Flying on Federal Funds (Fly America Act)

Read about the Fly America Act, federal regulation that requires the use of U.S. carriers for travel that will be reimbursed from federal grants and contracts.

Before making arrangements for air travel for UCSD business, find out about the funding type and, if applicable, ensure the booking is in accordance with the Act. If you feel an exception applies, consult with your business office as certification may be required. Compliance with the Fly America Act is the responsibility of each department.

Exceptions to the Fly America Act: Travel that is to be reimbursed from federal grants and contracts must be booked through U.S. carriers except in the following circumstances:

• When the use of U.S. carrier service would extend travel time (including delay at origin) by 24 hours or more
• When the costs of transportation are reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government or an international agency
• When U.S. carriers do not offer nonstop or direct service between origin and destination. However, a U.S. carrier must be used on every portion of the route where it provides service unless, when compared to using a foreign air carrier, such use would:
  • Increase the number of aircraft changes outside the United States by two or more
  • Extend travel time by at least six hours or more
  • Require a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point.
• When an Open Skies agreement is in place. The U.S. Government currently has four Open Skies Agreements that allow federal funded travel on a foreign carrier: European Union (EU), Japan, Switzerland, and Australia. Depending on which Open Skies Agreement, the use of a foreign carrier is allowable when transportation is between the U.S. and any point in the member state or between two points outside the U.S. provided that:
  • No City-Pair fare exists (EU agreement). Review the fare finder.
    • A traveler may travel to any point outside the U.S., however; must land in a point in a member state before traveling beyond the member state (EU agreement)
  • No City-Pair fare exists (Japan/Switzerland/Australia). Review the fare finder.
  • Note: When no city pair exists, the fare finder response reads, “There are no awards for the requested city pair.”
  • Funding is not provided by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department.

Note: When one or more of the above circumstances apply, an explanation indicating the appropriate exception must be provided on the MyTravel request.

Code-sharing agreements with foreign air carriers comply with the Fly America Act Regulations. The ticket, or documentation for an electronic ticket, must identify the U.S. carrier's designator code and flight number generally stated as “U.S. Air Carrier flight XXXX operated by Foreign Air Carrier.” For example:

• Allowable: American Airlines (AA) 1234 operated by Quantas Airways (QF) 4321
• Unallowable: QF 4321 operated by AA 1234

Note: Some funding sources may not recognize code-sharing as being compliant with Fly America Act regulations. When fund source policy is more restrictive than UCSD travel policy, the more restrictive policy applies.

Note: This page has a friendly link that's easy to remember: http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/flyamerica

Notice: UCSD travel policy, as published in Blink, is decisive. It has been adapted to UCSD's organization, delegation of authority, terminology, chart of accounts, and processing applications. The source for UCSD travel policy is UC Travel Policy and Regulations (PDF).

Travel

Air Travel

• Best Practices
• Purchasing Airfare
• Fly America Act
• Airfare Exceptions
• Cancel Travel