[Questions Concerning Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Airline Ticket Purchased With Personal Funds]

A decision was requested concerning the claim of an Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement employee for the cost of an airline ticket he purchased with personal funds because he used the ticket obtained with a Government Travel Request (GTR) on an incorrect flight. After the employee arrived at the wrong destination for a conference, he purchased a ticket to the proper destination with his own funds and claimed reimbursement for this expense. GAO has allowed reimbursement for travel expenses purchased with personal funds absent a GTR provided the employee submits evidence showing that the amount claimed was paid. Furthermore, GAO has held that an employee who traveled to the wrong destination through an administrative error could be reimbursed. Under the circumstances, GAO found that the employee could be reimbursed for the full cost of the airline ticket he purchased with personal funds. Accordingly, the claim may be allowed.