[Disposition of Bonus Travel Coupon]

An Army official requested a decision concerning the disposition of bonus travel coupons earned by a Government employee while on official business. Specifically, it was asked: (1) who owned a bonus airline ticket when a Government employee earned it based on Government and personal travel mileage; (2) whether the Government employee should be allowed to use the bonus ticket for personal travel and reimburse the Government for that part which reflected Government travel; and (3) whether an employee who received a nontransferable, first-class bonus airline ticket may travel first class while traveling for the Government, regardless of the availability of coach seats. GAO held that, if the employee received the bonus coupon as a result of Government and privately financed travel, the bonus ticket or gift was the property of the Government. If the employee received a bonus ticket as a result of Government travel, the employee was obligated to turn in the ticket to the appropriate agency official who could dispense it for Government travel. Further, GAO held that an employee may travel first-class while traveling for the Government on a first class bonus ticket since such benefits have no value to the Government.