[Decision Concerning DOE Employee's Claim for Cost of Exchanging Airline Tickets]

The Department of Energy requested a decision concerning an employee's claim for the cost of exchanging his airline tickets in order to see that his young son boarded his plane safely. The claimant contended that: (1) he could not have abandoned his son at the airport; (2) he cut his vacation short to attend a business meeting; and (3) the unforeseen delay in his son's flight forced him to change his scheduled flight. GAO held that the employee was not entitled to the additional flight costs, since he changed his travel plans for personal reasons. Accordingly, the claim was denied.