[Request for Reconsideration of Claim Settlement]

An Army employee requested reconsideration of his denied claim for reimbursement for airline tickets he purchased for official travel. The Army contended that it had previously informed the claimant regarding the prohibition against purchasing tickets through travel agents. In his request for reconsideration, the claimant contended that: (1) he had never purchased an airline ticket through a travel agent prior to this incident; (2) the Army did not inform him of the prohibition; and (3) a budget officer granted him permission to purchase his tickets through a travel agent. GAO held that there was no evidence to suggest that the: (1) claimant had previously purchased a ticket through a travel agent; and (2) Army had specifically informed the claimant of the prohibition on the use of travel agents. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.