Claim for Reimbursement of Meals Purchased Incident to Temporary Duty Travel

An employee of the Naval Sea Systems Command requested reconsideration of a settlement which disallowed his claim for reimbursement of meals purchased incident to temporary duty travel to Los Angeles, California, from Washington, D. C. His claim for reimbursement for the dinner meals purchased was administratively denied and disallowed because dinner meals were included in the price of his airline tickets and available to him. In his request for reconsideration, the employee contended that meals should not be considered part of the airline fare, since meals in flight are served at no cost, and no refund is due the passenger if the meal is unsatisfactory or if one is not provided. GAO took the position that when a traveler does not eat a meal provided by an airline and then claims the cost of a substitute meal taken after arrival at the temporary duty location (at which he is allowed subsistence on an actual expense basis), he must have justifiable reasons for such action. In the absence of justifiable reasons why the employee rejected the airline meals served, no reimbursement can be made. Accordingly, the disallowance of the claim was sustained.