B-141358, DEC. 11, 1959

B-141358, DEC. 11, 1959

TO BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1959, FILE 101, CONCERNING YOUR EARLIER CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT ISSUING TICKETS FOR TRANSPORTATION DIFFERING FROM THAT CALLED FOR ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TRANSPORTATION REQUEST. YOU REFER TO A CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL SERVICE MANUAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE WHICH MAKES IT PERMISSIBLE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CARRIERS TO HONOR TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS FOR LOWER CLASS SERVICES VIA CIRCUITOUS ROUTES AND AT THE SAME TIME BILL FOR THE CLASS OF SERVICE AND ROUTE SPECIFIED ON THE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST. YOU REQUEST US TO REVIEW THIS CHANGE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CONCLUSIONS SET FORTH IN OUR LETTER OF AUGUST 17, 1959, THAT THE CARRIER SHALL BILL "AN AMOUNT CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGED SERVICES BETWEEN THE POINTS SPECIFIED IN THE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST.'

WE HAVE NOT YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE OUR INVESTIGATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS; HOWEVER, THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TRAVEL SITUATION GENERALLY, INCLUDING THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, NOW IS UNDER STUDY.

WE APPRECIATE, HOWEVER, THAT THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT PRESENTS CERTAIN OPERATING PROBLEMS TO CARRIERS. FOR THE TIME BEING, THEREFORE, WE WILL NOT OBJECT TO THIS HONORING ARRANGEMENT, OR THOSE OF ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY, PROVIDED THAT WHEN THE TRAVELER ELECTS TO TRAVEL VIA A DIFFERENT OR MORE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE THAN THAT AUTHORIZED ON THE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST, THE VALUE OF ANY BERTH ACCOMMODATIONS OR EXCESS BAGGAGE SERVICES AUTHORIZED VIA THE OFFICIAL ROUTE IS NOT CREDITED TOWARD THE ACTUAL COST OF ANY ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES REQUIRED BY THE DIFFERENT OR MORE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT BAGGAGE OR BERTH SERVICE IS REQUESTED ON THE DIFFERENT OR MORE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE. THE CHARGES ALLOWABLE TO THE CARRIER BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE PARTICULAR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FURNISHED SHALL NOT EXCEED THOSE APPLICABLE FOR THE SERVICES AUTHORIZED ON THE FACE OF THE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST. ANY CARRIER BILLING UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE FULLY EXECUTED LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE MANUAL, TOGETHER WITH THE PERTINENT TRANSPORTATION REQUEST BEARING A SIGNED ENDORSEMENT ON THE REVERSE BY THE TRAVELER SHOWING THE SERVICES ACTUALLY FURNISHED.

WE WILL ADVISE YOU FURTHER IF THERE IS ANY MODIFICATION OF THE FOREGOING TREATMENT OF THE SITUATION OR IF CONTINUANCE OF THE ARRANGEMENT IS AUTHORIZED.