[Claim for Travel Expenses]

An Army finance and accounting officer requested an advance decision concerning a civilian employee's claim for reimbursement for mileage for round-trip travel by a privately owned vehicle (POV) from the employee's home to the air terminal en route to another state for temporary duty. GAO reviewed the question of whether the full round trip was reimbursable, in light of the facts that another airfield was much closer and common carrier service between the employee's home and the air terminal was available. GAO found that, in this case, common carrier transportation was more costly to the Government than POV transportation. The only legal limitation upon reimbursement is that it not exceed one-way taxi fare. Accordingly, the voucher may be submitted for payment.