Claim for Transportation Expenses

An advance decision was requested on whether a Navy member could be reimbursed for certain travel expenses relative to his relocation from San Francisco to Australia. The member and his family traveled on commercial airlines and most of the trip was made on American owned planes. However, one part of the journey was made on a foreign flag carrier. All of the expenses of the trip were reimbursed to the member except for that one portion of the expenses. The member contended that he had been advised by a Navy travel officer that the fees would be reimbursed since the member was forced to change his travel plans. The airline that he was initially booked on canceled his reservations. In order to keep the rest of the itinerary intact, the member booked his family on a flight with a foreign flag carrier. However, there were American commercial flights available. Under provisions of the Fly America Act, a military member must use American commercial transportation when such is available to be eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses. The Government is not bound by the erroneous advice given by one of its agents. Accordingly, GAO did not certify that portion of the voucher for payment.