[Appeal of Claim for Reimbursement of Additional Air Fare]

An Army employee appealed a Claims Group denial of his claim for air fare which was not reimbursed because it represented the difference between the fare which he paid a travel agent and a lower fare which was available by using a Government transportation request. The employee indicated that, due to his heavy workload and ignorance of a prohibition against using travel agents, he procured his ticket through a travel agent. Because the travel was purchased at the lowest commercial rate available, the employee felt that he was entitled to reimbursement for the cost of the air fare charged by the travel agent. GAO found that the agency used a special low Government fare as a basis for the employee's reimbursement, which would have been available if he had used a Government transportation request; travel agents are unable to use this fare. Since the employee could have obtained a Government transportation and procured the transportation at the lower fare, he could not be reimbursed the difference between the fare he paid and the special Government fare. Accordingly, the action taken by the Claims Group was sustained.