B-191939, OCT 25, 1978
Highlights
DIGEST: AN EMPLOYEE MAY BE REIMBURSED A VALET SERVICE FEE WHICH HE INCURRED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE LOWEST COST PARKING AT AIR TERMINAL INCIDENT TO OFFICIAL TRAVEL AS IT IS CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PARKING FEE COST REIMBURSABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FTR 1-4.2C(3). THE REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED BY THE PER DIEM. ON THE LONG-TERM LOT PARKING IS BY VALET SERVICE WITH THE PARKING CHARGE ITEMIZED SEPARATELY FROM THE VALET SERVICE FEE. WHICH IS TO COMPENSATE FOR PARKING THE TRAVELER'S VEHICLE AND DRIVING THE TRAVELER TO AND FROM THE TERMINAL BUILDING AND THE LOT. WHEN THE VALET SERVICE FEE IS ADDED TO THE LONG-TERM PARKING LOT CHARGE AND PARKING IS 4 DAYS OR MORE. THE TOTAL COST IS LESS THAN PARKING FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN THE LOTS DESIGNATED FOR EITHER DAILY OR HOURLY PARKING RATES.
B-191939, OCT 25, 1978
DIGEST: AN EMPLOYEE MAY BE REIMBURSED A VALET SERVICE FEE WHICH HE INCURRED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE LOWEST COST PARKING AT AIR TERMINAL INCIDENT TO OFFICIAL TRAVEL AS IT IS CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PARKING FEE COST REIMBURSABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FTR 1-4.2C(3).
MR. EDWARD J. FOX - VALET SERVICE FEE:
THIS DECISION RESPONDS TO A REQUEST FOR AN ADVANCE DECISION FROM THE CHIEF OF FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE, CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT TO MR. EDWARD J. FOX OF A VALET SERVICE FEE PAID FOR PARKING A PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE AT A COMMON CARRIER TERMINAL INCIDENT TO TEMPORARY DUTY TRAVEL BY AIRPLANE. THE REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED BY THE PER DIEM, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE, PDTATAC CONTROL NO. 78-21.
MR. FOX INCURRED A VALET SERVICE FEE OF $1.75 ON MARCH 27, 1976, FOR PARKING HIS PRIVATELY OWNED MOTOR VEHICLE 4 DAYS AT THE BALTIMORE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LONG-TERM PARKING LOT WHILE HE TRAVELED ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS. ON THE LONG-TERM LOT PARKING IS BY VALET SERVICE WITH THE PARKING CHARGE ITEMIZED SEPARATELY FROM THE VALET SERVICE FEE, WHICH IS TO COMPENSATE FOR PARKING THE TRAVELER'S VEHICLE AND DRIVING THE TRAVELER TO AND FROM THE TERMINAL BUILDING AND THE LOT. WHEN THE VALET SERVICE FEE IS ADDED TO THE LONG-TERM PARKING LOT CHARGE AND PARKING IS 4 DAYS OR MORE, SUCH AS IN MR. FOX'S CASE, THE TOTAL COST IS LESS THAN PARKING FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN THE LOTS DESIGNATED FOR EITHER DAILY OR HOURLY PARKING RATES. PARKING IN THE LONG-TERM LOT IS NOT PERMITTED WITHOUT THE VALET SERVICE AND FEE.
PARAGRAPH 1-4.2C(3) OF THE FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (FPMR 101-7, MAY 1973) (FTR) AUTHORIZES A FEE FOR PARKING A PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE AT A COMMON CARRIER TERMINAL OR OTHER PARKING AREA WHILE THE TRAVELER IS AWAY FROM HIS OFFICIAL STATION. WE BELIEVE THE VALET SERVICE AND FEE AT THE LONG-TERM LOT AT BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS INTEGRALLY RELATED TO PARKING COTEMPLATED BY THIS REGULATION, SINCE THEY ARE NECESSARY TO OBTAIN THE LOWEST COST PARKING AT A SAVINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT. THEREFORE THE EMPLOYEE MAY BE REIMBURSED THE COST OF THE VALET SERVICE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PARKING FEE SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATION PRESCRIBED IN PARA. 1-4.2C(3) OF THE FTR.