| Every employee working for a department or a | | | | not by the individual departments or agencies, for |
| government organization needs to undertake a | | | | standardizing the travel procedure in the entire |
| journey for official purpose at some point of his | | | | government system. |
| or her career. There are some complex-looking | | | | It is clearly stated in travel guidelines for |
| guidelines and conditions, which are to be practiced | | | | government employees that one has to travel by |
| while traveling for official purposes. These | | | | a commonly traveled route that saves both time |
| guidelines are somewhat ambiguous in some | | | | and money. The government will bear the cost |
| instances. In certain instances, even those | | | | for the normal 'discounted' fare for the travel. |
| government employees who travel frequently are | | | | Any other cost that may have incurred while |
| not entirely sure about what the guidelines actually | | | | traveling in a personally convenient route should |
| mean. For example, the rules vary drastically for | | | | be paid by the employee. Also, if the employee is |
| military and civilian employees. In general, it can be | | | | not in a position to travel because of personal or |
| said that the government of United States sets a | | | | health reasons after reserving the ticket for |
| condition that government employees should | | | | traveling, he or she must cancel the ticket early |
| always look for discount, in whatever form, while | | | | enough so as to get full refund of the fare. |
| purchasing air, rail, or bus tickets. Common | | | | Government will not provide money for |
| carriers generally provide discount to government | | | | cancellation charges or unused accommodation |
| employees. | | | | charges. |
| A general rule of thumb is that one has to show | | | | If one has to terminate the journey midway |
| the same kind of enthusiasm and interest for | | | | through the journey because of injuries, illness, or |
| getting a travel ticket at the cheapest rate while | | | | some personal emergency, he or she can ask for |
| traveling for official purposes, as one shows for | | | | reimbursement. In such cases, the authorizing |
| personal travel. Travel guidelines do not contain | | | | officer of the official trip must be informed prior |
| clauses for excess cost reimbursement. Also | | | | to cancellation and permission must be sought for |
| there is no provision in guidelines for getting | | | | canceling the trip. Since the government is paying |
| money for unnecessary delays, luxury vehicles | | | | the bills, local and other taxes need not be paid |
| and for early or late departure or early or late | | | | for rents and accommodation or lodging |
| arrival. Also, there is no option for reimbursement | | | | expenses. Also, the employee can rent a car or |
| other than standard travel and lodging | | | | other vehicle in the absence of usual mode of |
| accommodations. One has to take note that | | | | public transport or public transport is not |
| these guidelines are set by US government, and | | | | advantageous to the government. |