[Computation of Constructive Cost of Air Travel]

GAO was asked to determine whether a special or discount air fare, rather than the regular coach fare, should be used in computing the constructive cost of travel to a residence. An employee of the Panama Canal Commission and his family performed tour renewal agreement travel to a place other than their place of actual residence. In such cases, allowable travel costs may not exceed the constructive cost of travel to the residence. GAO held that special air fares should be used to compute constructive travel expenses to an employee's residence as the maximum entitlement to tour renewal travel to an alternative location, provided the agency can determine before the travel begins that the discount fare would be practical and economical. The applicability of special fares should be determined on the basis of constructive travel to the actual place of residence, using the scheduled dates of departure and return, even though the travel is to an alternative location.