Claim for Denied Boarding Compensation

A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) employee, while traveling abroad on official business, was delayed when the return flight was oversold. The airline involved provided the employee with a penalty payment of $200. The FCC requested that the employee remit the amount to the Government pursuant to Government regulations which require that such compensation be paid directly to the Government. The employee requested an official ruling since the employee states that it was not the Government which was inconvenienced in this instance. However, penalty payments made by air carriers for failure to furnish accommodations for confirmed reserved space are due the Government, not the traveler, when the payments result from travel on official business. Accordingly, the claim may not be allowed and action should be taken to recover the indebtedness.