Per Diem Involving Rates En Route Outside the Conterminous United States

An authorized certifying officer for the Miami Field Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, requested a decision on a claim for per diem involving rates en route from Miami to Bermuda. The employee traveled more than 6 hours in government aircraft because he was engaged in hurricane research and reconnaissance of a tropical storm. Although the direct flight time between Miami and Bermuda is less than 6 hours, the employee could not exclude from traveltime the time spent working in the storm area to qualify for the higher per diem rate for trips of less than 6 hours.