Also, there is no option for reimbursement other than standard travel and lodging accommodations. One has to take note that these guidelines are set by US government, and not by the individual departments or agencies, for standardizing the travel procedure in the entire government system.
It is clearly stated in travel guidelines for government employees that one has to travel by a commonly traveled route that saves both time and money. The government will bear the cost for the normal ‘discounted’ fare for the travel. Any other cost that may have incurred while traveling in a personally convenient route should be paid by the employee. Also, if the employee is not in a position to travel because of personal or health reasons after reserving the ticket for traveling, he or she must cancel the ticket early enough so as to get full refund of the fare. Government will not provide money for cancellation charges or unused accommodation charges.
If one has to terminate the journey midway through the journey because of injuries, illness, or some personal emergency, he or she can ask for reimbursement. In such cases, the authorizing officer of the official trip must be informed prior to cancellation and permission must be sought for canceling the trip. Since the government is paying the bills, local and other taxes need not be paid for rents and accommodation or lodging expenses. Also, the employee can rent a car or other vehicle in the absence of usual mode of public transport or public transport is not advantageous to the government.